缅北禁地

Current Position

2017 - 2022      Associate Clinical Lecturer, NUTCRI (缅北禁地 Translational and Clinical Research Institute), Faculty of Medical Sciences, 缅北禁地 and Consultant Clinical Immunologist (rtrd), GMC 4269843, MDU 339125B, ICO ZA490882

2017- Expert Witness, Medical (Clinical Immunology), Expert Witness Institute Individual Member No10610 

2019- 缅北禁地 Alumni member and Deputy Chair of the Retired Staff Society (RSS) Steering Group

In 2019, my husband Dr Mario Abinun and I set up the 缅北禁地 - Advancement of Clinical Immunology in Serbia (NU-ACIS) fund for which details are available at: /medical-sciences/reserach/serbian-clinical-immunology-fund/

Background

Desa Lilic, MD, MSc, DSc/PhD, FRCPath, Senior Clinical Lecturer and Hon Consultant Clinical Immunologist at 缅北禁地 and previously Professor of Immunology, University Belgrade.

I moved to 缅北禁地, UK, in 1993. I am originally from Belgrade, former Yugoslavia, but have lived and trained in many different countries (Lebanon, Chile, USA, Denmark, Venezuela)

Roles and Responsibilities 

2012-> Clinical Senior Lecturer / Principle Investigator, Institute of Cellular Medicine, 缅北禁地

2005 -> Consultant Clinical Immunologist & Head of Service, Immunology Department, University Hospital of North Durham (UHND), County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust, Durham

1996- Honorary Consultant Clinical Immunologist, Royal Victoria Infirmary, 缅北禁地

Qualifications

MD, MSc, PhD(DSc), FRCPath

Previous Positions

• 2006-2011 Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer, Institute of Cellular Medicine, 缅北禁地
• 2004-2006 Clinical Senior Lecturer and PI (temporary, p/t, 1d/week), Rheumatology Department, School of Clinical
• Medical Sciences, The Medical School,University of 缅北禁地
• 2002-2005 Honorary senior Clinical Lecturer, School of Health Sciences
• University Durham
• 1996-2005 CONSULTANT IMMUNOLOGIST, HoD, Immunology Department
• The James Cook University Hospital, South Tees NHS Trust,Middlesbrough
• 1996-2004 TEMPORARY/HONORARY LECTURER, The Medical School, University of
• 1993 PROFESSOR IN PATHOPHYSIOLOGY/IMMUNOLOGY, Military Medical Academy & The Medical School University of Belgrade
• 1990 INTERNAL & EXTERNAL EXAMINER FOR BOARD EXAMINATION IN CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY, PhD & MSc degrees, Military Medical Academy & The Medical School, University of Belgrade
• 1988 ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR (SENIOR LECTURER) IN PATHOPHYSIOLOGY & IMMUNOLOGY, Military Medical Academy & The Medical School, University of Belgrade,
• 1988 CONSULTANT IN CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY, Military Medical Academy, Belgrade
• 1985 LECTURER IN IMMUNOLOGY, Military Medical Academy & The Medical School, University of Belgrade

Memberships

- FRCPath, membership on the basis of published works, November 2004
- Member of the RCPath International Committee
- Member of UK Primary Immunodeficiency Network (UK PIN)
- Member of Committee for Producing Guidelins, UK PIN
- Member of the British Society for Immunology (BSI)/ North East Immunology Club (Chairperson 97/98, 98/-99 & 99/00)
- Member of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI)
- Member of the British Paed Immunol and Infect Diseases Group
- Member of the European Society for Immunodeficiency Diseases (ESID)
- Expert Witness Institute (EWI) 

Honours and Awards

National Bronze Clinical Excellence Award (2008-2013)

Languages

Serbian (mother tongue), english, spanish, danish

Research Interests:

