I am a clinical immunologist studying chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU), a disease in which itchy hives recur without any apparent trigger. CIU is caused by the activation of immune cells called mast cells and basophils in the skin. They release the inflammatory substance, histamine, causing the hives.

I am studying how these cells become activated in CIU. I hope this knowledge will improve how CIU is diagnosed and treated.

Research interest

I am interested in the immune mechanisms that lead to mast cell and basophil activation in CIU. In 50 per cent of CIU, circulating autoantibodies targeting the high-affinity IgE receptor, FcεRI, α subunit on the surface of mast cells and basophils are detected. However, there is evidence to suggest that other immune components are also involved. My current research focus is to identify antigen-specific cellular responses in CIU subjects.