Research Interests

Dr. Ann W Morgan
arc Clinician Scientist/ Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant Rheumatologist

Institute of Molecular Medicine, Epidemiology and Cancer Research/ Academic Department of Musculoskeletal Disease

Tel: 0113 206 5250
Fax: 0113 244 4475
Email: a.w.morgan@leeds.ac.uk

Background: BSc, MBChB(Hons), PhD: Leeds, MRCP: London

The main focus of my group is to determine the role that the Fcg receptors (FcgRs) play in the development and severity of human autoimmunity. Our original immunogenetic studies demonstrated an association between FCGR3A and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Haplotype analyses have revealed stronger associations with specific haplotypes demonstrating a 3 fold increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis and 5 fold increase in nodular rheumatoid. Although our work has largely focused on rheumatoid arthritis, the results are readily transferable to other autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. A greater understanding of these molecular events and the role that this gene family plays in disease pathogenesis may ultimately lead to novel therapeutic approaches for a range of autoantibody-induced pathologies.
We are currently elucidating the molecular organisation of this gene cluster, which has evolved through several duplication events, and are undertaking a fine-mapping study in rheumatoid arthritis. A range of functional studies are underway to elucidate how these genetic variants may modulate the disease process.
As a clinician I also maintain an active interest in the Hereditary Connective Tissue Diseases, the inflammatory eye diseases and the mechanisms of action and non-response to biological therapies.

Related Publications

Morgan AW, Emery PE, Isaacs JD. Fcg receptors are critical modulators of inflammation within the synovium: comment on the article by Blom et. al. Arthritis Rheum 50: 1352-1353; 2004.

Morgan AW, Keyte VH, Babbage SJ, Robinson JI, Ponchel F, Bhakta BB, Bingham SJ, Buch MH, Conaghan PG, Gough A, Green M, Lawson CA Pease CT, Markham AF, Ollier WER, Emery P, Worthington J, Isaacs JD. FcgRIIIA-158V and rheumatoid arthritis. A confirmation study. Rheumatology 2003; 42: 534-540.

Ponchel F, Morgan AW, Bingham SJ, Quinn M, Buch M, Verburg, RJ, Henwood J, Douglas SH, Masurel A, Conaghan PG, Gesinde M, Taylor J, Markham AF, Emery P, Ma D, VanLaar JM, Isaacs JD. Dysregulated lymphocyte proliferation and differentiation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Blood 100: 4550-4556; 2002.

Morgan AW, Griffiths B, Barrett JH, Markham AF, Emery P, Isaacs JD. Fcg receptor type IIIA is associated with rheumatoid arthritis in two distinct ethnic groups. Reply. Arthritis Rheum 46: 557-9; 2002.

McKibbin M, Clark B, Isaacs JD, Morrell, AJ, Griffiths B, Morgan AW, Gooi H-C. Does the shared epitope genotype influence either the susceptibility to or the phenotype of corneal melting? Eye 15: 492-6; 2001.

Morgan AW, Griffiths B, Ponchel F, Montague BMN, Ali M, Gardener PP, Gooi H-C, Situnayake RD, Markham AF, Emery P, Isaacs JD. Fcg receptor IIIA is associated with rheumatoid arthritis in two distinct ethnic groups. Arthritis Rheum 43: 2328-34; 2000.