New BSI Committee Members 2025

Professor Siobhán Burns 

Clinical Research Secretary and Trustee

"I am a clinical academic immunologist in Primary immunodeficiency (PID). I trained in Paediatric Immunology at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London (GOSH) and the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. I completed a PhD at University College London (UCL) in 2002, studying dendritic cell biology in Wiskott Aldrich Syndrome, and since then have pursued a clinical academic career. I worked at GOSH and the UCL Institute of Child Health before moving to the UCL Institute of Immunology and Transplantation and the linked Adult Immunology service at the Royal Free London Hospital. I currently hold the positions of Professor of Translational Immunology at UCL and Honorary Consultant in Immunology at the Royal Free.

I have a broad experience in research from basic science through to clinical trials. My research group seeks to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying PID including identifying new genetic causes and developing assays for functional validation of genetic variants.  I have a particular interest in the clinical application of genomics and I am co-PI for the NIHR Bioresource INTREPID project, integrating multi-omic data sets to improve diagnosis and treatment for patients with PID – with application for other areas of immunology research.

I am actively engaged with international efforts for patients with immunological disease including the ClinGen Immunology Clinical Domain working to determine the clinical relevance of genes and variants for PID and the European Society of Immunodeficiency (ESID) – European Reference Network (ERN) RITA Human Phenotype Ontology consortium which is establishing the standardized clinical phenotyping for PID. I served on the ESID Board from 2020-2024 as Chair of the Clinical Working Party where I promoted clinical research, professional development and best practice for PID.

 Over the past 25 years Clinical Immunology, I have seen major advances in patient management enabled by research. Collaboration between clinicians, clinical and basic science researchers has been fundamental for meaningful progress from the step-change in diagnostics afforded by next generation genetic sequencing, to development of targeted drug therapies based on better understanding the molecular mechanisms of disease, to realisation of novel curative gene therapy approaches.

I am motivated to take this position as BSI Clinical Research Secretary and Trustee to promote and facilitate research that will continue to improve the way we care for patients.

My main areas of focus, if I am elected, will be:

1. To bring together clinical and research expertise to foster collaboration
2. To work across different clinical disciplines to promote immunology research with impact for patients
3. To support the next generation of immunology researchers

My specific aims would be:

1. To establish a Clinical Research Working Party to develop research initiatives across diverse areas of immunology and clinical disciplines
2. To work with stakeholders including patients, industry and policy makers to maximise research impact
3. To establish training and career development opportunities for the next generation of immunology researchers"

Professor Lucy Walker

Treasurer and Trustee 

"I am Professor of Immune Regulation at University College London. I have been a member of the BSI for over 25 years and recognise and value its important position at the heart of the immunology community.  I would like to be considered for the role of Treasurer and Trustee so I can play an active part in ensuring the Society remains strong, relevant and accountable - both financially and to its members. 

I believe I have the skills necessary for this role, having managed significant research budgets, both on an individual level and in the context of multi-institutional European consortia. I have the required experience of chairing committees, having worked with the MRC, Wellcome and NC3Rs in this capacity, and also bring Board-level experience from two terms on the NC3Rs Board, as well as participation in various international assessment panels tasked with conducting Departmental reviews in the UK and overseas.

I am passionate about ensuring the BSI remains a society that genuinely reflects and serves its diverse membership. I believe that great science flourishes in inclusive, supportive environments and I have a strong personal commitment to mentoring, career development, and championing the values of equity, transparency, and accountability.

It is, I believe, increasingly important that we are outward-facing and maintain strong scientific links with international partners. To this end, I have worked with colleagues across Europe to initiate an international seminar series, coordinated an EFIS study group (T cell connect Europe), organised a Royal Society Theo Murphy International Scientific Meeting and also led events through my role as Chair of the BSI Autoimmunity Affinity Group. I frequently engage with my local MP to champion the importance of science funding within Westminster and have participated in a number of events at the Houses of Parliament. 

In summary, I fully support the mission of the BSI and if elected as Treasurer and Trustee I commit to serving the Society with energy, enthusiasm and integrity."

