Dr Tim Halim receives £3.3 million Wellcome Discovery Award

Dr Tim Halim has been awarded £3.3 million through the Wellcome Discovery scheme to explore how immune cells called ‘type-2 lymphocytes’ influence the behaviour of fibroblasts, particularly during health and disease states.

The Wellcome Discovery Award provides funding for established researchers to pursue bold and creative research ideas and deliver significant shifts in understanding related to human life, health and wellbeing.

Over the next 8 years, the Halim Group will investigate the project titled “Regulatory roles of type-2 lymphocytes on local fibroblast biology in health and disease”.

Fibroblasts play a crucial role in maintaining the normal functioning of our organs and repairing damaged tissue. However, when they become overactive, they can contribute to the development of fibrosis, a serious condition where tissue becomes scarred and stiff.

While we know that immune cells can control fibroblast activity, understanding these interactions has been challenging due to their complexity and variability depending on the tissue and disease involved.

This project aims to uncover the intricate relationship between type-2 lymphocytes and fibroblasts using cutting-edge single-cell and spatial techniques. By studying the cellular and molecular makeup of specific immune-fibroblast niches in organs like the pancreas and lungs, they hope to understand how these cells communicate and influence each other over time.

Using advanced 3D cell-cultures and mouse models and analysing human tissue samples, the team aim to identify common mechanisms that could be targeted for therapies to either promote tissue regeneration after injury or prevent fibrosis, addressing significant health issues worldwide.

The funding will support 3 postdoctoral researchers and one technician who will work to uncover fundamental new insights into the regulation of fibroblast biology by type-2 lymphocytes.

For enquiries about the project or the upcoming research positions, please contact Dr Tim Halim.