My main interest is in how inflammatory cell function changes with disease. My clinical interests span those of the group. I have over 25 years experience working with human mast cells and basophils and a particular interest in mast cell heterogeneity. More recently my focus has turned to neutrophils and epithelial cells in keeping with my developing interests in cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis. I have developed methods to investigate neutrophil death pathways in these diseases and have shown them to be dysregulated. More recently, I have shown significant reduction in the rate of spontaneous apoptosis and increased NFκB activation in control smokers and subjects with COPD compared to non-smoking controls. My current work, together with Elborn, Skibinski and Zholos concentrates on changes in epithelial cell function in cystic fibrosis  and the influence of different cystic fibrosis mutations on the epithelial cells’ response to infection/inflammation.

Research Staff and Students

Dr Vanessa Brown, Ms Francine de Courcey,  Mr Sammy Hanrahan, Mr Mark Williams

Measures of Esteem

• President European Histamine Research Society (1999-2006)
• Member of Organising Committee of European Histamine Research Society meetings  (1999-2008)
• Council Member British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (1999-2002)
• Editorial board member: Inflammation Research and International Immunopharmacology
• Invited lectures: Joint meeting British Society for Immunology and British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology; 6th World Congress on Inflammation; European Histamine Research Society; European Cystic Fibrosis Society – Basic Science Conference
• Expert evaluator for Framework 6 and Framework 7

Selected publications

1.      O'Brien GJ, Riddell G, Elborn JS, Ennis M, Skibinski G.   Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins induce IL-8 secretion by human nasal epithelial cells. Respir Res. 2006 Sep 4;7:115.

2.      Crummy F, Livingston M, Ardill JE, Adamson C, Ennis M, Heaney LG. Endobronchial adenosine monophosphate challenge causes tachykinin release in the human airway. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2005 Aug;116(2):312-7.

3.      Watt AP, Courtney J, Moore J, Ennis M, Elborn JS.  Neutrophil cell death, activation and bacterial infection in cystic fibrosis. Thorax. 2005 Aug;60(8):659-64.

4.      Watt AP, Brown V, Courtney J, Kelly M, Garske L, Elborn JS, Ennis M.  Neutrophil apoptosis, proinflammatory mediators and cell counts in bronchiectasis. Thorax. 2004 Mar;59(3):231-6.

5.      Brown V, Warke TJ, Shields MD, Ennis M.  T cell cytokine profiles in childhood asthma. Thorax. 2003 Apr;58(4):311-6.

6.      Kelly MG, Brown V, Martin SL, Ennis M, Elborn JS.  Comparison of sputum induction using high-output and low-output ultrasonic nebulizers in normal subjects and patients with COPD. Chest. 2002 Sep;122(3):955-9.

7.      Schock BC, Young IS, Brown V, Fitch PS, Taylor R, Shields MD, Ennis M.  Antioxidants and protein carbonyls in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of children: normal data. Pediatr Res. 2001 Feb;49(2):155-61.

8.      Schock BC, Sweet DG, Halliday HL, Young IS, Ennis M.  Oxidative stress in lavage fluid of preterm infants at risk of chronic lung disease. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2001 Dec;281(6):L1386-91.

External Grant Funding (RAE period)

R&D Office Nutrition, air pollution and lung disease £338,000

R&D Office Pathophysiology of childhood asthma £591,000

Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke Association Interactions between macrophages and epithelial cells in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) £68,187

Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke Association Modulation of apoptosis and mediator secretion from human lung tissue £25,000

BBSRC Development of Raman microscopy as a biomedical tool £174,000

R&D Office Establishment of a Clinical Raman Microscopy Centre £250,000

Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke Association Investigation of neutrophil apoptosis in COPD £45,045

R&D Office Early Diagnosis of Lung Cancer by Raman Microscopy £151,427

DENI CAST Anti-protease benefits of DX-890 in cystic fibrosis £38.500