Dr Alexandra Dvorseck 

Early Career Representative

"I have recently moved to London from Australia after completing my PhD at Monash University. Although I’m new here, I’ve long admired the BSI and their work in fostering a strong, inclusive community and promoting opportunities for immunologists at all career stages. I’m excited to contribute to this mission by joining the BSI committee as an ECR representative and furthering this work.

Throughout my career so far, I have prioritised promoting a positive research culture as well as performing high quality research. I’ve always been motivated to support my peers and provide an inclusive environment, and through my various representative roles, I’ve gained valuable insight into the needs, challenges, and goals of ECRs.

I was the Monash Graduate Association representative for my campus for three years, where I organised regular professional development seminars, career expos, and social events. I also served as the Victorian/Tasmanian student and ECR representative for the Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology (ASI) for three years. In that time, I helped organise student networking events and winter seminars, and founded the ASI Mentor-Mentee Program—an ongoing program that I consider one of my greatest career achievements. I am also an active member of the ASI Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, have sat on various social committees, chaired the ECR Committee for the ASI2022 conference and have volunteered at Open Days and community outreach events, such as vaccination cafes. So now I am looking to bring that enthusiasm and willingness to promote and provide opportunities to the ECRs of BSI!

My main priority as an ECR is to foster connections between ECRs across the wider community. Building inter-institutional relationships is key to growing a supportive and diverse scientific network and forging collaborations as ECRs is incredibly important for our career development and progression. Additionally, meeting like-minded individuals and forming friendships within research can provide a strong foundation for support as we navigate the unique hurdles and challenges that a career in science can present. 

To promote this connection, I would love to establish a BSI ECR network—an initiative aimed at promoting regular communication, collaboration, and career development opportunities for ECRs across institutions and locations. This could include an ECR directory, outlining the backgrounds, scientific interests, goals and contact details of researchers to promote connectivity. Additionally, I would like to organise ECR-focused events (virtual and in-person), such as scientific and professional development workshops and networking socials to encourage interaction. Building on this, an ECR invited speaker program, where ECRs host each other at their institutes for a seminar, lab visit, etc, will further create opportunities for collaboration and deeper understanding of each other’s work.

Much of my career has been dedicated to supporting others and building communities. I believe I have the experience, commitment and most importantly the enthusiasm to maximise the potential of this role and I hope to offer a fresh perspective and new ideas to the BSI, and enhance the experiences of ECRs and beyond."

James McLaren 

Wales representative

"As a member of the BSI for the majority of my career so far, I am acutely aware of the huge benefits the BSI provide to the immunological community. From providing funding for members to attend national and international meetings, to supporting early career researchers (ECRs) and helping regional groups to attract external speakers for seminars, the BSI plays a fundamental role in supporting the immunology community. As such, the BSI is hugely important for creating networking opportunities that help to encourage collaboration and support career progression. Such events as the BSI Congress and Summer School are occasions that my own career has definitely benefitted from.

I am currently a Senior Lecturer in Immunology at Cardiff University and my research focuses on how adaptive immune responses are mobilised and regulated during virus and bacterial infection. I am passionate about immunological research, particularly in our immunity to infection which has been under the global spotlight in recent years as when the world was immersed in the COVID-19 pandemic. I am running for election to become the Wales Representative for the BSI Forum as it provides a fantastic opportunity to be involved with the future direction of the BSI. This feels incredibly important given the challenges we have faced in past years and continue to experience in the research community. I want to bring forward ideas from my experiences and to provide a local perspective from members in Wales. Additionally, I wish to help build upon the support that ECRs receive from the BSI, especially those aiming to transition from their post-doctoral stage to independent researcher. This period forms a major first step in the career of promising researchers and providing new ways to support individuals at this stage will help them to achieve their goals. Accordingly, the BSI Forum is something that I want to be a part of and I feel that I can make a valuable contribution in shaping the impending directives of the BSI."

Professor Clare Bennett 

BSI Congress Committee General Member

"My nomination to join the BSI congress committee reflects over two decades of committed involvement with the British Society for Immunology (BSI) and a longstanding dedication to the broader immunology community. As an active and engaged BSI member, I have consistently sought to contribute to the society’s mission of advancing immunology and promoting collaboration, inclusivity, and excellence in science. 

