Samuel Lara-Reyna

Profile

I started by receiving medical training at the faculty of Medicine UJED, Mexico, in which I developed an interest in immunology. I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Biology at the University of Texas at San Antonio, Highest Honours and International Distinction,
with a focus on immunology & microbiology. During my studies in Texas, I worked at Dr LeBaron’s laboratory of molecular biology.
I was awarded a CONACyT scholarship in 2015 and moved to Birmingham, UK, in which I obtained my Master’s degree in Immunology and Immunotherapy at the University of Birmingham.
I gained insight into innate immunity at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in which I worked with Professor Andy Clark, within the Institute of inflammation and ageing, rheumatology research group.
After my studies at the University of Birmingham, I was awarded the CONACyT/Leeds Graduate Fellowship to accomplish my doctoral studies in Medicine, at the University of Leeds.
I am currently working at a cystic fibrosis strategic research centre at the University of Leeds, St James's University Hospital, under the supervision of Dr Sinisa Savic, Professor Daniel Peckham, and Professor Michael McDermott.

Research interests

Cellular stress is one of the main physiological activators of the unfolded protein response (UPR) in eukaryotic cells. These cells are under constant environmental and metabolic challenges, which may activate evolutionarily conserved mechanisms, such as the UPR, to reconstitute intracellular homeostasis. When intracellular equilibrium cannot be achieved, either due to specific mutations in key regulatory proteins or the presence of chronic inflammation, the cells may reprogram both gene and protein expression to preserve the most essential cellular functions. The UPR is involved in the regulation of a subset of metabolic, inflammatory and survival signalling pathways, which are important in health and disease. I am interested in the three main sensors of the UPR, namely IRE1, PERK and ATF6, and how these are regulated in immune-related inflammatory disorders. I have a specific interest in the impact and consequences of cellular stress, metabolism and inflammation in immune cells.

Qualifications

• MSc in Immunology & Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham (UK)
• BSc in Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio (USA)

Research groups and institutes

• Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's
• Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine