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I am a Respiratory Immunologist with expertise in the use of multiparameter flow cytometry, in vitro systems, and transcriptomics technologies to interrogate human respiratory disease. My research interests encompass all aspects of Type 2 immune responses in the airways, from immunophenotyping to the epigenetic control of Th2 cell differentiation. Current research focuses on examining the role of Type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) in asthma exacerbations, understanding the differentiation and activation of ILC2s, and interrogating the role of novel therapeutics in asthma and COPD. I have been Head of Department of Respiratory Sciences since July 2023.

My research interests centre around developing novel treatments for chronic Respiratory diseases with a focus on Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease (COPD). My expertise is the use of flow cytometry and transcriptomics to immunophenotype patients and identify novel therapeutic targets.

I am a Principal Investigator in the Respiratory & Infection theme of the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC):

Easton, F. A., & Cousins, D. J. (n.d.). Uncovering the Complexities of Interleukin-33 Signalling in COPD. American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine. doi:

Badi, Y. E., Salcman, B., Taylor, A., Rana, B., Kermani, N. Z., Riley, J. H., . . . Adcock, I. M. (2022). IL1RAP expression and the enrichment of IL-33 activation signatures in severe neutrophilic asthma.. Allergy. doi:

Brightling, C. E., Nair, P., Cousins, D. J., Louis, R., & Singh, D. (2021). Risankizumab in Severe Asthma - A Phase 2a, Placebo-Controlled Trial. New England Journal of Medicine, 385(18). doi:

Dhariwal, J., Cameron, A., Wong, E., Paulsen, M., Trujillo-Torralbo, B., Rosario, A. D., . . . Johnston, S. L. (2021). Pulmonary Innate Lymphoid Cell Responses during Rhinovirus-induced Asthma Exacerbations In Vivo. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. doi:

Hardman, C. S., Chen, Y. -L., Salimi, M., Nahler, J., Corridoni, D., Jagielowicz, M., . . . Ogg, G. (2021). IL-6 effector function of group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) is NOD2 dependent. Science Immunology, 6(59). doi:

McErlean, P., Kelly, A., Dhariwal, J., Kirtland, M. E., Watson, J., Ranz, I., . . . Lavender, P. (2020). Profiling of H3K27Ac reveals the influence of asthma on the epigenome of the airway epithelium. Frontiers in Genetics. doi:

Wright, A. K. A., Diver, S., McCarthy, J., Marvin, A., Soares, M., Thornton, T., . . . Brightling, C. (2019). Mepolizumab does not alter the blood basophil count in severe asthma.. Allergy. doi:

Povoleri, G. A. M., Nova-Lamperti, E., Scottà, C., Fanelli, G., Chen, Y. -C., Becker, P. D., . . . Afzali, B. (2018). Human retinoic acid-regulated CD161+ regulatory T cells support wound repair in intestinal mucosa.. Nature Immunology. doi:

Weston, C. A., Rana, B. M. J., & Cousins, D. J. (2018). Differential expression of functional chemokine receptors on human blood and lung group 2 innate lymphoid cells.. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. doi:

Pfeffer, P. E. P., Lu, H., Mann, E. H., Chen, Y. -H., Ho, T. -R., Cousins, D. J., . . . Hawrylowicz, C. M. (2018). Effects of vitamin D on inflammatory and oxidative stress responses of human bronchial epithelial cells exposed to particulate matter.. PLoS ONE. doi:

Recaldin, T., Hobson, P. S., Mann, E. H., Ramadani, F., Cousins, D. J., Lavender, P., & Fear, D. J. (2018). miR-29b directly targets activation-induced cytidine deaminase in human B cells and can limit its inappropriate expression in naïve B cells.. Mol Immunol, 101, 419-428. doi:

Hardman, C. S., Chen, Y. -L., Salimi, M., Jarrett, R., Johnson, D., Järvinen, V. J., . . . Ogg, G. (2017). CD1a presentation of endogenous antigens by group 2 innate lymphoid cells.. Science Immunology. doi:

Wright, A. K. A., Weston, C., Rana, B. M. J., Brightling, C. E., & Cousins, D. J. (2017). Human Group 2 innate lymphoid cells do not express the IL-5 receptor. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. doi:

