Andrew McKenzie investigates how the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system protect the body from infection, but can also lead to inappropriate inflammation and pathology. He has defined and characterised how cytokine networks orchestrate the cellular response to pathogens and how dysregulation of these regulatory pathways can lead to diseases such as asthma and allergy.
His identification of the cytokine interleukin-13 and the subsequent unearthing of its central role in allergic asthma led to his discovery of type-2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2). These cells secrete large quantities of cytokines and represent a new therapeutic target for intervention in inflammation and infection.
Andrew was elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2011.
Professional position
- Head of Division and Group Leader, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
Subject groups
- Microbiology, immunology and developmental biology
Cellular and humoral immunology
