Queens University Belfast (QUB) is a member of the UK Russell group of Universities, with a strong commitment to translational research. The Centre for Infection and Immunity (Cii) has programmes in basic and translational research in the area of Cystic Fibrosis and other inflammatory lung diseases. Cii is one of 9 sites in the UK Translational Respiratory Partnership in Respiratory Inflammatory Disease, a British government inspired programme linking pharma with universities for the purpose of early stage drug evaluation.

QUB was selected as one of the participants for CFMATTERS as a major disease focus of CII is Cystic Fibrosis (CF) lung disease with research programmes in mechanisms of inflammation, microbiome analysis and clinical trials in CF. Furthermore, in the Regional CF clinic at Belfast City Hospital is one of the largest CF clinics in the UK, has carried out many CF clinical trials. This includes an evaluation of Ivacaftor (VX-770) the results of which were published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2011. Within CII, there is an established lung microbiome research laboratory which is funded via a NIH R01 (US-Ireland) programme which will be vital for microbiology analysis from the clinical trial samples.

CII is housed in a purpose built facility opened in 2010, additionally there is an onsite state-of-the-art £7million animal facility. The group is well known for translational research in CF with publications in the area of clinical trials, CF microbiology and innate immunity. Drug discovery programmes utilising in vivo models are now established in the Centre.

The assembled team at QUB have considerable expertise to bring to CFMATTERS, Prof Stuart Elborn, Professor of Respiratory Medicine and Acting Dean of the School of Medicine, as well as Director of the Adult CF Centre in Belfast City Hospital. He is current Chair of the Research Advisory Committee of the CF Trust and President of the European CF Society. Prof. Elborn is involved in a range of clinical trials involving antibiotics, anti-inflammatory agents and CFTR modulating drugs. In addition, he is also a PI on a number of early stage anti-inflammatory and potentially disease modifying therapies in CF and other lung diseases. Prof Cliff Taggart is the Acting Director of Cii, he has an international track record in the characterisation of innate respiratory defence against bacterial pathogens and has a particular interest in CF, he is also a committee member of ECFS and ERS (secretary of Group 3.2). Dr Rebecca Ingram was appointed to a lectureship position within the respiratory group at Cii in 2009, from Imperial College London, as part of a strategic effort to expand the use of animal models in the centre and has expertise in the use of in vivo models of infection. Dr Sinead Weldon a newly appointed lecturer within Cii brings additional strength to the area of innate host defence mechanisms. Dr Michael Tunney (School of Pharmacy) has an international track record in lung microbiome research with his work focusing primarily on the improved detection and treatment of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in chronic respiratory infection with a particular focus on CF. Dr Damian Downey is Co-Director of the Adult CF Centre in Belfast. He is a principal investigator on a number of large pharmaceutical clinical trials in Belfast. He is also a PI with the European CF Society – Clinical Trials Network and is involved in protocol review and design. His current investigator led projects range from adherence to infection in CF.