Cousins, D. J. (2017). Pinning allergies on pathogenic TH2 cells. Science Translational Medicine. doi:

Dhariwal, J., Cameron, A., Trujillo-Torralbo, M., Rosario, A. D., Bakhsoliani, E., Paulsen, M., . . . Walton, R. P. (2017). Mucosal type 2 innate lymphoid cells are a key component of the allergic response to aeroallergen. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. doi:

Slovick, A., Douiri, A., Muir, R., Guerra, A., Tsiouslos, K., Hay, E., . . . Till, S. J. (2016). Intradermal grass pollen immunotherapy increases Th2 and IgE Responses and worsens respiratory allergic symptoms. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2016. doi:

Hertweck, A., Evans, C. M., Eskandarpour, M., Lau, J. C. H., Oleinika, K., Jackson, I., . . . Jenner, R. G. (2016). T-bet activates Th1 genes through Mediator and the Super Elongation Complex. Cell Reports. doi:

Lam, E. P. S., Kariyawasam, H. H., Rana, B. M. J., Durham, S. R., McKenzie, A. N. J., Powell, N., . . . Till, S. J. (2016). IL-25/IL-33 responsive Th2 cells characterize nasal polyps with default Th17 signature in healthy nasal mucosa. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. doi:

Foster, H. R., Fuerst, E., Branchett, W., Lee, T. H., Cousins, D. J., & Woszczek, G. (2016). Leukotriene E4 is a full functional agonist for human cysteinyl leukotriene type 1 receptor-dependent gene expression. Journal of Experimental Medicine 2016. doi:

Foster, H. R., Fuerst, E., Branchett, W., Lee, T. H., Cousins, D. J., & Woszczek, G. (2016). Leukotriene E4 is a full functional agonist for human cysteinyl leukotriene type 1 receptor-dependent gene expression. Scientific Reports. doi:

Salimi, M., Xue, L., Jolin, H., Hardman, C., Cousins, D. J., McKenzie, A. N. J., & Ogg, G. S. (2016). Group 2 innate lymphoid cells express functional NKp30 receptor inducing type 2 cytokine production. Journal of Immunology. doi:

Cousins, D. J., & Weston, C. (2015). Innate Lymphoid Cells. eLS. doi:

Cossarizza, A., & Cousins, D. (2015). Overcoming challenges in cellular analysis: Multiparameter analysis of rare cells. Science, 347(6220), 443. doi:

Jackson, D. D. J., Makrinioti, H., Rana, D. B. M. J., Shamji, M. B. W. H., Trujillo-Torralbo, M. M. -B., Footitt, D. J., . . . Johnston, P. S. L. (2014). IL-33-dependent Type 2 Inflammation During Rhinovirus-induced Asthma Exacerbations In Vivo. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 190(12), 1373-1382. doi:

Pfeffer, P. E., Chen, Y. -H., Woszczek, G., Matthews, N. C., Chevretton, E., Gupta, A., . . . Hawrylowicz, C. M. (2014). Vitamin D enhances production of soluble ST2, inhibiting the action of IL-33.. The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology.

Beale, J., Jayaraman, A., Jackson, D. J., Macintyre, J. D. R., Edwards, M. R., Walton, R. P., . . . Bartlett, N. W. (2014). Rhinovirus-induced IL-25 in asthma exacerbation drives type 2 immunity and allergic pulmonary inflammation.. Science Translational Medicine, 6(256), 256ra134. doi:

Fuerst, E., Foster, H. R., Ward, J. P. T., Corrigan, C. J., Cousins, D. J., & Woszczek, G. (2014). Sphingosine-1-phosphate induces pro-remodelling response in airway smooth muscle cells.. Allergy, 69(11), 1531-1539. doi:

Brough, H. A., Cousins, D. J., Munteanu, A., Wong, Y. F., Sudra, A., Makinson, K., . . . Turcanu, V. (2014). IL-9 is a key component of memory TH cell peanut-specific responses from children with peanut allergy.. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 134(6), 1329-1338.e10. doi:

Viney, J. M., Andrew, D. P., Phillips, R. M., Meiser, A., Patel, P., Lennartz-Walker, M., . . . Pease, J. E. (2014). Distinct conformations of the chemokine receptor CCR4 with implications for its targeting in allergy. Journal of Immunology, 192(7), 3419-3427. doi:

