Dr Emma Chambers, Senior Lecturer in the Centre for Immunobiology and Infection at the Blizard Institute, has been awarded a £1.1 million Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) New Investigator Research Grant (NIRG) to advance our understanding of how menopause affects immune function.

The project will build on recent work from the Chambers Lab exploring how menopause influences the phenotype and function of mononuclear phagocytes, a key group of immune cells involved in inflammation, tissue homeostasis and host defence. The research aims to uncover how hormonal changes during menopause alter immune cell behaviour and contribute to health outcomes in later life.

A central component of the programme will be the use of human-relevant in vitro models to investigate the impact of menopause on mononuclear phagocyte biology, in collaboration with Professor John Connelly. Another pillar will be to dissect the metabolic consequences of menopause on monocyte biology, in collaboration with Professor Sian Henson.

The research will help close a critical gap in our understanding of menopause and immunity while showcasing the power of predictive in vitro models to address important blind spots in women's health and support healthier ageing.