My research focuses on the dynamic interplay between the immune system and barrier tissues, with a particular emphasis on the skin. At the core of our work is understanding how immune cells maintain tissue function and how these processes are altered during disease. My team has redefined the biology of Langerhans cells - tissue-resident macrophages of the skin epidermis - and uncovered key mechanisms underlying their role in skin immunity and skin disease pathologies. 

Based at the UCL Cancer Institute, but also established within the broader UCL immunology community, I sit at the intersection of immunology and cancer research. This unique position enables me to bring a cross-disciplinary perspective to scientific discussions, helping shape research agendas that are both innovative and translational. I am especially motivated to help develop the BSI scientific programme in a way that reflects the evolving interface between fundamental and applied immunology. 

Beyond research, I am committed to supporting scientific excellence through national and international peer review and evaluation of research funding. I served as a panel member for the Swedish Research Council Immunity and Inflammation programme (2022–2024) and currently sit on the Research Council of Finland’s Cancer and Immunology review panel. These roles have given me valuable insight into emerging trends across European immunology and enable me to identify the next generation of scientific leaders -  perspectives I would bring to shaping the annual BSI Congress. 

I am also committed to working in partnership with patients and the public. Previously funded by Blood cancer UK, I had the privilege of engaging directly with patients who raised funds for laboratory research.  Since 2024, I have served on the Alopecia UK Research Committee, collaborating with clinicians and patients to shape funding priorities. These roles have helped me better understand public perspectives and highlighted the importance of aligning scientific priorities with community needs, which I would bring to the committee. 

Education and mentorship are central to my principles. I have led UCL MSc modules in Cancer Immunology since 2014  helping to shape the next generation of immunologists.  I am deeply committed to widening participation, particularly for school pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, through programmes such as UCL Expand, with which we welcome disadvantaged pupils from London schools to the Cancer Institute and In2Science.  As a BSI mentor, I guide students and early career researchers through career development, and I am also proud to be a trusted advisor for colleagues navigating the early stages of scientific independence. 

Through my research, education and outreach, I hope to bring valuable insight and energy to the Congress Committee and support the continued growth and excellence of the BSI."

Professor Victor Tybulewicz

BSI Congress Committee General Member

"If elected to the BSI Congress Committee, I will bring experience in organising conferences. Over the last 10-15 years I have organised several FASEB conferences, 2 Keystone conferences, as well as smaller workshops. My research interests are in the signalling pathways of lymphocytes, thus I can bring expertise in molecular immunology to the Congress Committee, complementing existing strengths in cellular and clinical immunology. The BSI Congress is the highlight of the year for Immunology research in the UK and beyond. To keep it at this level, I would strongly support generating a diverse program covering a broad range of immunological research, picking out the most exciting new areas of the discipline for presentation at Congress."

Dr Nicholas Provine

BSI Congress Committee General Member

"I believe I will make an invaluable contribution to the BSI Congress Committee as a General Member because of the specific perspectives I will bring with regards to both scientific interests and career stage experience.

I am a Wellcome-funded Career Development Fellow in the Pandemic Sciences Institute at the University of Oxford and established my own research group about 18 months ago. Thus, I feel I can represent the experience of the process of establishing a new research group in the current scientific climate. I look forward to the opportunity to supporting the BSI Congress’ efforts to support and facilitate this major career step for fellow immunologists, particularly through unique opportunities, training, and networking. More generally, I am passionate about immunology education and career development for young trainees. I have several roles in Oxford’s MSc in Integrated Immunology course (both full-time and part-time online), have supervised two MSc students to enrol in PhD programmes, and have successfully supervised four PhD students. I am currently helping organise the early career researcher event for our institute's annual international meeting (Pandemic Sciences Conference 2025). I particularly look forward to the shaping role that the BSI Congress can play in the development of trainees, for example through the Bright Sparks programme.

