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School of Medicine

Dr Rob Niven MBChB, MRCP, FRCP,MD, MFOM, BSc

Senior Lecturer in Respiratory Medicine

University Hospital of south manchester NHS Foundation Trust, North West Lung Centre, Southmoor Road, Manchester, M23 9LT

 

Research

Research in the last 4 years has focussed around severe asthma. This interest has spawned from the clinical severe asthma service founded 10 years ago, which now boasts one of the largest severe asthma populations in the UK (approx 500 ever seen, nearly 400 on regular follow up and 100 new referrals per year). Recent research themes have looked at new treatments including hypertonic saline and anti-fungal therapy as charitable sponsored activity, and bronchial thermoplasty, anti IgE therapy and anti IL13 as pharmaceutical/industry supported activty, new diagnostic aids including helium MR-scanning, measurments of patterns of dysfunctional breathing (respiratory inductance plethysmography) and psychological factors and their interaction with disease.
 

Biography

Dr Niven leads one of 4 centres developing the severe asthma, national database programme, with a severe asthma network including, Belfast, Leicester and London – Brompton as collaborators. Other centres are being incorporated if a lanned MRC bid is succesful.

Dr Niven continues to support the Occupational Lung disease programme as well, performing research in cotton and endotoxin exposed workers, and supporting the National group for Occupational respiratory disease (GORDS).

Finally Dr Niven collaborates in primary care and epidemiological stuidies on asthma and has recently published on the protective effect of BCG vaccination at birth on the prevalence of childhood respiratory disease.

 

Qualifications

BSC Med Sci St Anderews Universtiy 1981

MBChB Manchester Univeratiy 1984

MRCP (UK) 1988

FRCP June 2001

MD Manchester University 1994

MFOM June 1996 (AFOM 1992)

 

Publications

2011

  • Menzies, D., Holmes, L., McCumesky, G., Prys-Picard, C. & Niven, R (2011). Aspergillus sensitization is associated with airflow limitation and bronchiectasis in severe asthma. Allergy, 66(5), 679-85. eScholarID:127953 | PMID:21261660 | DOI:10.1111/j.1398-9995.2010.02542.x
  • Thomson, N., Rubin, A., Niven, R., Corris, P., Siersted, H., Olivenstein, R., Pavord, I., McCormack, D., Laviolette, M., Shargill, N., Cox, G. & . (2011). Long-term (5 year) safety of bronchial thermoplasty: Asthma Intervention Research (AIR) trial. BMC Pulm Med, 11, 8. eScholarID:127954 | PMID:21314924 | DOI:10.1186/1471-2466-11-8

2010

  • Castro, M., Rubin, A., Laviolette, M., Fiterman, J., De Andrade Lima, M., Shah, P., Fiss, E., Olivenstein, R., Thomson, N., Niven, R., Pavord, I., Simoff, M., Duhamel, D., McEvoy, C., Barbers, R., Ten Hacken, N., Wechsler, M., Holmes, M., Phillips, M., Erzurum, S., Lunn, W., Israel, E., Jarjour, N., Kraft, M., Shargill, N., Quiring, J., Berry, S., Cox, G. & . (2010). Effectiveness and safety of bronchial thermoplasty in the treatment of severe asthma: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial. Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 181(2), 116-24. eScholarID:127951 | PMID:19815809 | DOI:10.1164/rccm.200903-0354OC
  • Heaney, L., Brightling, C., Menzies-Gow, A., Stevenson, M., Niven, R. & . (2010). Refractory asthma in the UK: cross-sectional findings from a UK multicentre registry. Thorax, 65(9), 787-94. eScholarID:127950 | PMID:20805172 | DOI:10.1136/thx.2010.137414
  • Moffatt, M., Gut, I., Demenais, F., Strachan, D., Bouzigon, E., Heath, S., von Mutius, E., Farrall, M., Lathrop, M., Cookson, W. & . (2010). A large-scale, consortium-based genomewide association study of asthma. N Engl J Med, 363(13), 1211-21. eScholarID:127952 | PMID:20860503 | DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa0906312

