Professor Anthony Segal FMedSci FRS

Anthony Segal is a clinician scientist who works in two main areas. The first is the investigation of the mechanisms by which neutrophil leukocytes kill bacteria and fungi. He discovered the molecular components of the NADPH oxidase, an electron transport chain that passes electrons across the wall of the vacuole that contains the ingested microbe. This system changes the physicochemical composition of the vacuole, thereby activating the enzymes released onto the microbes from the cytoplasmic granules to kill and digest the organisms.

He also works on the causes of the inflammatory bowel diseases, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The former is caused by a defect of acute inflammation, which results in failure to clear faeces from the wall of the bowel. By contrast, inflammation is excessive in ulcerative colitis in which the lining of the bowel is also unduly friable.

By understanding the molecular mechanisms of the immune system, and what happens when they go wrong, Anthony’s research is helping us to understand and treat a wide range of immunological diseases.

Subject groups

  • Health and Human Sciences

    Molecular medicine

Professor Anthony Segal FMedSci FRS
Elected 1998
Committees Participated Role
Sectional Committee 10: Health and human sciences November 2019 - October 2022 Member
Commonwealth Science Conference Grants Committee July 2016 - June 2019 Member
Sectional Committee 10: Health and human sciences December 2007 - November 2010 Member
Hooke Committee January 1999 - December 2003 Member
Sectional Committee 10: Health and human sciences November 1998 - November 2001 Member