Dr Kim Hoenderdos

My research focuses on the modulation of Phosphoinositide 3-hydroxykinase (PI3K) Signalling in lung epithelial cells and in muco-ciliary clearance.

Co-ordinated ciliary function in the airways is key to innate immunity of the respiratory tract, and its failure in primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) leads to severe recurrent oto-sino-pulmonary infection and subsequent end-organ damage from early childhood. Respiratory infection leads to secondary ciliary dysfunction, rendering the host more susceptible to bacterial invasion, however the mechanisms underlying this acquired defect of the pulmonary innate immune system are unknown.

We are currently investigating the role of PI3K signalling in susceptibility to bacterial and viral respiratory infection using cultured ciliated cells and samples from patients who experience recurrent infection.