On March 6th, 2024, Professor Adam Croft delivered his inaugural lecture, ‘Restoring order to the joint: fibroblasts as cellular checkpoints of inflammation’.
As the Versus Arthritis Chair of Rheumatology and head of the Rheumatology Research Group at the University of Birmingham, Professor Croft led research on the role of fibroblasts in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Fibroblasts, essential structural cells in body tissues, were found to orchestrate tissue inflammation, particularly in chronic joint diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.
During the lecture, Professor Croft highlighted the pivotal role of fibroblasts in joint inflammation, describing them as conductors of the ‘immunological orchestra’. His research identified different fibroblast subtypes with either pathological or regulatory functions, leading to targeted therapies to restore diseased joints.
The lecture was presented both in person and online via Zoom.
Here is a video the University of Birmingham Marketing and Communications Team recorded ahead of the lecture.