In my dual role as an research active academic/principle investigator and a consultant clinical immunologist, I look after patients with Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis (CMC) that are also the focus of my research. These rare patients with this unusual primary immune deficiency (PID) suffer selectively with persistent, disabling candidiasis of the skin and mucosa and a variety of other autoimmune and inflammatory phenomenon which present an unique opportunity for understanding fundamental mechanisms involved in immune mediated diseases in humans. We have recruited a significant number of these rare patients whom we look after in our specialized NHS Candida clinics. In these patients, our research over the last few years has made several significant breakthroughs identifying the underlying pathogenic mechanisms in the 2 largest subgroups of these patients:

·         in the subgroup of patients with CMC who have the Autoimmune PolyEndocrinopathy Candidiasis Ectodermal Dystrophy (APECED) syndrome and the AIRE gene mutation, we reported anti-cytokine antibodies to Th-17 cytokines (IL-17A, IL-17F and IL-22), elucidating for the first time how the autoimmunity links in with impaired handling of Candida

·         in the largest subgroup of CMC patients with  associated  hypothyroidism, we reported for the first time significant defects in Th-17 cell proliferation and IL-17 production which likely underlie the inability of these patients to clear Candida infections. Subsequently, in these same patients, we demonstrated a gain-of-function (GOF) mutation in the STAT1 gene affecting crucial signaling pathways involved in cytokine production.

Research themes:

·         Role of AIRE in the induction of tolerogenic dendritic cells

·         Molecular / biochemical mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of GOF-STAT1 disease

·         Role of GOF-STAT1 mutations in mediating enhanced effects of type I interferons

·         Role of enhanced indoleamine 2.3 dioxygenase (IDO) production in clinical presentation of GOF-STAT1 CMC

Key collaborators:

·         Dr Mario Abinun, Dr Andy Gennery, Consultants Paediatric Immunologists, Great North Children’s Hospital, RVI

·         Prof Drew Rowan, Prof David Young, Musculoskeletal Group, Dr Muzz Haniffa, Human DC Group; Jelena Mann and Derek M, Fibrosis Group; Prof Andy Mellor and Henrique de Paula Lemos, Inflammatory Disease and Immunotherapy Laboratory, ICM

·         Collaborations across 缅北禁地: Institutes of Genetic Medicine, Ageing and Health, Cancer Research, Health and Society; Policy, Ethics And Life Sciences

·         UK-wide: Universities of Manchester, Oxford, London

·         Internationally: Harvard University, USA; Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherland; Hopital Necker, Paris, France; Tartu University, Estonia

Impact and Engagement:

Direct benefits to research participants & their families:

·         We have produced diagnostic tests for APECED patients and identified the gene mutation in patients with GOF-STAT1 mutations supporting timely treatment decisions, presymptomatic screening and genetic counselling

·         Specialist “Candida” clinics for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients with PIDs and susceptibility to fungal infections (unique in UK)

Extending the benefits to a broader patient base - professional network:

·         European Society for Immune Deficiencies (ESID)

·         UK Primary Immunodeficiency Network (UK-PIN)

·         UK-PID charity (CMC patient information leaflet)

Raising awareness - outreach to primary/secondary care & the public:

·         Bubble Foundation

·         Jeffrey Modell Foundation

·         annual “Graham and jenny Watson” infection and immunity study days

Related websites:

Desa Lilic: Clinical Senior Lecturer and Consultant Immunologist

Desa.lilic@ncl.ac.uk

Chun M Chan: Research Associate

Chun.Chan@newcastle.ac.uk

Tariq Al Shehri: PhD student

t.a.a.alshehri@newcastle.ac.uk

Ashleigh Rainy: Clinical Scientist trainee

Ashleigh.Rainey@nuth.nhs.uk

Awards and external recognition

Invited Speaker

• Invited Speaker

  • Debate controversy: Is GOF-STAT1 CMC an interferonopathy? ESID, September 11-14, 2017, invited speaker
  • Disease mechanisms underlying CMC, Nijmegen October 25-27, 2017, invited speaker
  • Gordon Research Conference (GRC): Immunology of Fungal Infections, January 2017
  • III Polish congress on autoimmune, autoinflammatory and primary immune deficiency diseases, Warsaw 19-21 February 2016
  • International immunity and autoimmunity workshop in honour of Marija Mostarica & Mija Lukic, Belgrade, May 2015
  • British Society of Dermatology, London, January 2015
  • J Project 100^th Meeting (ESID), Antalya, Turkey, March 2014
  • 1^st Educational PID Meeting, Sarajevo, October 2013
  • BSI summer school, 缅北禁地, August 2013
  • Therapeutic Tolerance Conference, 缅北禁地, July 2013
  • N4i Frontiers Symposium: Immunodeficiency from different angles, Nijmegen June 2013
  • Jeffry Modell PID Centre Launch Event, 缅北禁地 November 2012
  • Northern Autoimmunity Education & Quality Assurance Group (NAEQAG), NCL, UK, September 2012
  • 3^rd Symposium on Diagnosis and Therapy of Fungal Diseases, Belgrade, Serbia, March 2012
  • UK Primary Immunodeficiency Network (UK-PIN) Forum, Liverpool, UK, December 2011
  • Institute of Genetic Medicine, 缅北禁地, November 2011
  • European Bone Marrow Transplantation Workshop, October 2011
  • British Society for Medical Mycology, April 2011
  • European Society for Immune Deficiency, XIV Meeting, October 2010
  • British Society for Medical Mycology, August 2010
  • Primary Immunodeficiency Day. Great Ormond Street London (June 2009)
  • Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, NCL-UK/China collaboration (May 2009)
  • Valedictory Symposium for Professor Nick Willcox, Waldham College, Oxford (January 2009)
  • 2^nd European Federation for Immunological Societies (EFIS) meeting, Belgrade, Serbia (September 2008)

• 
  

International /  national expert on Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis (CMC)

• Grants reviewer (MRC (Senior Clinical Fellowships /MRC Career Development Awards / Research project grants), DoH Grampian NHS, Primary Immunodeficiency Association Charity, etc)

• Member of Editorial boards for professional / scientific journals (J Clin Cell Immunol, ISRN Immunology)

• Reviewer of scientific papers for professional journals (Blood, J Immunol, J Allergy Clin Immunol, Eur J Immunol, Clin Exp Immunol, Clin Immunol, Infect Immun, etc)

• International evaluator for National Project proposals for the Ministry of Science in Serbia

• I am invited to write reviews for professional journals and books (Current Opin Microbiol 2012, Curr Opin Immunol 2010, Immunity to Fungal Pathogens 2007, Curr Opinion Infect Dis 2002, J Clin Path 2001)

   

  Other

• RCPath representative on interview panels for appointment of Consultant Immunologists

• RCPath assessor of national ACCEA awards

Undergraduate Teaching

1.      Teaching on Immunology/Clinical Immunology modules as Fellow of Graduate School (since 1993, P/T 2d/week (4Pas) on voluntary basis):

·         Clinical and Paediatric Immunology RCP/RCPath/RCPCH SpR training days (since 2003 annually)

·         MRES Applied Immunobology (since 2007 )

·         Supervision of Sponsored Visiting Post-doctoral researcher in UK/China scholarships for excellence programme (2007-8)

·         MBBS (1995-2003, 6 lectures 3 seminars, annually)

·         Microbiology & Medical Microbiology (since 1997-2002, 9 lectures 3 seminars, annually)

·         Biomedical Sciences (2003-2006 ,9 lectures seminar, annually)

·         Pharmacology (2004-2006 2 lectures seminar, annually)

·         Marking essays and other exam papers over the years for all of the above courses

·         Postgraduate student supervisor & assessor (PhD, RAs, Mphil, MD)

·         Undergraduate student supervisor (Microbiology & Medical Microbiology laboratory and literature projects; BMedSci / BSc students)

·         PhD external examiner

·         MBBS internal examiner (vivas)

