Contact details

Professor Danny M Altmann

Professor of Immunology
Division of Investigative Science

Tel: +44 (0)20 8383 8423
Email: Email address for Professor Danny M Altmann

Prof Daniel M Altmann

Meet the Human Disease Immunogenetics Group

	Name: Danny Altmann I am the Head of the Human Disease Immunogenetics Group and Professor of Immunology/Deputy Head of Department in the Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunity. Mini Bio: I have worked for a number of years in the area of CD4 T cells and HLA class II in disease models. I moved to Imperial College in 2001 following several years as a tenured scientist with the Medical Research Council Clinical Research Centre. Prior to that I worked at Imperial Cancer Research Fund, the Weizmann Institute of Science and University of Bristol. Role model: Alastair Cook (for his ability to tell a good story). Hobbies: I used to have many hobbies including sculpting and literature, now too busy looking after many children. Favourite Holiday Spot: At a Tuscan villa in the vineyard by a pool, with a large glass of wine, reading Iris Murdoch and watching the children play.

	Name: Aceel Al-Anizi I am a PhD student in Danny Altmann's lab. My project mainly focuses on the interactions between the Killer Cell Immunoglobulin-Like Receptors, and HLA-C molecules. Mini bio: Graduated from King Saud University, Riyadh, with a BSc in Biochemistry, then moved to London and completed my MSc in Molecular Medicine at Imperial College London. Role model: I have many roles, and so shift between various models. Hobbies: Swimming, music, psychology and travelling. Favourite Holiday Spot: Cape Town .

	Name: Stephanie Ascough (Steff) I am a Research Assistant and part-time PhD student working with HLA class II transgenic models on the T cell response to Bacillus anthracis. Mini bio: BSc in Parasitology at Aberdeen University. Role model: Rosalind Franklin (except without the dying young bit). Hobbies: Exploring London by going to gigs, theatre, opera. Scuba-diving (when I get the time) and hiking (when I get out of London). Favourite Holiday Spot: I love travelling, so for me anywhere new is exciting. Especially loved Laos and Vietnam.

	Name: Deborah (Debs) Chong I am a PhD student in Danny Altmann's lab working on Treg control during bacterial infection (Group A Streptococcus) using a murine model. Mini bio: Graduated from Oriel College, Oxford with a Masters in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry (MBiochem). Role model: Watson and Crick (for discovering the structure of DNA without doing any experiemental work) If only all science was like that! Hobbies: Generally socialising, going to the cinema and being dragged up and down the Thames in a rowing boat (aka coxing) Fave holiday spot: Definitely Hong Kong - great food, climate and shopping! Anywhere that is warm with great food and drink. A bit of culture wouldn't go amiss as well!

	Name: Karen Chu I am continuing the work begun by Dr. Ingram on CD4 T cell responses to Bacillus anthracis and Yersinia pestis antigens. This work involves screening peptide epitopes across a panel of HLA types using the super elegant and reductionist HLA transgenic mice. Mini bio: I did my doctorate in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in my hometown of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. I then decided to run away to London to do a three year postdoctoral research post in Dr. Greg Bancroft's lab at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, looking at vaccine candidates for the opportunistic tropical pathogen, Burkholderia pseudomallei. Role model: Too many! Alison Goodwin, Lucy Brooks, Marjorie Robbins, Cristina Tognon, Chandrabala Shah, Margaret Atwood, Tina Fey, my sisters... Hobbies: Baking, crocheting, yoga, sucking at the Sony Wii, complaining about sucking at video games, books on CD are the new crack for me Favourite holiday spot: I will never tire of going to Whistler, B.C., summer, winter, spring, fall...

