Andrew N. J. McKenzie

McKenzie was educated at the University of London where he was awarded a PhD for research on the immune response of the bluebottle fly (Calliphora vomitoria),^[3] covering both humoral immunity and cell-mediated immunity.

McKenzie's research investigates how the innate immune system and adaptive immune system protect the body from infection, but can also lead to inflammation and pathology.^[4] He has defined and characterised how biological networks orchestrate responses to pathogens and how dysregulation of these biological pathways can lead to diseases such as asthma and allergy.^[4][5]

His identification of the cytokine Interleukin 13 and the subsequent unearthing of its central role in allergic asthma led to his discovery of type-2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2).^[6][7] These cells secrete large quantities of cytokines and represent a new druggable biological target for intervention in inflammation and infection.^[4]

McKenzie was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 2017^[4] and a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (FMedSci) in 2011.^[8]