2009

  • Denning, D., O'Driscoll, B., Powell, G., Chew, F., Atherton, G., Vyas, A., Miles, J., Morris, J. & Niven, R (2009). Randomized controlled trial of oral antifungal treatment for severe asthma with fungal sensitization: The Fungal Asthma Sensitization Trial (FAST) study. Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 179(1), 11-8. eScholarID:127955 | PMID:18948425 | DOI:10.1164/rccm.200805-737OC
  • Francis HH, Colecliffe W, Hazell ML, Singh SD, Niven RR M, Hagan G, Spencer M, Frank TL. (2009). Prevalence of airflow obstruction in patients attending a rapid access chest pain clinic. Respir Med, 103( 5), 736-742. eScholarID:1d19818 | DOI:10.1016/j.rmed.2008.11.016
  • Linehan MF, Frank P, Niven RR M, Hazell ML, Morris JJA, Francis HH, Frank TL. (2009). Prevalence of respiratory symptoms, features of asthma, and characteristics associated with respiratory disease, in 6-11 year olds in Manchester. Prim Care Respir J, 18(1), 21-26. eScholarID:1d19822 | DOI:10.3132/pcrj.2008.00041

2007

  • Bakirci N, Kalaca S, Francis H, Fletcher AM, Pickering CA, Tumerdem N, Cali S, Oldham L, Niven RR M. (2007). Natural History and Risk Factors of Early Respiratory Responses to Exposure to Cotton Dust in Newly Exposed Workers. J Occup Environ Med, 49( 8), 853-861. eScholarID:1d31618
  • Cox G, Thomspn NC, Sperb-Rubin A, Niven, RR M, Corris P, Siersted HC, Olivenstein R, Pavord I, McCormack D, Chaudhuri R, Miller J, Laviolette M. (2007). Asthma Control during the year after Brochial thermoplasty. N Eng J Med, eScholarID:1d33126
  • Cox, G, Thomson, N, Rubin, A, Niven, RR M, Corris, P, Siersted, H, Olivenstein, R, Pavord, I, McCormack, D, Chaudhuri, R, Miller, J, Laviolette, M. (2007). Asthma control during the year after bronchial thermoplasty. N Engl J Med, 356( 13), 1327-37. eScholarID:1d15590 | DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa064707
  • Fishwick, D, Barber, C, Bradshaw, L, Harris-Roberts, J, Francis, M, Naylor, S, Ayres, J, Burge, S, Corne, J, Cullinan, P, Frank, T, Hendrick, D, Hoyle, J, Jaakkola, M, Newman-Taylor, A, Nicholson, P, Niven, RR M, Pickering, T, Rawbone, R, Stenton, C, Warburton, C, Curran, A. (2007). STANDARDS OF CARE FOR OCCUPATIONAL ASTHMA. Thorax, eScholarID:1d31783
  • Linehan G, Frank TL, Hazell ML, Francis HC, Morris JM, Baxter DB, Niven RR M. (2007). Is the prevalence of wheeze in children altered by neonatal BCG vaccination. J Allergy Clin Immunology, eScholarID:1d14601 | DOI:10.1016/j.jaci.2006.12.672
  • Pavord I, Cox G, Thomson N, Rubin A, Corris P, Niven RR M, Chung K, Laviolette M. (2007). Safety and efficacy of bronchial thermoplasty in symptomatic, severe asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 176( 12), 1185-91. eScholarID:1d31782