·         BMedSci Honors internal examiner

·         As part of the 缅北禁地 MBBS expansion programme, I co-jointly set up and delivered (2001-2008) a 30 credit MBBS Immunology module at Durham University (repeatedly scored best module of this Stage)

• Toubiana J, Okada S, Hiller J, Oleastro M, Lagos Gomez M, Aldave Becerra JC, Bousfiha A, Rodriguez-Gallego C, Meyts I, Kisand K, Reichenbach J, Renner ED, Rosenzweig S, Grimbacher B, van de Veerdonk FL, Traidl-Hoffmann C, Picard C, Marodi L, Morio T, Kobayashi M, Lilic D, Milner JD, Holland S, Casanova J-L, Puel A, on behalf of the International STAT1-GOF study group. . Blood 2016, 127(25), 3154-3164.
• Crossland KL, Abinun M, Arkwright PD, Cheetham TD, Pearce SH, Hilkens CMU, Lilic D. . Autoimmunity 2016, 49(4), 211-218.
• Moorhouse AJ, Renisson C, Raza M, Lilic D, Gow NAR. . PLoS One 2016, 11(2), e0145888.
• Zheng J, vandeVeerdonk FL, Crossland KL, Smeekens SP, Chan CM, AlShehri T, Abinun M, Gennery AR, Mann J, Lendrem DW, Netea MG, Rowan AD, Lilic D. . European Journal of Immunology 2015, 45(10), 2834-2846.
• Higgins E, AlShehri T, McLeer MA, Feighery C, Lilic D, Irvine AD. . Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2015, 135(2), 551-553.
• Zheng J, de Veerdonk FV, Crossland K, Smeekens SP, Abinun M, Gennery AR, Mann J, Lendrem D, Netea MG, Rowan AD, Lilic D. . In: 100th J Project Meeting. 2014, Antalya, TURKEY: Springer.
• Lilic D. Immunity to Yeasts - Candidiasis. In: Dermatology. Belgrade, Serbia: Versalpress, 2014.
• Abinun M, Hodges S, Cheetham T, Ognjanovic M, Hopper N, Burt A, Wood K, Lilic D. . In: 16th Biennial Meeting of the European Society for Immunodeficiences (ESID 2014). 2014, Prague, Czech Republic: Springer.
• Crossland KL, Pearce S, Abinun M, Cheetham T, Hilkens CMU, Lilic D. . In: European Society for Immunodeficiencies. 2014, Prague, Czech Republic: Springer.
• Pasic S, Vujic D, Velickovic D, Slavkovic B, Mostarica-Stojkovic M, Minic P, Minic A, Ristic G, Giliani S, Villa A, Sobacchi C, Lilic D, Abinun M. . Journal of Clinical Immunology 2014, 34(3), 304-308.
• Abinun M, Cant A, Strain L, Lilic D. . In: ESID Meeting. 2014, Prague, Czech Republic: Springer.
• Zheng J, Rowan AD, Gennery AR, Abinun M, Lilic D, Primary Immune Deficiency Grp, Inst Cellular Med. . In: 15th Biennial Meeting European Society for Immunodeficiency (ESID). 2012, Florence, Italy: Springer New York LLC.
• Depner M, van de Veerdonk F, Wanders J, Stauss H, Raabe J, Atkinson TP, Schroeder HW, Niehues T, Duckers G, Puck J, Stray-Pedersen A, Baumann U, Schmidt R, Franco JL, Orrego J, Ben-Shoshan M, McCusker C, Jacob CMA, Carneiro-Sampaio M, Devlin LA, Edgar JD, Gkrania-Klotsas E, Kumararatne D, Doffinger R, Henderson P, Russell RK, Dyrso T, Seneviratne SL, Matthijs G, Abinun M, Gennery A, Johnson M, van der Meer JWM, Netea MG, Lilic D, Grimbacher B. . In: 15th Biennial Meeting European Society for Immunodeficiency (ESID). 2012, Florence, Italy: Springer.
