Prof Barbro Melgert is a pharmacist and immunologist working at the University of Groningen. She focuses on immunological processes in respiratory diseases such as asthma, pulmonary fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

In particular, she focuses on the role of the innate system and cells like macrophages and epithelial cells. Macrophages are among the most abundant immune cells in the respiratory tract and they are crucial in protecting the lungs against inhaled dangers such as microbes and microplastics, but also in repairing damaged lung tissue. These different functions are carefully balanced in healthy lungs but appear to be disorganized in respiratory diseases. Understanding why macrophages are dysfunctional and how this happens is the topic of research in her lab.

In addition, her lab investigates lung repair and interactions with the innate immune system to develop novel therapies that aim to not only stop disease but also to repair damage caused by respiratory diseases.

Contact information

E-mail:
b.n.melgert@rug.nl

Address for correspondence:
Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen