John Worthington

Dr. John Worthington is a Senior Lecturer in Infection Biology and Part I Director of Studies at Lancaster University's Department of Biomedical and Life Sciences, within the Faculty of Health and Medicine. His research focuses on the interplay between enteroendocrine cells (EECs) and immune systems in intestinal health and disease, particularly inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and infectious inflammation. He holds an honorary lectureship at the University of Manchester.

Education:

• BSc in Biology, Nottingham University (2002)
• PhD in Molecular mechanisms of gut immune systems and nutrient sensing cells, The University of Manchester (2008)

Research Interests: Investigating EECs' role in innate immunity, their toll-like receptors, and their interactions with immune cells during homeostasis and inflammation. Utilizes infection models and in vitro studies to explore therapeutic strategies targeting the immunoendocrine axis in intestinal diseases.

Awards:

• Wellcome Trust Stepping Stones Fellowship (2014)

Advising & Grants: Supervises PhD proposals on intestinal inflammation, parasitology, immunology, and endocrinology. Current grants include projects on whipworm diagnosis via volatile organic compounds and repurposing GLP-1 receptor agonists as anti-helminth therapies.

Research Groups: Member of Cancer Biology and Genome Stability, and Microbes, Pathogens and Immunity groups at Lancaster University.