Foster, H. R., Fuerst, E., Lee, T. H., Cousins, D. J., & Woszczek, G. (2013). Characterisation of P2Y(12) receptor responsiveness to cysteinyl leukotrienes.. PLoS One, 8(3), e58305. doi:

Lee, R., Cousins, D. J., Ortiz-Zapater, E., Breen, R., McLean, E., & Santis, G. (2013). Gene expression profiling of endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-derived cytological fine needle aspirates from hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes in non-small cell lung cancer.. Cytopathology, 24(6), 351-355. doi:

Parmentier, C. N., Fuerst, E., McDonald, J., Bowen, H., Lee, T. H., Pease, J. E., . . . Cousins, D. J. (2012). Human T(H)2 cells respond to cysteinyl leukotrienes through selective expression of cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1.. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 129(4), 1136-1142. doi:

Rani, A., Afzali, B., Kelly, A., Tewolde-Berhan, L., Hackett, M., Kanhere, A. S., . . . John, S. (2011). IL-2 regulates expression of C-MAF in human CD4 T cells.. J Immunol, 187(7), 3721-3729. doi:

Sandig, H., McDonald, J., Gilmour, J., Arno, M., Lee, T. H., & Cousins, D. J. (2009). Fibronectin is a TH1-specific molecule in human subjects. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 124(3), 528-535.e5. doi:

Mahn, K., Hirst, S. J., Ying, S., Holt, M. R., Lavender, P., Ojo, O. O., . . . Lee, T. H. (2009). Diminished sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA) expression contributes to airway remodelling in bronchial asthma.. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 106(26), 10775-10780. doi:

Santangelo, S., Cousins, D. J., Triantaphyllopoulos, K., & Staynov, D. Z. (2009). Chromatin structure and DNA methylation of the IL-4 gene in human T <inf>H</inf>2 cells. Chromosome Research, 17(4), 485-496. doi:

Bowen, H., Lee, T. H., Cousins, D. J., & Lavender, P. (2009). Identification of corticosteroid regulated genes in human Th2 cells. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, 182, 1 page. Retrieved from

Urry, Z., Xystrakis, E., Richards, D. F., McDonald, J., Sattar, Z., Cousins, D. J., . . . Hawrylowicz, C. M. (2009). Ligation of TLR9 induced on human IL-10-secreting Tregs by 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 abrogates regulatory function.. J Clin Invest, 119(2), 387-398. doi:

Cousins, D. J., Richards, D., Kemeny, D. M., Romagnani, S., Lee, T. H., & Staynov, D. Z. (2000). DNase I footprinting of the human interleukin-5 gene promoter.. Immunology, 99(1), 101-108. doi:

Ying, S., O'Connor, B., Ratoff, J., Meng, Q., Fang, C., Cousins, D., . . . Corrigan, C. J. (2008). Expression and cellular provenance of thymic stromal lymphopoietin and chemokines in patients with severe asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.. J Immunol, 181(4), 2790-2798. doi:

Lavender, P., Cousins, D., Smith, P., & Lee, T. (2000). Presentation at the National Asthma Campaign International Congress, June 1999: Controlling the inflammatory response through transcriptional mechanisms. Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 30(12), 1697-1708. doi:

Cousins, D. J., McDonald, J., & Lee, T. H. (2008). Therapeutic approaches for control of transcription factors in allergic disease.. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 121(4), 803-809. doi:

Sandig, H., McDonald, J., Gilmour, J., Arno, M., Lee, T. H., & Cousins, D. J. (2007). Human Th2 cells selectively express the orexigenic peptide, pro-melanin-concentrating hormone. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 104(30), 12440-12444. doi:

Gilmour, J., Cousins, D. J., Richards, D. F., Sattar, Z., Lee, T. H., & Lavender, P. (2007). Regulation of GM-CSF expression by the transcription factor c-Maf.. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 120(1), 56-63. doi:

Ying, S., O'Connor, B., Ratoff, J., Meng, Q., Mallett, K., Cousins, D., . . . Corrigan, C. (2005). Thymic stromal lymphopoietin expression is increased in asthmatic airways and correlates with expression of Th2-attracting chemokines and disease severity. Journal of Immunology, 174(12), 8183-8190. doi:

