Dr. Catherine H. Pashley

Research fellow

Research Focus

Aerobiology and Clinical Mycology focusing on the role of fungi in respiratory diseases

Scientific Activities

Catherine Pashley is a Research Fellow at the University of Leicester, running an Aerobiology and Clinical Mycology group within the department of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation. Through her association with the Midlands Asthma & Allergy Research Association (MAARA) the group has the longest running active pollen and fungal spore record in the UK, dating back more than 40 years.

She is interested in the integration of molecular biology with traditional aerobiology and clinical mycology; and their application to understanding the role fungal allergy plays in causing and exacerbating asthma in sensitised individuals. Her research interest’s fall into two main areas: firstly, the detection of fungi from respiratory samples, which includes studies to determine the clinical relevance of the various fungi found, and secondly, the detection of airborne pollen and fungal spores with a particular focus on investigating airborne fungal spore diversity.

Significant Publications

Woolnough KF, Richardson M, Newby C, Craner M, Bourne M, Monteiro W, Siddiqui S, Bradding P, Pashley CH, Wardlaw AJ, The relationship between biomarkers of fungal allergy and lung damage in asthma. Clin Exp Allergy 2016.

Agbetile J, Bourne M, Fairs A, Hargadon B, Desai D, Broad C, Morley J, Bradding P, Brightling CE, Green RH, Haldar P, Pashley CH, Pavord ID, Wardlaw AJ, Effectiveness of voriconazole in the treatment of Aspergillus fumigatus-associated asthma (EVITA3 study). J Allergy Clin Immunol 2014;134: 33-39.

Fairs A, Agbetile J, Hargadon B, Bourne M, Monteiro WR, Brightling CE, Bradding P, Green RH, Mutalithas K, Desai D, Pavord ID, Wardlaw AJ, Pashley CH, IgE sensitization to Aspergillus fumigatus is associated with reduced lung function in asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2010;182: 1362-1368.

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Collaborators