My unique and broad scientific background will also be of benefit to the Committee. While my research group is focused on fundamental vaccine immunology, this covers a broad swathe of specialist focuses, including B and T cell immunology, innate-to-adaptive crosstalk, and tissue immunology. I have experience working in both human and mouse immunology and have active projects in complex human in vitro immunology models. Research techniques range from cutting-edge cellular immunology to single-cell multiomics. Historically, I have also performed research in the areas of unconventional T cells (basic biology and translational relevance), human gastrointestinal immunology (including transplant), neuroimmunology, and infectious disease immunology (SARS-CoV-2 and HIV). This broad research interest enables me to represent and bridge the interests of many immunology sub-disciplines and thereby serve as a representative on behalf of many groups. I know first-hand the exciting science that develops by collaboration across disciplines and will use the BSI Congress as a platform to support and foster such interdisciplinary work.

I hope I have demonstrated the unique skills that I can bring to the BSI Congress Committee to further the overall mission to support our immunology community in driving scientific discovery and making a positive impact on health through contributing to the development of unique opportunities afforded by our annual national and international meetings."

Dr Régis Joulia 

BSI Congress Committee Early Career Member

I have been a member of the BSI since 2018, when I moved to London following the completion of my PhD in France. Before joining the BSI, I was and still am a member of the French Society for Immunology where I experienced my first congresses, gave my first presentations, and met my future postdoc supervisor. With time, I now realise how important these initial interactions at congresses are as they can shape scientific careers and how scientific societies such as the BSI are fundamental in enabling these moments to happen.

I undertook my postgraduate studies in Toulouse, France, where I analysed the cellular mechanisms of mast cell degranulation. Despite a badge available at every BSI congress, most immunologists have only vaguely heard of mast cells and their importance for immune response. Since my PhD and my following postdoctoral work at Queen Mary University London in the lab of Prof. Nourshargh, I continue to work to understand how these cells contribute to immune response. I have a strong background in imaging inflammation, and I applied this training to study the role of these enigmatic cells in regulating neutrophil migration from the blood to the inside of tissue. Following the award of a Wellcome Career Development Award, I am now working at the National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) where I investigate the impact of mast cells on lung vasculature during respiratory disorders.  

At every stage of my career, I have been supported by the various funding opportunities offered by the BSI including travel grants for international and national congresses. I am also part of a program created by the BSI to integrate ECRs into journal editorial boards such as the BSI journal, Clinical and Experimental Immunology. This fantastic opportunity is essential to gain a better understanding of how journals operate from the inside and it has given me various opportunities to get involved. 

During my career, I have worked alongside various members of the BSI from healthcare professionals to industrial partners and basic researchers who are the greatest strength of this association. Being part of the BSI Congress Committee would be an incredible opportunity to allow me to share the voices and concerns of the ECRs at the heart of the biggest immunology society. I would like to strengthen our relationship with other European Immunological Societies. We are all aware of the recent difficulties of attracting European ECR researchers to UK post Brexit and increasing our relations with other societies will improve our network to attract people but also promote the excellent work of British ECRs abroad.      

Dr David Lowe

BSI-CIPN Conference Programme Committee - General Member

"I trained in Infectious Diseases and General Medicine before discovering the wonderful world of Immunology! I work at the Royal Free London managing a large cohort of patients with immune deficiency. We hold a number of joint clinics and MDTs including with Hepatology, Respiratory, Gastroenterology and Dermatology. I also still do some Infectious Diseases (eg TB clinic) and acute medicine. I feel this gives me a unique perspective on the intersection between Clinical Immunology and other areas of medicine, and I would be keen to develop these themes in the CIPN conference programme, with greater input from other specialists.

My research interests are mainly in the complications of immune deficiency, including (but not limited to) chronic or challenging infections. These are also areas I would champion for inclusion in the conference, even - or perhaps especially - when there are no easy answers. 

I am passionate about patient experience and think we could improve our health systems, holistic care and advice (including on lifestyle and travel) as well as management of multimorbidity and palliative care. I'm sure we can all learn from experts in these areas.

I always enjoy the CIPN conference and find it the most clinically relevant event I attend. If elected to the organising committee, I would work hard to ensure that this fantastic meeting goes from strength to strength."