Mr Josh Hamilton

Biography

Josh Hamilton is a Senior Research Assistant at the Liverpool Vaccine Group, part of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), where he works on controlled human infection models for streptococcus pneumoniae, SARS-CoV-2, and respiratory syncytial virus. He is also a PhD student researching nitric oxide-based therapies for respiratory infections. Josh’s’ research focuses on the antimicrobial properties of nitric oxide-releasing macromolecules, and their effects on the immune system.

He graduated with a first-class MPharmacol (Hons) in Pharmacology from the University of Bath. As part of his master’s project, Josh worked at Boehringer Ingelheim, investigating small molecule inhibitors of endoplasmic reticulum stress as potential treatments for pulmonary fibrosis. Since joining LSTM, he has contributed to clinical trials and developed in vitro organoid infection models to study host-pathogen interactions. Josh has experience in processing biological samples, immunophenotyping, and microbiological and virology assays.

In addition to his research, Josh participates in public outreach to support clinical trial recruitment. He has received several awards, including the Society for Mucosal Immunology Technique Sharing Grant and the British Pharmacological Society Schacter Award.

 

Research interests

Josh’s main research interests are nitric oxide-based therapies, including investigating antimicrobial and immunomodulatory effects of nitric oxide. Mucosal immunity and trained immunity, including understanding how prior exposures shape immune responses at barrier sites. Host-pathogen interactions, including exploring bacterial and viral interactions with the respiratory epithelium. Pulmonary fibrosis, including epithelial cell and fibroblast interactions in chronic lung diseases. Development of in vitro fibrosis models to study mechanisms and potential therapies.

Selected research publications

RSV and rhinovirus increase pneumococcal carriage acquisition and density, whereas nasal inflammation is associated with bacterial shedding. – Journal: Cell Host and Microbe – Published: 17th August 2024

Participant perceptions and experiences of a novel community-based respiratory longitudinal sampling method in Liverpool, UK: A mixed methods feasibility study – Journal: PLoS ONE – Published: 9th November 2023

Respiratory mucosal immune memory to SARS-CoV-2 after infection and vaccination – Journal: Nature Communications – Published: 26th October 2023

Human Infection Challenge with Serotype 3 Pneumococcus – Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine – Published: 8th July 2022

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