Rate My Professor Robert Gray

Professor Robert Gray is Professor of Respiratory Medicine in the School of Infection & Immunity at the University of Glasgow, where he serves as Co-Deputy Head of School. He holds the position of Honorary Consultant Respiratory Physician at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Professor Gray completed his training in respiratory medicine in Edinburgh and held consecutive intermediate Wellcome and senior NRS/CSO fellowships prior to his appointment at the University of Glasgow. Beginning his career as a clinical doctor, he shifted focus to the clinical care of people with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease leading to lung problems with infection and damage, while developing a research program in lung inflammation.

His research examines spontaneous lung repair processes in cystic fibrosis and other lung diseases, utilizing ex-vivo models to investigate lung damage and repair mechanisms. The group maps inflammation in cystic fibrosis through analysis of tissue from affected individuals and others with lung diseases, applying technologies such as single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial biology. Professor Gray has investigated S100 proteins, including calprotectin, in the lung for 15 years, progressing from their identification as biomarkers to exploration as potential drug targets. In October 2024, he delivered his inaugural lecture entitled ‘Cystic Fibrosis Lung Research: A Journey From Bedside To Bench And Back Again’. Key publications include: Frost et al., 'Managing an ageing cystic fibrosis population: challenges and priorities' (European Respiratory Review, 2025); Law et al., 'Neutrophil extracellular traps are associated with airways inflammation and increased severity of lung disease in Cystic Fibrosis' (ERJ Open Research, 2024); Skinner et al., 'SERS microsensors for the study of pH regulation in cystic fibrosis patient-derived airway cultures' (ACS Sensors, 2024); Gray et al., 'Understanding and addressing the needs of people with cystic fibrosis in the era of CFTR modulator therapy' (Lancet Respiratory Medicine, 2023); Gillan et al., 'CAGE sequencing reveals CFTR-dependent dysregulation of type I IFN signaling in activated cystic fibrosis macrophages' (Science Advances, 2023); Carter et al., 'Acute pulmonary exacerbation phenotypes in patients with cystic fibrosis' (Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 2022); Gray et al., 'Delayed neutrophil apoptosis enhances NET formation in cystic fibrosis' (Thorax, 2022); Hardisty et al., 'Ivacaftor modifies cystic fibrosis neutrophil phenotype in subjects with R117H residual function CFTR mutations' (European Respiratory Journal, 2021); Gillan et al., 'Targeting cystic fibrosis inflammation in the age of CFTR modulators: focus on macrophages' (European Respiratory Journal, 2020).