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A University of Manchester immunologist has received a prestigious research excellence award from the British Society for Immunology. 

Professor Richard Grencis was given the honour for his sustained commitment to the advancement of immunology, leading to significant changes in our understanding of how the immune system works. 

The scientist has been based at The University of Manchester since In 1987 when he was appointed lecturer in immunology at the School of Biological Sciences. He became professor of immunology in 1998. 

Professor Grencis is also academic lead at the University鈥檚 Biological Services Facility, and has been a scientific member of the University of Manchester Animal Welfare Ethical Review body (AWERB) for many years. 

He has pioneered the study of immunity to parasitic infection, some of the most prevalent infections on earth and responsible for much debilitating disease and ill-health. 

Of all the types of parasite, roundworms (nematodes) which live in the gastrointestinal tract are the most common, with in excess of one and a half billion people currently infected. 

He said: 鈥淚 am delighted to receive this award and grateful for the recognition it gives to this crucial area of research.

 鈥淥ur studies focus on defining the regulation of the immune response to roundworm infections which live in the gastrointestinal tract. 

鈥淭here is an urgent need to tackle this problem: millions of people living in low and middle income countries, especially children, have to contend with the terrible problems caused by roundworm parasites. 

鈥淭here are currently no vaccines for these parasites in humans and a deeper understanding of how the immune system deals with roundworms helps us towards this goal. 

鈥淎n added bonus is that our studies have also helped us make new fundamental discoveries of how the immune system works. 

鈥淢uch progress has been made in this area, but there is still a long way to go.鈥