缅北禁地

Dr Kenneth F Baker, PhD, MRes, BA(Hons), BMBCh, MRCP(UK), PGCert(Med Ed) 

NIHR Advanced Fellow, Clinical Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant Rheumatologist

I am a clinical academic rheumatologist working at 缅北禁地 and The 缅北禁地 upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. My work combines experimental medicine clinical trials, laboratory immunological phenotyping and qualitative research to better understand and predict flare and drug-free remission in rheumatoid arthritis.

Current Roles

NIHR Advanced Fellow and Clinical Senior Lecturer, 缅北禁地

Honorary Consultant Rheumatologist, The 缅北禁地 upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Other current responsibilities

1. Chair of Versus Arthritis Research Advisory Committee for Adult Inflammatory Arthritis (2024-present)

2. Member of British Society for Rheumatology Heberden Committee (annual conference scientific organising committee (2022-present)

3. Clinical Academic member of the national JRCPTB Rheumatology Specialist Advisory Committee (2023-present)

Qualifications

2018: PhD ("Predictors of drug-free remission in rheumatoid arthritis", 缅北禁地)

2016: PGCertMedEd (Dundee University)

2014: MRes in Translational Medicine and Therapeutics (缅北禁地)

2011: MRCP(UK) (Royal College of Physicians of London)

2008: BM BCh (Oxford University, Merton College)

2005: BA(Hons) Medical Sciences (Oxford University, Merton College)

The work of my research team focuses on rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a common disease affecting 1 in 100 adults where the immune system mistakenly attacks the joints, causing pain, stiffness and swelling. Historically RA was difficult to control for many patients, and joint destruction and disability were commonplace. In contrast, modern treat-to-target regimens of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) now allow over two-thirds of patients to achieve disease remission by suppressing the immune system. However, these powerful drugs carry potentially severe risks including toxicity and infection, require regular blood tests, and are costly and time-consuming to prescribe and monitor. We and others have shown through clinical trials of DMARD withdrawal that half of patients with RA in remission can reduce or stop DMARDs without a flare of their arthritis. However, it is currently impossible to accurately predict this in the clinic.

My research team aims to:

1. Discover biomarkers of immune phenotype and function to predict flare and drug-free remission, and further develop these towards assays that could be used to guide DMARD tapering in the clinic

2. Characterise the immunological processes underpinning rheumatoid arthritis flare and remission, to identify potential novel ways to treat and prevent arthritis flares

3. Develop new ways to remotely monitor for flare using wearable technology, to help detect flare earlier in patients who are reducing (tapering) their drugs

4. Understand the patient perspective of drug tapering and drug-free remission, to help support shared treatment decisions between patients and their rheumatology team

Current research team members:

Dr Jasmine Sim, Postdoctoral Research Associate

Miss Sofia Sorbet-Santiago, PhD Student

My current and previous research grants to-date (PI and Fellowships) total £2.3m. My active research grants include:

1. "Beyond Remission": NIHR Advanced Fellowship, 1.2m (2024-2028). A 4-year fellowship which aims to better understand patient decision-making in drug tapering, detect early warning signals of arthritis flare during drug-tapering using wearable technology, and to understand the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of drug-tapering strategies in routine clinical practice.
2. The SustaINed drug-Free remissiON in rheumatoId Arthritis (SINFONIA) study : Foundation for Research in Rheumatology (FOREUM), €600k (2023-2026, Chief Investigator). An international multi-centre study with collaborators in Leiden, Erlangen-Nuremburg and Northumbria universities to identify and validate biomarkers of drug-free remission, to characterise the immune mechanisms underpinning this, and to understand the experience of patients living with rheumatoid arthritis in sustained drug-free remission.