• Lilic D. . Current Opinion in Microbiology 2012, 15(1), 1-2.
• Smeekens SP, Plantinga TS, van de Veerdonk FL, Heinhuis B, Hoischen A, Joosten LAB, Arkwright PD, Gennery A, Kullberg BJ, Veltman JA, Lilic D, van der Meer JWM, Netea MG. . PLoS One 2011, 6(12), e29248.
• van de Veerdonk FL, Plantinga TA, Hoischen A, Smeekens SP, Joosten LAB, Gilissen C, Arts P, Rosentul DC, Carmichael AJ, van der Graaf CAA, Kullberg BJ, van der Meer JWM, Lilic D, Veltman JA, Netea MG. . New England Journal of Medicine 2011, 365, 54-61.
• Kisand K, Lilic D, Casanova J-L, Peterson P, Meager A, Willcox N. . European Journal of Immunology 2011, 41(6), 1517-1527.
• Ng WF, Tudhope SJ, von Delwig A, Lilic D. . Immunology Letters 2011, 135(1-2), 180-183.
• Puel A, Natividad A, Chrabieh M, Döffinger R, Barcenas-Morales G, Picard C, Ouachée-Chardin M, Toulon A, Bustamante J, Al-Muhsen S, Arkwright PD, Costigan C, McConnell V, Cant AJ, Abinun M, Polak M, Bougnères PF, Kumararatne D, Blanche S, Fischer AM, Bodemer C, Abel L, Lilic D, Casanova JL. . Journal of Experimental Medicine 2010, 207(2), 291-297.
• Ng WF, von Delwig A, Carmichael AJ, Arkwright PD, Abinun M, Cant AJ, Jolles S, Lilic D. . Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2010, 126(5), 1006-1015.
• Puel A, Picard C, Cypowyj S, Lilic D, Abel L, Casanova J. . Current Opinion in Immunology 2010, 22(4), 467-474.
• Koch D, Lilic D, Carmichael AJ. . Clinical and Experimental Dermatology 2009, 34(8), e818-e820.
• Lilic D. . Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine 2009, 10(5), 218-220.
• Hong M, Ryan KR, Arkwright P, Gennery A, Costigan C, Denning D, Cant AJ, Abinun M, Young DA, McConnell V, Spickett GP, Swan DC, Gillespie CS, Lilac D, Dominguez M. . Clinical and Experimental Immunology 2009, 156(1), 40-51.
• Meloni A, Furcas M, Cetani F, Marcocci C, Falorni A, Perniola R, Pura M, Wolff ASB, Husebye ES, Lilic D, Ryan KR, Gennery AR, Cant AJ, Abinun M, Spickett GP, Arkwright PD, Denning D, Costigan C, Dominguez M, McConnell V, Willcox N, Meager A. . Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 2008, 93(11), 4389-4397.
• Ryan KR, Hong M, Arkwright PD, Gennery AR, Costigan C, Dominguez M, Denning D, McConnell V, Cant AJ, Abinun M, Spickett GP, Lilic D. . Clinical and Experimental Immunology 2008, 154(3), 406-414.
• Koch D, Lilic D, Carmichael AJ. . In: 87th Annual Meeting of the British Association of Dermatologists. 2007, Birmingham, UK: British Journal of Dermatology, Wiley-Blackwell.
• Lilic D, Haynes K. . In: Brown, GD; Netea, MG, ed. Immunology of Fungal Infections. The Netherlands: Springer, 2007, pp.361-382.
• Smellie WS, Forth JO, McNulty CAM, Hirschowitz L, Lilic D, Gosling R, Bareford D, Logan E, Kerr KG, Spickett GP, Hoffman J, Galloway A, Bloxham CA. . Journal of Clinical Pathology 2006, 59(2), 113-120.
• Ryan KR, Lawson CA, Lorenzi AR, Arkwright PD, Isaacs JD, Lilic D. . Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2005, 116(5), 1158-1159.