Jee, Y. -K., Gilmour, J., Kelly, A., Bowen, H., Richards, D., Soh, C., . . . Lavender, P. (2005). Repression of interleukin-5 transcription by the glucocorticoid receptor targets GATA3 signaling and involves histone deacetylase recruitment.. J Biol Chem, 280(24), 23243-23250. doi:

Chau, K. Y., Keane-Myers, A. M., Fedele, M., Ikeda, Y., Creusot, R. J., Menozzi, L., . . . Ono, S. J. (2005). IFN-γ gene expression is controlled by the architectural transcription factor HMGA1. International Immunology, 17(3), 297-306. doi:

Rogan, D. F., Cousins, D. J., Santangelo, S., Ioannou, P. A., Antoniou, M., Lee, T. H., & Staynov, D. Z. (2004). Analysis of intergenic transcription in the human IL-4/IL-13 gene cluster.. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 101(8), 2446-2451. doi:

Cousins, D. J., Islam, S. A., Sanderson, M. R., Proykova, Y. G., Crane-Robinson, C., & Staynov, D. Z. (2004). Redefinition of the Cleavage Sites of DNase I on the Nucleosome Core Particle. Journal of Molecular Biology, 335(5), 1199-1211. doi:

Cousins, D. J., Lee, T. H., & Staynov, D. Z. (2002). Cytokine coexpression during human Th1/Th2 cell differentiation: Direct evidence for coordinated expression of Th2 cytokines. Journal of Immunology, 169(5), 2498-2506. doi:

Santangelo, S., Cousins, D. J., Winkelmann, N. E. E., & Staynov, D. Z. (2002). DNA methylation changes at human Th2 cytokine genes coincide with DNase I hypersensitive site formation during CD4⁺ T cell differentiation. Journal of Immunology, 169(4), 1893-1903. doi:

Smith, P. J., Cousins, D. J., Jee, Y. K., Staynov, D. Z., Lee, T. H., & Lavender, P. (2001). Suppression of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor expression by glucocorticoids involves inhibition of enhancer function by the glucocorticoid receptor binding to composite NF-AT/Activator Protein-1 elements¹. Journal of Immunology, 167(5), 2502-2510. doi:

Lavender, P., Cousins, D., & Lee, T. (2000). Regulation of Th2 cytokine gene transcription. Chemical Immunology, 78, 16-29. doi:

Rogan, D. F., Cousins, D. J., & Staynov, D. Z. (1999). Intergenic transcription occurs throughout the human IL-4/IL-13 gene cluster.. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 255(3), 556-561. doi:

Cousins, D. J., Codlin, S. M. S., Lee, T. H., & Staynov, D. Z. (1997). Mutational analysis and further characterization of a novel enhancer in the promoter of the GM-CSF gene in a human T-cell line.. JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY, 99(1), 684. Retrieved from

Cousins, D. J., Staynov, D. Z., & Lee, T. H. (1996). Regulation of cytokine genes implicated in asthma and atopy.. Monographs in allergy, 33, 138-152.

Staynov, D. Z., Cousins, D. J., & Lee, T. H. (1995). A regulatory element in the promoter of the human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor gene that has related sequences in other T-cell-expressed cytokine genes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 92(8), 3606-3610.

STAYNOV, D. Z., COUSINS, D. J., RICHARDS, D., KEMENY, D. M., & LEE, T. H. (1994). TRANSCRIPTIONAL REGULATION OF IL-5 GENE-EXPRESSION IN HUMAN T-CELLS. FASEB JOURNAL, 8(4), A472. Retrieved from

I have successfully supervised over 20 PhD students and welcome informal enquires from potential students via email: dc282@leicester.ac.uk

I teach immunology on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes within the School of Biological Sciences:

Immunity, Infection & Chronic Disease MSc

/courses/infection-and-immunity-msc/2024

Module BS3015 (Year 3)

/modules/2023/bs3015

BSc (Hons). First Class. Microbiology & Genetics, University College London.

PhD. King's College London, entitled 'Transcriptional Regulation of the Cytokine Gene Cluster of Human Chromosome 5q'. Supervisors Dr Dontcho Staynov and Prof Tak Lee.