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Sharon Cox
lshtm [dot] ac [dot] uk Research
Qualifications:
1996 - BSc in Biochemistry - University College London - 1996
1997 - Post graduate teaching qualification - 1997
1998 - Masters in Public Health Nutrition at LSHTM
2003 - PhD - London School of Hygiene & Tropical
2002 - Nutrition and Public Health Intervention Research Unit -Research Fellow in the nutritional regulation of host pathogen interactions
Sharon is involved in teaching several units at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
Since Sharon joined the Nutrition and Public Health Intervention Research Unit in 2002 she has been involved in developing research ideas concerning iron as a regulatory factor in the relationship between man and pathogen, in particular malaria. This has involved studies based in the Gambia, with other members of the MRC International Nutrition group concerning the effects and possible mechanisms of iron regulatory genotypes on malaria and malaria-related anaemia. The fieldwork components of these studies are now complete and the laboratory and statistical analyses are under way.
Currently Sharon is working in Muhimbili Hospital, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania where she is involved in the new, Wellcome Trust funded Sickle Cell Disease project. This project involves the largest cohort of sickle cell disease patients worldwide. She is planning to assess if micronutrient status, in particular, iron and B-vitamins, and genes affecting their metabolism, affect the clinical expression and severity of the disease.
Sharon's previous research involved immuno-epidemiology and the effects of vitamin A supplementation on immunity to malaria in pregnant and lactating Ghanaian women. This research was in collaboration with the Obaapavita trial. Sharon still maintains a strong interest in this area of research alongside her more recent work in nutrient-gene interactions.
Collaborations
Publications
Malaria in patients with sickle cell anemia: burden, risk factors and outcome at outpatient clinic and during hospitalization. Makani, J.K.; Komba, A.N.; Cox, S.E.; Oruo, J.; Mwamtemi, K.; Kitundu, J.; Magesa, P.; Rwezaula, S.; Meda, E.; Mgaya, J.; Pallangyo, K.; Okiro, E.; Muturi, D.; Newton, C.R.; Fegan, G.; Marsh, K.; Williams, T.N. Blood, 2009;
Iron delocalisation in the pathogenesis of malarial anaemia. Nweneka, C.V.; Doherty, C.P.; Cox, S.; Prentice, A. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 2009;
Iron incorporation and post-malaria anaemia. Doherty, C.P.; Cox, S.E.; Fulford, A.J.; Austin, S.; Hilmers, D.C.; Abrams, S.A.; Prentice, A.M. PLoS ONE, 2008; 3(5):e2133
Iron metabolism and malaria. Prentice, A.M.; Ghattas, H.; Doherty, C.; Cox, S.E.;
Food Nutr Bull, 2007; 28(4 Suppl):S524-39
Haptoglobin genotype, anaemia and malaria in Gambian children. Cox, S.E.; Doherty, C.P.; Atkinson, S.H.; Nweneka, C.V.; Fulford, A.J.; Sirugo, G.; Rockett, K.A.; Kwiatkowski, D.P.; Prentice, A.M. Trop Med Int Health, 2008; 13(1):76-82
Vitamin A supplementation increases ratios of proinflammatory to anti-inflammatory cytokine responses in pregnancy and lactation. Cox SE, Arthur P, Kirkwood BR, Yeboah-Antwi K, Riley EM. Clin & Exp Immun, 2006 June; 144(3):392-400.
Rapid acquisition of isolate-specific antibodies to chondroitin sulfate A-adherent plasmodium falciparum isolates in Ghanaian primigravidae. Cox SE, Staalsoe T, Arthur P, Bulmer JN, Hviid L, Yeboah-Antwi K, Kirkwood BR, Riley EM. Infect Immun., 2005 May;73(5):2841-7.
Maternal vitamin A supplementation and immunity to malaria in pregnancy in Ghanaian primigravids. Cox SE, Staalsoe T, Arthur P, Bulmer JN, Tagbor H, Hviid L, Frost C, Riley EM, Kirkwood BR. Trop Med Int Health, 2005 Dec;10(12):2896-97
Iron metabolism & Malaria. Prentice, AM; Ghattas, H; Doherty, C; Cox, SE
Food & Nutrition Bulletin, In Press;
The ancient battle for iron: our struggle with pathogens. Prentice, A.M.; Doherty, C.; McDermid, J.M.; Atkinson, S.; Cox, S. Biochem, 2003; 25:15-18