2006

  • Denning DW, O'Driscoll B, Hogaboam C, Bowyer P, Niven RR M. (2006). The link between fungi and severe asthma: a summary of the evidence. Eur Respir J, 27( 3), 615-26. eScholarID:1d14392
  • Fishwick, D, Bradshaw, L, Henson, M, Stenton, C, Hendrick, D, Burge, S, Niven, RR M, Warburton, C, Rogers, T, Rawbone, R, Cullinan, P, Barber, C, Pickering, T, Williams, N, Ayres, J, Curran, A. (2006). Occupational Asthma. An assessment of diagnostic agreement between physicians. Occup Environ Med, eScholarID:1d30857
  • Francis HC, Prys-Picard C, Fishwick D, Stenton C, Burge S, Bradshaw LM, Ayres JG, Campbell SM, Niven RR M. (2006). Defining and investigating occupational asthma: a consensus approach. Occup Environ Med, eScholarID:1d30455
  • Goldstein R, Bright J, Jones SM, Niven RR M. (2006). Severe vocal cord dysfunction resistant to all current therapeutic interventions. Respir Med, eScholarID:1d30531
  • Prys-Picard C, Campbell S, Ayres J, Miles J, Niven RR M. (2006). Defining and investigating difficult asthma: developing quality indicators. Respir Med, 100( 7), 1254-61. eScholarID:1d30554
  • Prys-Picard C, Kellett F, Niven RR M. (2006). Disproportionate breathlessness associated with deep sighing breathing in a patient presenting with difficult-to-treat asthma. Chest, 130( 6), 1723-5. eScholarID:1d30535
  • Prys-Picard C, Niven RR M. (2006). Urinary incontinence in patients with bronchiectasis. Eur Respir J, 27( 4), 866-7. eScholarID:1d14617 | DOI:10.1183/09031936.06.00138605
  • Simpson A, John S, Jury F, Niven R, Niven RR M, Woodcock AA, Ollier WER, Custovic A. (2006). Endotoxin Exposure, CD14 and Allergic Disease: An Interaction between Genes and the Environment. Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 174(4), 386-392. eScholarID:1d13021 | DOI:10.1164/rccm.200509-1380OC
  • Tavernier, G, Fletcher, G, Gee, I, Watson, A, Blacklock, G, Francis, H, Fletcher, A, Frank, TL, Frank, P, Pickering, C, Niven, RR M. (2006). IPEADAM study: indoor endotoxin exposure, family status, and some housing characteristics in English children. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 117( 3), 656-62. eScholarID:1d14616 | DOI:10.1016/j.jaci.2005.12.1311

2005

  • Kellett F, Redfern J, Niven RR M. (2005). Evaluation of nebulised hypertonic saline (7%) as an adjunct to physiotherapy in patients with stable bronchiectasis. Respir Med, 99( 1), 27-31. eScholarID:1d29753
  • Lohani S, Niven RR M. (2005). Images in clinical medicine. Bilateral pulmonary-artery aneurysms in Behcet's syndrome. N Engl J Med, 353( 4), eScholarID:1d30586
  • Tavernier, G, Fletcher, G, Francis, H, Oldham, L, Fletcher, A, Blacklock, G, Stewart, L, Gee, I, Watson, A, Frank, TL, Frank, P, Pickering, C, Niven, RR M. (2005). Endotoxin exposure in asthmatic children and matched healthy controls: results of IPEADAM study. Indoor Air, 15 Suppl 10, 25-32. eScholarID:1d30710
  • Travernier G, Fletcher GD, Frank TL, Frank P, Pickering CC A, Francis HC, Niven RR M. IPEADAM study, indoor pollution, endotoxin allergens and damp in asthma.. 2005. eScholarID:19d293

2004

  • Bhowmick B, Niven RR M. (2004). Unilateral vocal cord palsy: a non-psychogenic cause of vocal cord dysfunction. Respir Med, 98( 7), 677-8. eScholarID:1d29163
  • Lewis S, Cherry N, Niven RR M, Barber P, Povey AC. (2004). Associations between smoking, GST genotypes and N7-methylguanine levels in DNA extracted from bronchial lavage cells. Mutat Res, 559( 1-2), 11-8. eScholarID:1d11232

2003

  • Francis H, Fletcher G, Anthony C, Pickering C, Oldham L, Hadley E, Custovic A, Niven RR M. (2003). Clinical effects of air filters in homes of asthmatic adults sensitized and exposed to pet allergens. Clin Exp Allergy, 33( 1), 101-5. eScholarID:1d9439
  • Niven RR M. (2003). The endotoxin paradigm: a note of caution. Clin Exp Allergy, 33( 3), 273-6. eScholarID:1d28737

