Kenny Baillie (Affiliate)

Translational genomics in critical illness

Research in a Nutshell

We are trying to understand the mechanisms that make people desperately sick in sepsis, influenza and emerging infections, so that we can find ways to help them survive and recover.

Since there is biological variation in the host response to injury, and some of this variation is genetic, we can use this genetic variation to find new treatments.

We develop and use computational methods to combine data from different sources. The ultimate aim is to use these signals to lead us to biological processes that might be amenable to treatment. We use viral respiratory illness as a model for the broader host response to critical injury.

We develop and apply computational tools, and use in vitro and in vivo genome editing with CRISPR to generate and test hypotheses.

External Website

Contact

j.k.baillie@ed.ac.uk

Publications

1. Translational genomics. Targeting the host immune response to fight infection Baillie, J. K., 23 May 2014, In: Science. 344, 6186, p. 807-808 2 p.

2. An atlas of active enhancers across human cell types and tissues, Andersson, R., Gebhard, C., Miguel-Escalada, I., Hoof, I., Bornholdt, J., Boyd, M., Chen, Y., Zhao, X., Schmidl, C., Suzuki, T., Ntini, E., Arner, E., Valen, E., Li, K., Schwarzfischer, L., Glatz, D., Raithel, J., Lilje, B., Rapin, N., Bagger, F. O., & 31 others, 26 Mar 2014, In: Nature. 507, 7493, p. 455-61 7 p.

3. IFITM3 restricts the morbidity and mortality associated with influenza, GenISIS Investigators, The MOSAIC Investigators & Haley, C., 26 Apr 2012, In: Nature. 484, 7395, p. 519-23 5 p.

4. Somatic retrotransposition alters the genetic landscape of the human brain, Baillie, J. K., Barnett, M. W., Upton, K. R., Gerhardt, D. J., Richmond, T. A., De Sapio, F., Brennan, P., Rizzu, P., Smith, S., Fell, M., Talbot, R. T., Gustincich, S., Freeman, T. C., Mattick, J. S., Hume, D. A., Heutink, P., Carninci, P., Jeddeloh, J. A. & Faulkner, G. J., Nov 2011, In: Nature. 479, 7374, p. 534-537 4 p.

5. Cystatin C is associated with adverse COVID-19 outcomes in diverse populations, Kleeman, S. O., Cordioli, M., Timmers, P. R. H. J., Khan, A., Tober-Lau, P., Kurth, F., Demichev, V., Meyer, H. V., Wilson, J. F., Ralser, M., Kiryluk, K., Ganna, A., Baillie, K. & Janowitz, T., 21 Oct 2022, In: iScience. 25, 10, 12 p., 105040.

Full publication list can be found on Research Explorer: Kenneth Baillie — University of Edinburgh Research Explorer

Collaborations

• Alison Meynert
• Chris Ponting

Partners and Funders

• Wellcome Trust
• BBSRC
• Sepsis Research (FEAT)
• Intensive Care Society
• MRC