• Abinun M, Lilic D, Gagic N, Pasic S. . Clinical Immunology 2004, 107(3), 202-203.
• Lilic D, Gravenor I, Robson N, Lammas DA, Drysdale P, Calvert JE, Cant AJ, Abinun M. . Infection and Immunity 2003, 71(10), 5690-5699.
• Pasic S, Minic A, Minic P, Veljkovic D, Lilic D, Slavkovic B, Pejnovic N, Abinun M. . Journal of Clinical Immunology 2003, 23(1), 55-61.
• Lilic D. . Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases 2002, 15(2), 143-147.
• Lilic D, Sewell CWA. . Journal of Clinical Pathology 2001, 54(5), 337-338.
• Lilic D, Gravenor I. . Journal of Clinical Pathology 2001, 54(2), 81-83.
• Wahid ST, Lilic D, Newman PK, Bilous RW. . Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 2001, 70, 132-133.
• Parvaneh N, Lilic D, Roesler J, Niehues T, Casanova JL, Picard C. Chapter 6: Defects in intrinsic and innate immunity: receptors and signalling components. In: Rezai,N;Aghamohammadi,A;Notarangelo,L, ed. Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases – Definition, Diagnosis and Management 2nd Ed. Springer, 2017, pp.339-392. In Preparation.
• Koo S, Kejariwal D, Al-Shehri T, Dhar A, Lilic D. . United European Gastroenterology Journal 2017, 5(5), 625-631.
• Al Shehri T, Gilmour K, Gothe F, Loughlin S, Bibi S, Rowan AD, Grainger A, Mohanadas T, Cant AJ, Slatter MA, Hambleton S, Lilic D, Leahy TR. . Journal of Clinical Immunology 2019, 39, 776-785.
• Al Dhanhani H, Al Shehri T, Lilic D, Buddles M, Kisand K, Maccari ME, Leahy TR. . Journal of Clinical Immunology 2018, 38(6), 635-637.
• Leiding JW, Okada S, Hagin D, Abinun M, Shcherbina A, Balashov DN, Kim VHD, Ovadia A, Guthery SL, Pulsipher M, Lilic D, Devlin LA, Christie S, Depner M, Fuchs S, van Royen-Kerkhof A, Lindemans C, Petrovic A, Sullivan KE, Bunin N, Kilic SS, Arpaci F, Calle-Martin ODL, Martinez-Martinez L, Aldave JC, Kobayashi M, Ohkawa T, Imai K, Iguchi A, Roifman CM, Gennery AR, Slatter M, Ochs HD, Morio T, Torgerson TR. . Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2018, 141(2), 704-717.e5.
• Forbes LR, Vogel TP, Cooper MA, Castro-Wagner J, Schussler E, Weinacht KG, Plant AS, Su HC, Allenspach EJ, Slatter M, Abinun M, Lilic D, Cunningham-Rundles C, Eckstein O, Olbrich P, Guillerman RP, Patel NC, Demirdag YY, Zerbe C, Freeman AF, Holland SM, Szabolcs P, Gennery A, Torgerson TR, Milner JD, Leiding JW. . Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2018, 142(5), 1665-1669.
• Al Shehri T, Abinun M, Gennery AR, Rice GI, Crow YJ, Lilic D. . In: UKPIN 2015. 2015, Wiley-Blackwell.
• Sarkar E, Barge D, Dockey D, Abinun M, Gennery A, Flood T, Blazina S, Lendem D, Lilic D. . In: UKPIN 2015. 2015, Wiley-Blackwell.
• Abinun M, Lilic D, Devlin L, Christie S, Edgar D, Depner M, Fuchs S, Grimbacher B, Cant A, Flood T, Hambleton S, Gennery A, Nademi Z, Slatter M. . In: UKPIN 2015. 2015, Wiley-Blackwell.
• Higgins E, Al Shehri T, McAleer MA, Feighery C, Lilic D, Irvine AD. . In: 10th BAD/RCP Medical Dermatology Meeting. 2015, London: Wiley-Blackwell.