I have supervised 5 PhD students:

1. Sofia Sorbet-Santiago (2022-present) - new techniques for automated analysis of flow cytometry data, and using machine learning to predict arthritis flare and drug-free remission
2. Nana Aboagye (2023-present) - digital biomarkers of fatigue in chronic disease
3. Billy Smith (2023-present) – digital measures of circadian rhythm in epilepsy
4. Dr Jasmine Sim (2020-2023) - predicting and understanding drug-free remission in rheumatoid arthritis
5. Dr Fiona Rayner (2018-2021) - biological factors that limit sustained remission in rheumatoid arthritis

I have also supervised one MRes student:

Tom Bradley (2024)

I have examined three PhD theses as external examiner:

1. Anabelle Nicole Smith (Glasgow University, 2024)
2. Luc Francis (King's College London, 2024)
3. Hira Noman (Manchester University, 2023)

I have been educational supervisor for two rheumatology clinical trainees, and am a personal tutor for students on the Masters of Clinical Research course at 缅北禁地.

• Articles

  • Sarvestan J, Baker KF, Silvia Del Din S. . Bioengineering 2025, 12(1), 18.
  • MacDonald L, Elmesmari A, Somma D, Frew J, Di Mario C, Madhu R, Paoletti A, Simakou T, Hardy OM, Tolusso B, Campobasso D, Perniola S, Gessi M, Gigante MR, Petricca L, Bruno D, Coletto LA, Benvenuto R, Isaacs JD, Filby A, McDonald D, Sim JPX, Jamieson N, Wei K, D'Agostino MA, Millar NL, Milling S, McSharry C, Gremese E, Affleck K, Baker KF, McInnes IB, Otto TD, Korsunsky I, Alivernini S, Kurowska-Stolarska M. . Immunity 2024, 57(12), 2843-2862.e12.
  • Baker KF, McDonald D, Hulme G, Hussain R, Coxhead J, Swan D, Schulz AR, Mei HE, MacDonald L, Pratt AG, Filby A, Anderson AE, Isaacs JD. . Nature Communications 2024, 15, 1063.
  • Lin CMA, Bennett J, Rajagopala L, Hunter E, Lorenzi AR, Griffiths B, Baker KF. . Rheumatology 2023, 62(6), e185-e187.
  • Shields AM, Anantharachagan A, Arumugakani G, Baker K, Bahal S, Baxendale H, Bermingham W, Bhole M, Boules E, Bright P, Chopra C, Cliffe L, Cleave B, Dempster J, Devlin L, Dhalla F, Diwakar L, Drewe E, Duncan C, Dziadzio M, Elcombe S, Elkhalifa S, Gennery A, Ghanta H, Goddard S, Grigoriadou S, Hackett S, Hayman G, Herriot R, Herwadkar A, Huissoon A, Jain R, Jolles S, Johnston S, Khan S, Laffan J, Lane P, Leeman L, Lowe DM, Mahabir S, Lochlainn DJM, McDermott E, Misbah S, Moghaddas F, Morsi H, Murng S, Noorani S, O'Brien R, Patel S, Price A, Rahman T, Seneviratne S, Shrimpton A, Stroud C, Thomas M, Townsend K, Vaitla P, Verma N, Williams A, Burns SO, Savic S, Richter AG. . Clinical and Experimental Immunology 2022, 209(3), 247-258.
  • Vlachogiannis N, Baker K, Georgiopoulos G, Lazaridis C, Schim van der Loeff I, Hanrath A, Sopova K, Tual-Chalot S, Gatsiou A, Spyridopoulos I, Stamatelopoulos K, Duncan C, Stellos K. . Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle 2022, 13(3), 1502-1513.
  • RECOVERY Collaborative Group, Inc. The 缅北禁地 Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Hunter E, De Soyza A, Agbeko R, Baker K, Barr A, Cameron E, Campbell Hewson Q, Duncan C, Emonts M, Fenn A, Francis S, Glover Bengtsson J, Greenhalgh A, Hanrath A, Houghton K, Jerry D, Jones G, Kelly S, Lane N, Macfarlane J, McAlinden P, McCullagh I, McDonald S, Mohammed O, Obukofe R, Parker J, Patience A, Payne B, Price D, Razvi S, Robson S, Sanchez Gonzalez A, Stephenson E, Welton R, West S, Wong E, Yelnoorkar J. . The Lancet 2022, 399(10325), 665-676.
  • Stephenson E, Reynolds G, Botting RA, Calero-Nieto FJ, Morgan MD, Tuong ZK, Bach K, Sungnak W, Worlock KB, Yoshida M, Kumasaka N, Kania K, Engelbert J, Olabi B, Spegarova JS, Wilson NK, Mende N, Jardine L, Gardner LCS, Goh I, Horsfall D, McGrath J, Webb S, Mather MW, Lindeboom RGH, Dann E, Huang N, Polanski K, Prigmore E, Gothe F, Scott J, Payne RP, Baker KF, Hanrath AT, Schim van der Loeff ICD, Barr AS, Sanchez-Gonzalez A, Bergamaschi L, Mescia F, Barnes JL, Kilich E, de Wilton A, Saigal A, Saleh A, Janes SM, Smith CM, Gopee N, Wilson C, Coupland P, Coxhead JM, Kiselev VY, van Dongen S, Bacardit J, King HW, Rostron AJ, Simpson AJ, Hambleton S, Laurenti E, Lyons PA, Meyer KB, Nikolic MZ, Duncan CJA, Smith KGC, Teichmann SA, Clatworthy MR, Marioni JC, Göttgens B, Haniffa M. . Nature Medicine 2021, 27, 904-916.