2002

  • Fishwick, D, Raza, S, Beckett, P, Swan, J, Pickering, C, Fletcher, A, Niven, RR M, Francis, H, Rawbone, R, Curran, A. (2002). Monocyte CD14 response following endotoxin exposure in cotton spinners and office workers. Am J Ind Med, 42( 5), 437-42. eScholarID:1d28497
  • Lewis S, Cherry N, Niven RR M, Barber P, Povey A. (2002). GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 polymorphisms and lung cancer risk. Cancer Lett, 180( 2), 165-71. eScholarID:1d28533

2001

  • Frank P, Frank TL, Cropper J, Hirsch S, Niven RR M, Hannaford P, McNamee R. (2001). The use of a screening questionnaire to identify children with likely asthma. Br J Gen Pract, 51( 463), 117-20. eScholarID:1d28540
  • Hirsch S, Shapiro J, Turega M, Frank TL, Niven RR M, Frank P. (2001). Using a neural network to screen a population for asthma. Ann Epidemiol, 11( 6), 369-76. eScholarID:1d28537
  • Lewis S, Cherry N, Niven RR M, Barber P, Povey A. (2001). Polymorphisms in the NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase gene and small cell lung cancer risk in a UK population. Lung Cancer, 34( 2), 177-83. eScholarID:1d28534
  • Frank PI, Frank TL, Crooper J, Hirsh S, Niven RR M, Hannaford PC, McNamee R. The use of a screening questionaire to identify children with likely asthma. Vol. 51. 2001. 117-120. eScholarID:19d234
  • Hirsh S, Shapiro J, Turega M, Frank TL, Niven RR M, Frank PI. Using a neurol network to screen a population for asthma. Vol. 11. 2001. 369-376. eScholarID:19d231
  • Murphy R, Mackway-Jones K, Sammy I, Gray A , O'Ddriscoll R, O;Reilly J, Niven, RR M, Bentley A, Bear G, Kishen R. Emergency oxygen therapy forthe breathless patient: giudelines prepared by the North West Oxygen Group.. Vol. 184. 2001. 333-339. eScholarID:19d240

2000

  • Dodd M, Kellet F, Davis A, Simpson J, Webb A, Haworth C, Niven RR M. (2000). Audit of oxygen prescribing before and after the introduction of a prescription chart. BMJ, 321( 7265), 864-5. eScholarID:1d31485
  • Niven RR M, Fletcher A, Pickering C, Faragher E, Potter I, Booth W, Jones T, Potter P. (2000). Building sickness syndrome in healthy and unhealthy buildings: an epidemiological and environmental assessment with cluster analysis. Occup Environ Med, 57( 9), 627-34. eScholarID:1d31708
  • Vyas A, Pickering C, Oldham L, Francis H, Fletcher A, Merrett T, Niven RR M. (2000). Survey of symptoms, respiratory function, and immunology and their relation to glutaraldehyde and other occupational exposures among endoscopy nursing staff. Occup Environ Med, 57( 11), 752-9. eScholarID:1d31655
  • Dodd ME, Kellet F, Davies A, Simpson JCG, Webb Ak, Haworth CS, Niven RR M. Audit of oxygen prescriping before and after the intrroduction od a prescribing chart.. Vol. 321. 2000. 864-5. eScholarID:19d239
  • Niven RR M, Fletcher AM, Pickering CC A, Faragher EB, Potter IN, Booth WB, Jones TJ, Potter PDR. Building sickness syndrome in Healthy and Unhealthy builidngs: an epidemiological and enviromental assessment using cluster analysis. Vol. 57. 2000. 627-634. eScholarID:19d244
  • Vyas A, Pickering CC A, Niven RR M, Oldham LA, Francis H, Fletcher AM, Merrett T. Survey of symptoms, respiratory function and immunology in endoscopy staff and their relationship to glutaraldehyde and other occupational exposures. Vol. 57. 2000. 752-759. eScholarID:19d246

