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Kenneth Baillie

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J. Kenneth Baillie
FRSE FMedSci
Academic background
EducationEdinburgh University
Academic work
DisciplineCritical care, genomics
InstitutionsUniversity of Edinburgh
Websitewww.research.ed.ac.uk/en/persons/kenneth-baillie

Kenneth Baillie FRSE FMedSci, Professor of Experimental Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, is a medical scientist working in genomics in critical care medicine and respiratory infection.

Research

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Through his work in genomics, he has made several discoveries including finding multiple human genes that are important in critical illness caused by influenza.[1] and COVID-19.[2][3] He started the GenOMICC (Genetics of Mortality in Critical Care) study in 2016,[4] to study genetic predisposition to a wide range of severe infections.[5] In 2020 he expanded the study[6] and used it to discover human genes that cause susceptibility to severe Covid-19[7] This discovery led directly to the finding that a new drug, baricitinib, is an effective treatment for severe Covid-19.[8][9] He discovered a further 23 genes underlying severe Covid-19 in 2021.[10]

He also played a leading role in designing, setting up and delivering the RECOVERY Trial that discovered four effective treatments for critical Covid-19. He was one of the first to systematically review the evidence for steroid treatment in Covid-19, warning of the need for trials in 2020, and contributing to the discovery that the steroid, dexamethasone, works as a highly effective treatment.[11][12] He led the UK ISARIC4C consortium,[13] which coordinated UK-wide clinical research to understand Covid-19[14]

In 2001 he led the first Apex (altitude physiology expeditions) research expedition to a high altitude laboratory in Bolivia,[15] and discovered that acute mountain sickness is two separate conditions,[16] leading to a new international consensus definition of the disease.[17]

Guidelines and Policy

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He has worked with WHO on influenza, MERS, Ebola and COVID-19, conceiving and drafting a research protocol for global preparedness and harmonisation that was used for the first clinical description of COVID-19.[18] During the Covid-19 pandemic he advised the UK government on clinical management of the outbreak,[19] and advocated for public health measures to contain the pandemic.[20]

Awards and honours

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Baillie is a fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences[21] and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh(FRSE). He has received several awards from the public, including the Herald newspaper's Heroes of the Year (2020)[22] and a Pride of Scotland "special recognition" award in 2021.[23] In 2022 he was awarded the University of Edinburgh Chancellor's Award for Research.[24] He is one of the ISI Highly Cited Researchers[25]

Selected publications

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Scholia has a profile for John Kenneth Baillie (Q42765467).
  • Baillie J.K., Baillie J. K. (2014). "Translational Genomics. Targeting the host immune response to fight infection". Science. 344 (6186): 807–808. doi:10.1126/science.1255074. PMID 24855243.

References

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  1. ^ "Study reveals gene clue to flu mystery". 26 March 2012.
  2. ^ "Five key severe COVID-19 genes found, suggesting drug targets". Reuters. 11 December 2020.
  3. ^ [1] Science news article
  4. ^ "U.K. Initiative Aims to Sequence 35,000 COVID-19 Patient Genomes; Link Genetic Makeup with Disease Severity". 14 May 2020.
  5. ^ "Sepsis hope as Edinburgh study looks to DNA for clue to survive deadly infection". 28 March 2019.
  6. ^ "Solving COVID: May 13, 2020". The Week. 13 May 2020.
  7. ^ "Covid: Genes hold clues to why some people get severely ill". BBC News. 11 December 2020.
  8. ^ "Genes May Hold Key to New Treatments for Covid-19 Infections". Forbes.
  9. ^ "Another life-saving Covid drug identified". BBC News. 3 March 2022.
  10. ^ "COVID-19: New study could lead to life-saving treatment for severe cases".
  11. ^ "How do you treat coronavirus? Here are physicians' best strategies".
  12. ^ Graham, Flora (2020). "Daily briefing: First drug shown to reduce deaths among people seriously ill with COVID-19". Nature. doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01829-0. PMID 34131342. S2CID 235451084.
  13. ^ https://isaric4c.net
  14. ^ "What Happens if I Get COVID-19 and the Flu at the Same Time?". 11 October 2022.
  15. ^ "Students head to Bolivia for altitude study". 19 March 2001.
  16. ^ "Altitude sickness two illnesses". 31 March 2014.
  17. ^ Roach, R. C.; Hackett, P. H.; Oelz, O.; Bärtsch, P.; Luks, A. M.; MacInnis, M. J.; Baillie, J. K.; Lake Louise AMS Score Consensus Committee (2018). "The 2018 Lake Louise Acute Mountain Sickness Score". High Altitude Medicine & Biology. 19 (1): 4–6. doi:10.1089/ham.2017.0164. PMC 6191821. PMID 29583031.
  18. ^ "Improving Health Through Research | the Academy of Medical Sciences".
  19. ^ "List of participants of SAGE and related sub-groups".
  20. ^ Leonhardt, David; Moses, Claire (2 November 2021). "Needless Suffering". The New York Times.
  21. ^ "Highest number of new Fellows elected to the Academy from across UK".
  22. ^ "Heroes of 2020: The men and women who shone in a year like no other". 26 December 2020.
  23. ^ "Special Recognition - Pride of Scotland Awards".
  24. ^ "Chancellor's Award winners". 24 November 2023.
  25. ^ "Highly Cited Researchers".
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  • [2]. J.K. Baillie online CV


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