Department of Paediatrics: Research groups

Current research:

The Department is based at the John Radcliffe Hospital. The paediatric wards on Level 4 include 41 medical beds, 20 surgical beds and 8 beds in an Adolescent Unit (Medical and Surgical). There is also a 6 bed Paediatric Intensive Care Unit on Level 1. In the John Radcliffe Maternity Hospital, there is the Regional Intensive Care Nursery (27 cots, 7 designated for neonatal intensive care).

Research opportunities include excellent facilities within the John Radcliffe Hospital and Institute of Molecular Medicine. The University Department has a major interest in infectious diseases of infancy and childhood and in paediatric molecular genetics.

There are various programmes and project grants under the direction of Professor Moxon to support investigations into the molecular basis of Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria meningitidis virulence.

The Oxford Vaccine Group, also under the direction of Professor Moxon, undertakes studies of the epidemiology of childhood infections, especially vaccine preventable infections, as well as clinical trials with new or improved vaccines and methods of vaccine administration. www.paediatrics.ox.ac.uk/ovg
Contact: 01865 221068.

The International Child Health Group (Professor Kwiatkowski) is using molecular genetic epidemiology to identify critical host mediators that determine immunity and pathogenesis in malaria, RSV bronchiolitis (Dr Hull) and other severe infectious diseases. Specific interests include the genetic control of cytokine gene transcription and improvement of vaccine efficiency by modulation of cytokine production. www.well.ox.ac.uk/ich
For full contact details follow this link: http://www.well.ox.ac.uk/ich/contact.htm
Main contact for the group: giles.brindley@paediatrics.ox.ac.uk

Professor Wakefield's group is carrying out research on the fungal pathogen, Pneumocystis carinii, an important cause of potentially fatal pneumonia in the immunosuppressed, particularly in individuals with HIV infection.

The Paediatric Molecular Genetics Group (Professor Harris) is investigating regulation of expression of the cystic fibrosis (CF) gene and studying how mutations in the CF gene cause pathology in this disease. In addition, they are investigating the molecular basis of mucin abnormalities in cystic fibrosis. www.imm.ox.ac.uk/group/paeds/harris
Contact: ann.harris@paediatrics.ox.ac.uk

The Mitochondrial Group (Dr Poulton) is working on a unique group of diseases which affect mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). These can cause severe neurodegenerative disease in children and can be involved in common multifactorial diseases such as diabetes.

The Paediatric Oncology Group (Dr Mitchell) is studying the effects on cell cycle regulation of genes involved in chromosomal translocation in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma as well as studying steroid metabolism in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and the effects of glucocorticoid receptor polymorphisms on leukaemic response.

The Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes Group (Drs Edge and Warner) are working on early detection and prevention of complications in children with diabetes and on improved insulin regimens. They also have an interest in cerebral oedema in diabetic ketoacidosis, transition of young people to adult services, and energy expenditure in various conditions.

In the Neonatal Unit (Professor Wilkinson) there are several studies in perinatology involving cardio-respiratory and neurological problems (including the development of brain-stem function) of newborn babies as well as participation in multi-centre randomised trials. There are specialised physiology and molecular medicine laboratories and studies of genetic predisposition to prematurity and diseases of prematuirty, as well as immunological and molecular genetic studies of neonatal infection.
Contact: mark.herbert@paediatrics.ox.ac.uk

The Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Service (Dr Sullivan) is studying the nutritional requirements of neurologically disabled children by measuring energy balance and body composition. Other work includes the development of protocols for the effective management of childhood constipation, and investigations into the host-pathogen interaction in Helicobacter pylori infection in children.
Contact: Angharad@gwmail.jr2.ox.ac.uk

Paediatric Neurology has special clinics for neuromuscular disease, neuro-oncology, epilepsy surgery and Tourette syndrome. Research includes neuroimmunological factors in developmental brain disorders, coagulation disorders and epilepsy, the cardiac status of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy carriers, and work on Di George syndrome and the Dancing Eye Syndrome The Community Paediatric Department has been involved in reviewing the incidence of hearing problems after meningitis, planning the universal neonatal hearing assessment programme in Oxford and reviewing children presenting with fractures in the first year of life. A re-audit of hospital/A&E management of SIDS has been concluded. There has also been a review of the health of children with hemiplegia in mainstream schools.

The Childhood Cancer Research Group (situated at 57 Woodstock Road, Oxford) is concerned with a wide variety of national epidemiological and follow-up studies of children with cancer and leukaemia.
Contact: enquiries@ccrg.oxford.ac.uk, Tel. 01865 310030.

Further enquiries about the Department of Paediatrics should be addressed to The Administrator, Department of Paediatrics, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU. Tel: 01865 221077, fax: 01865 220479. Email: paediatrics@paediatrics.ox.ac.uk