Helen Gertig

• MBBS
• Is neutrophil dysfunction in primary bronchiectasis reversed by GM-CSF?

Bronchiectasis is a lung disease associated with recurrent chest infection. White blood cell dysfunction may be the cause of the recurrent infection.  White blood cells (neutrophils) from patients with bronchiectasis are less able to kill germs (bacteria). The neutrophil is the white blood cell primarily responsible for killing bacteria.  Bacteria are responsible for the majority of severe infections in bronchiectasis.

I aim to determine whether this defective neutrophil function can be corrected by the application of GM-CSF, a molecule which stimulates effective development of white blood cells.

Funding Source: Wellcome Trust