	Name: Beckie (Rebecca) Ingram I am am a post doc, working on T cell responses to bacterial antigens. I am involved with two projects, the first characterising the role of regulatory T cells in acute group A streptococcal infections. The second, epitope mapping CD4 responses to Bacillus anthracis and Yersinia pestis. Mini Bio: After completion of a PhD in parasitology I commenced working for Imperial College in 2002. My first post was studying the immune correlates of protection from progression of HIV in Uganda. I started work on the bacterial T-cell epitope project in July 2005. Role Model: Carol Vorderman - when I was little I wanted to grow up to be just like her. Hobbies: Lab work! When I manage to escape from that - socialising, running and gardening. Favourite Holiday Spot: Im not fussy - as long as it is warm and there is a beach, I'm happy - though mojitos help too!

	Name: Louise Kim Project Manager Mini Bio: After completing a Ph.D. in HIV Immunology, I worked at Imperial College as a post-doc. After that I moved to UCL to work as Project Coordinator for an international TB project at the Centre for Infectious Diseases. I am now, back, at Imperial College as Project Manager for Danny's NIH funded project. Role model: Richard Branson Hobbies: I enjoy nice food, the theatre and jacuzzis. Favourite holiday spot: Anywhere hot and sunny where I can have good seafood.

	Name: Daniel Lowther I am a PhD student working to characterise disease in a spontaneous murine model of multiple sclerosis. Mini bio: My undergraduate degree was reading Biological Sciences at St Peter’s College, Oxford and I subsequently completed an MRes at Newcastle University before moving to Imperial. Role model: Martin Johnson, he has a very respectful no nonsense approach, one I admire and think more people should follow. Hobbies: I play a lot of rugby, tennis, and cricket if I can afford the time plus I especially enjoy good food, good music and a post match beer or two. Favourite holiday spot: Either flying down a mountain in Colorado with two bits of plastic attached to my feet, or somewhere very hot with a pool and tennis court.

	Name: Sabine Steinbach I am a Research technician investigating the role of different costimulatory molecules in multiple sclerosis. Mini bio: I did my PhD work at the Robert Koch-Institut in Berlin identifying the new chemokine ATAC (huLtn). I worked for a few month as a research scientist at the Charité, Berlin investigating possible autoantigens in Rheumatology. Looking after two children I decided to take up a job with more regular hours and worked for some years as a research scientist at BioGenes GmbH, Berlin, responsible for quality management and immunoassay R&D. Role model: Ever changing Hobbies: All that’s left with two children is baking and gardening Favourite holiday spot: All places I haven’t seen yet.

	Name: Ben Wakerley I am a Clinical Research Fellow funded by the MRC. Mini bio: I am training to be a neurologist and have a specialist interest in neuroinflammitory conditions. My Ph.D. is on T cell responses to myelin epitopes in multiple sclerosis. Role model: David Beckham Hobbies: I just started playing golf. I enjoy fishing and wild life photography. Favourite holiday spot: India - Haridwar

	Name: Joel Abrahams I am the mouse PCR and Southern Blottin’ man. I do whatever I am told to do in the lab. Mini bio: I have been at Imperial for the last 10 years since finishing my Degree in Applied Ecology. Prior to that I ran a successful flooring maintenance company, but got bored. Role model: My six year old son who behaves better than I do and will play for his club and country at football, something I missed out on. Favourite hobbies: I love scuba diving whenever I get the chance and am a loyal supporter of Queens Park Rangers and take the kids whenever they are not cleaning chimneys. Favourite holiday destination: It’s got to be Hawaii and the U.S. I’d love to visit South Africa and Australia for the sharks.

Name: Joel Abrahams
I am the mouse PCR and Southern Blottin’ man. I do whatever I am told to do in the lab.
Mini bio: I have been at Imperial for the last 10 years since finishing my Degree in Applied Ecology. Prior to that I ran a successful flooring maintenance company, but got bored.
Role model: My six year old son who behaves better than I do and will play for his club and country at football, something I missed out on.
Favourite hobbies: I love scuba diving whenever I get the chance and am a loyal supporter of Queens Park Rangers and take the kids whenever they are not cleaning chimneys.
Favourite holiday destination: It’s got to be Hawaii and the U.S. I’d love to visit South Africa and Australia for the sharks.