  • Hanrath AT, Schim van der Loeff I, Lendrem DW, Baker KF, Price DA, McDowall P, McDowall K, Cook S, Towns P, Schwab U, Evans A, Dixon J, Collins J, Burton-Fanning S, Saunders D, Harwood J, Samuel J, Schmid ML, Pareja-Cebrian L, Hunter E, Murphy E, Taha Y, Payne BAI, Duncan CJA. . Frontiers in Medicine 2021, 8, 636160.
  • Li CKH, Baker K, Jones T, Coulson E, Roberts A, Birrell F. . Arthritis Care and Research 2021, 73(9), 1306-1311.
  • Baker KF, Hanrath AT, Schim van der Loeff I, Kay LJ, Back J, Duncan CJA. . Clinical Medicine 2021, 21(2), 84-89.
  • Calderon M, Li A, Bazo-Alvarez JC, Dennis J, Baker KF, Schim van der Loeff I, Hanrath AT, Capstick R, Payne BAI, Weiand D, Hunter E, Schwab U. . JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance 2021, 3(3).
  • Stamatelopoulos K, Georgiopoulos G, Baker KF, Tiseo G, Delialis D, Lazaridis C, Barbieri G, Masi S, Vlachogiannis NI, Sopova K, Mengozzi A, Ghiadoni L, Ajdini B, Ghiadoni L, van der Loeff IS, Vlachopoulos C, Dimopoulos MA, Falcone M, Stellos K, Duncan CJA, Tiseo G, Barbieri G, Masi S, Mengozzi A, Falcone M, Monzani F, Menichetti F, Virdis A, Forfori F, Rubia B, Pietro B, Francesco C, Alessandra DR, Giulia B, Fabio G, Paolo M, Marco M, Chiara P, Naria P, Alessandro C, Carrozzi L, Francesco C, Santini M, Alessandro C, Martina B, Matteo B, Elia N, Stefano S, Francesca R, Giovanna F, Maria S, De Marco S, Rachele A, Valeria C, Simone P, Luciano C, Chiara S, Valentina G, Uliana M, Baker KF, van der Loeff IS, Hanrath AT, Hanrath AT, Duncan CJA, Tee SA, Capstick R, Marchitelli G, Li A, Barr A, Eid A, Ahmed S, Bajwa D, Mohammed O. . Scientific Reports 2021, 11(1), 20239.
  • Baker KF, Hanrath AT, Schim van der Loeff I, Tee SA, Capstick R, Marchitelli G, Li A, Barr A, Eid A, Ahmed S, Bajwa D, Mohammed O, Alderson N, Lendrem C, Lendrem DW, COVID Control Group THE, COVID Clinical Group THE, Pareja-Cebrian L, Welch A, Field J, Payne BAI, Taha Y, Price DA, Gibbins C, Schmid ML, Hunter E, Duncan CJA. . Medical Sciences 2021, 9(1), 6.
  • Shields AM, Burns SO, Savic S, Richter AG, Anantharachagan A, Arumugakani G, Baker K, Bahal S, Bermingham W, Bhole M, Boules E, Bright P, Burns S, Cleave B, Dempster J, Devlin L, Dhalla F, Drewe E, Duncan C, Dziadzio M, Elkhalifa S, Gennery A, Goddard S, Grigoriadou S, Hayman G, Herwadkar A, Huissoon A, Jain R, Jolles S, Johnston S, Leeman L, Mahabir S, MacLochlainn D, McDermott E, Misbah S, Morsi H, Murng S, Noorani S, O'Brien R, Patel S, Price A, Richter A, Seneviratne S, Shields A, Shrimpton A, Stroud C, Vaitla P, Verma N. . Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2021, 147(3), 870-875.
  • Rayner F, Anderson AE, Baker KF, Buckley CD, Dyke B, Fenton S, Filer A, Goodyear CS, Hilkens CMU, Hiu S, Kerrigan S, Kurowska-Stolarska M, Matthews F, McInnes I, Ng W-F, Pratt AG, Prichard J, Raza K, Siebert S, Stocken D, Teare MD, Young S, Isaacs JD. . BMC Rheumatology 2021, 5, 22.
  • Baker KF, Thompson B, Lendrem DW, Scadeng A, Pratt AG, Isaacs JD. . Therapeutic Advances in Musculoskeletal Disease 2020, 12.
  • Manson JJ, Crooks C, Naja M, Ledlie A, Goulden B, Liddle T, Khan E, Mehta P, Martin-Gutierrez L, Waddington KE, Robinson GA, Ribeiro Santos L, McLoughlin E, Snell A, Adeney C, Schim van der Loeff I, Baker KF, Duncan CJA, Hanrath AT, Lendrem BC, De Soyza A, Peng J, J'Bari H, Greenwood M, Hawkins E, Peckham H, Marks M, Rampling T, Luintel A, Williams B, Brown M, Singer M, West J, Jury EC, Collin M, Tattersall RS. . The Lancet Rheumatology 2020, 2(10), e594-e602.
  • Baker KF, Skelton AJ, Lendrem DW, Scadeng A, Thompson B, Pratt AG, Isaacs JD. . Journal of Autoimmunity 2019, 105, 102298.
  • Baker KF, Isaacs JD, Thompson B. . BMC Rheumatology 2019, 3, 2.
  • Baker KF, Pratt AG, Thompson B, Isaacs JD. . Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 2017, 76(6), e12.
  • Baker KF, Jandial S, Thompson B, Walker D, Taylor K, Foster HF. . BMC Medical Education 2016, 16, 227.
  • Baker K, Morris J, McCarthy N, Saldana L, Lowther J, Collinson A, Young M. An outbreak of norovirus infection linked to oyster consumption at a UK restaurant, February 2010. Journal of Public Health 2011, 33(2), 205-11.

