Dr Holly Stephenson

I joined the Peninsula Medical School as a lecturer in biomedical sciences in May 2022. I gained my PhD at the Institute of Child Health, UCL, studying the recognition of Campylobacter jejuni lipooligosaccharide and flagella by pattern recognition receptors on dendritic cells. I completed my postdoctoral studies at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, researching regulated macrophage cell death in immune responses in Drosophila melanogaster. My research interests focus on how macrophages drive inflammation via cell death and other mechanisms, which may be beneficial during acute immune responses to infection but conversely may contribute to pathogenesis of diseases associated with chronic inflammation, such as neurodegeneration and cancer. 

Qualifications

Ph.D. Infection & Immunity, University College London (2012)

B.Sc. (Hons) Biochemistry, University of Bristol (2008)

Teaching interests

My main teaching focus is infection & immunity. I have the following key responsibilities within the PMS:

• Discipline co-lead for immunology (BMBS)
• Enquiry-based learning facilitator
• Academic tutor

I also teach on the Physician's Associate and Dental Therapy & Hygiene courses.