1999

  • Haworth C, Niven RR M, Moorcroft A, Phillips A, Dodd M, Webb A. (1999). Acute anaphylaxis following midline catheterisation in a patient with cystic fibrosis. Thorax, 54( 8), eScholarID:1d31696
  • Niven RR M, Pickering C. (1999). Is atopy and smoking important in the workplace? Occup Med (Lond), 49( 3), 197-200. eScholarID:1d31697
  • Niven RR M, Pickering CC A, Fletcher Am, Custovic A, Kennaugh J, Sivious JB, Preece AR, Oldham LA, Fransis HC. (1999). Attempting to control mitrs and mite allergen with mechanical vntilation and dehumidification in british homes. 103(5), 754-762. eScholarID:1d4466
  • Raza S, Fletcher A, Pickering C, Niven RR M, Faragher E. (1999). Respiratory symptoms in Lancashire textile weavers. Occup Environ Med, 56( 8), 514-9. eScholarID:1d31654
  • Raza S, Fletcher A, Pickering C, Niven RR M, Faragher E. (1999). Ventilatory function and personal breathing zone dust concentrations in Lancashire textile weavers. Occup Environ Med, 56( 8), 520-6. eScholarID:1d31484
  • Simpson J, Niven RR M, Pickering C, Oldham L, Fletcher A, Francis H. (1999). Comparative personal exposures to organic dusts and endotoxin. Ann Occup Hyg, 43( 2), 107-15. eScholarID:1d31702
  • Haworth CS, Selby PL, Webb Ak, Dodd ME, Musson H, Niven RR M. Lowe bone mineral density in adults with cystic fibrosis. Vol. 54. 1999. 961-7. eScholarID:19d237

1998

  • Niven RR M, Fletcher A, Pickering C, Fishwick D, Francis H, Warburton C, Oldham L. (1998). A comparison of performance of two personal sampling heads for cotton dust. Ann Occup Hyg, 42( 4), 253-8. eScholarID:1d31707
  • Simpson J, Niven RR M, Pickering C, Fletcher A, Oldham L, Francis H. (1998). Prevalence and predictors of work related respiratory symptoms in workers exposed to organic dusts. Occup Environ Med, 55( 10), 668-72. eScholarID:1d31701

1997

  • Niven RR M, Fletcher A, Pickering C, Fishwick D, Warburton C, Simpson J, Francis H, Oldham L. (1997). Chronic bronchitis in textile workers. Thorax, 52( 1), 22-7. eScholarID:1d31483

1996

  • Thatcher N, Niven RR M, Anderson H. (1996). Aggressive vs nonaggressive therapy for metastatic NSCLC. Chest, 109( 5 Suppl), 87S-92S. eScholarID:1d31653

1995

  • Custovic A, Taggart S, Niven RR M, Woodcock A. (1995). Evaluating exposure to mite allergens. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 96( 1), 134-5. eScholarID:1d10346
  • Warbuton C, Niven RR M, Pickering C. (1995). Air filtration units. Respir Med, 89( 10), eScholarID:1d31482

1994

  • Fishwick D, Fletcher A, Pickering C, Niven RR M, Faragher E. (1994). Ocular and nasal irritation in operatives in Lancashire cotton and synthetic fibre mills. Occup Environ Med, 51( 11), 744-8. eScholarID:1d31781
  • Fishwick D, Fletcher A, Pickering C, Niven RR M, Faragher E. (1994). Respiratory symptoms and dust exposure in Lancashire cotton and man-made fiber mill operatives. Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 150( 2), 441-7. eScholarID:1d31617
  • Warburton C, Niven RR M, Pickering C, Fletcher A, Hepworth J, Francis H. (1994). Domiciliary air filtration units, symptoms and lung function in atopic asthmatics. Respir Med, 88( 10), 771-6. eScholarID:1d31616

1992

  • Fishwick D, Fletcher A, Pickering C, Niven RR M, Faragher E. (1992). Lung function, bronchial reactivity, atopic status, and dust exposure in Lancashire cotton mill operatives. Am Rev Respir Dis, 145( 5), 1103-8. eScholarID:1d31751
  • Niven RR M, Fishwick D, Pickering C, Fletcher A, Warburton C, Crank P. (1992). A study of the performance and comparability of the sampling response to cotton dust of work area and personal sampling techniques. Ann Occup Hyg, 36( 4), 349-62. eScholarID:1d31652

1991

  • Niven RR M, Pickering C. (1991). Vocal cord dysfunction and wheezing. Thorax, 46( 9), eScholarID:1d31466

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