• Letters

  • Hanrath AT, Payne BAI, Duncan CJA. . Journal of Infection 2021, 82(4), e29-e30.
  • Baker KF, Pratt AG, Isaacs JD. . JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association 2021, 326(9), 872-873.
  • Hunter E, Price DA, Murphy E, Schim van der Loeff I, Baker KF, Lendrem D, Lendrem C, Schmid ML, Pareja-Cebrian L, Welch A, Payne BAI, Duncan CJA. . The Lancet 2020, 395(10234), e77-e78.

• Note

  • Baker KF, Spierings J, Brom M, Radstake T, Smith E, Weiss R, Burmester G, Bijlsma JWJ, McInnes I, Lories R, Pitzalis C, Distler JHW, Cope AP, Distler O, Hoffmann-Vold AM, Goess CA, Reinke-Breen L, Lauwerys B, Gerlag DM, Singh R, Hegen M, Oliver S, Vesely R. . Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 2025, 84(2), 153-157.

• Reviews

  • Baker KF, Sim JPX, Isaacs JD. . The Lancet Rheumatology 2021, 3(5), e371-e382.
  • Baker KF, Isaacs JD. . Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 2018, 77(2), 175-187.
  • Baker KF, Isaacs JD. . Current Opinion in Rheumatology 2014, 26(2), 219-227.