Richard Leigh, University of Calgary

Research

Airway Remodeling Asthma Barrier Function Bronchoscopy Experimental Rhinovirus Infection Human Airway Epithelial Cells Human Rhinovirus Translational Research

Latest papers

Epidemiology and Outcomes of Bronchiectasis in Alberta, Canada: A 15-Year Population-Based Study.
Annals of the American Thoracic Society · 2026
Assessing Disparities in Asthma and Respiratory Health in Indigenous People.
Respirology (Carlton, Vic.) · 2025 · senior author
Inflammatory cytokines promote interferon regulatory factor (IRF) transcriptional activity in human pulmonary epithelial cells through the induction of IRF1 by nuclear factor-κB.
PloS one · 2025

All 69 publications

Latest funding

Engineering an immune-reconstituted human lung-on-a-chip to functionally integrate and study the human pulmonary microbiome
CIHR · 2024 · Co-investigator
$299,800
Understanding glucocorticoid resistance in inflammatory disease
CIHR · 2021 · Co-investigator
$879,750
Novel treatment to reduce allergen-induced acute bronchoconstriction and chronic inflammation of asthmatic airways
CIHR · 2019 · Co-investigator
$839,590

All 9 grants and awards

69 publications.

01

Epidemiology and Outcomes of Bronchiectasis in Alberta, Canada: A 15-Year Population-Based Study.

Somayaji R, Black JE, Whitten TA, Gutierrez MW, Burke-Gaffney J, Cooper R, Jarand J, Leigh R, Smith M, Thornton CS

Annals of the American Thoracic Society2026

DOI: 10.1093/annalsats/aaoag258 PMID: 42635536

02

Assessing Disparities in Asthma and Respiratory Health in Indigenous People.

Michaud A, Leigh R

Respirology (Carlton, Vic.)2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1111/resp.14885 PMID: 39853892

03

Inflammatory cytokines promote interferon regulatory factor (IRF) transcriptional activity in human pulmonary epithelial cells through the induction of IRF1 by nuclear factor-κB.

Necker-Brown A, Mostafa MM, Georgescu A, Thorne AJ, Chandramohan P, Kooi C, Kalyanaraman K, Gao A, Bansal A, Sasse SK, Gerber AN, Leigh R, Newton R

PloS one2025

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0329244 PMID: 41359631

04

Letter from Canada: Global warming and wildfire smoke pollution emerging as major threats to respiratory health.

Michaud A, Leigh R

Respirology (Carlton, Vic.)2024Senior author

DOI: 10.1111/resp.14716 PMID: 38547922

05

Inducible gene expression of IκB-kinase ε is dependent on nuclear factor-κB in human pulmonary epithelial cells.

Necker-Brown A, Kooi C, Thorne AJ, Bansal A, Mostafa MM, Chandramohan P, Gao A, Kalyanaraman K, Milani A, Gill S, Georgescu A, Sasse SK, Gerber AN, Leigh R, Newton R

The Biochemical journal2024

DOI: 10.1042/bcj20230461 PMID: 38941070

06

Impact of Asthma Medications During Pregnancy on Asthma Exacerbation, Maternal, and Neonatal Outcomes.

Lee S, Hetherington E, Leigh R, Ramage K, Metcalfe A

The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. In practice2024

DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2024.02.017 PMID: 38530680

07

Benralizumab for allergic asthma: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Gauvreau GM, Sehmi R, FitzGerald JM, Leigh R, Cockcroft DW, Davis BE, Mayers I, Boulet L-P, Al-Sajee D, Salter BM

European Respiratory Journal202427 citations

DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00512-2024

08

Synergy between Interleukin-1β, Interferon-γ, and Glucocorticoids to Induce TLR2 Expression Involves NF-κB, STAT1, and the Glucocorticoid Receptor.

Bansal A, Kooi C, Kalyanaraman K, Gill S, Thorne A, Chandramohan P, Necker-Brown A, Mostafa MM, Milani A, Leigh R, Newton R

Molecular pharmacology2023

DOI: 10.1124/molpharm.123.000740 PMID: 37863662

09

Differential regulation of BIRC2 and BIRC3 expression by inflammatory cytokines and glucocorticoids in pulmonary epithelial cells.

Thorne A, Bansal A, Necker-Brown A, Mostafa MM, Gao A, Georgescu A, Kooi C, Leigh R, Newton R

PloS one2023

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286783 PMID: 37289679

10

Cost Analysis of a Transition Care Bundle Compared with Usual Care for COPD Patients Being Discharged from Hospital: Evaluation of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Yan C, Round J, Akpinar I, Atwood CE, Deuchar L, Bhutani M, Leigh R, Stickland MK

PharmacoEconomics - open2023

DOI: 10.1007/s41669-023-00400-7 PMID: 36905535

Engineering an immune-reconstituted human lung-on-a-chip to functionally integrate and study the human pulmonary microbiome

Co-investigatorCIHR2024Cat Gr: Develop./validation of new biomedical techniques/technolo.- General Pool

Principal investigators: Gillrie, Mark R

Keywords: Bone Marrow On A Chip; Live Cell Imaging; Lung Microbiome; Lung On A Chip; Multi-Omic Analysis; Pneumonia; Tissue Engineering

$299,800

Understanding glucocorticoid resistance in inflammatory disease

Co-investigatorCIHR2021Project Grant

Principal investigators: Newton, Robert

Keywords: Gene Regulation; Glucocorticoid Action; Glucocorticoid Resistance; Inflammation; Molecular Pharmacology; Nuclear Hormone Receptor

$879,750

Novel treatment to reduce allergen-induced acute bronchoconstriction and chronic inflammation of asthmatic airways

Co-investigatorCIHR2019Project Grant

Principal investigators: Wilson, Richard J; Gauvreau, Gail M; Kelly, Margaret M

Keywords: Airway Hyper Responsiveness (Ahr); Asthma; Carotid Body; Lung; Lysophosphatidic Acid (Lpa); Trpv1

$839,590

Rhinovirus induced modulation of epithelial phenotype in asthma

Nominated PICIHR2018Project Grant

Principal investigators: Leigh, Richard; Proud, David

Keywords: Airway Remodeling; Asthma; Barrier Function; Bronchoscopy; Experimental Rhinovirus Infection; Human Airway Epithelial Cells; Human Rhinovirus; Translational Research

$956,250

Role of Gene Expression Changes in the Mechanism of Action of Long-acting Beta2-adrenoceptor Agonists in COPD

Co-investigatorCIHR2016Project Grant

Principal investigators: Giembycz, Mark A

Keywords: Camp; Crispld2; Drug Action; Exacerbations; Gene Expression; Long-Acting Beta2-Agonists; Obstructive Lung Diseases; Rgs2

$822,375

Asthma and Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Conditions linked by Environment-Host Responses at Mucosal Surfaces

Co-investigatorCIHR2012Team Grant: Health Challenges in Chronic Inflammation Initiative (LOI)

Principal investigators: Proud, David

Keywords: Asthma; Corticosteroids; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Inflammation; Inflammatory Bowel Disease; Mucosal Immunity; Pharmacologic Interventions

Disseminating a novel rescue therapy for severe asthma to a wider commercialization focused audience

Co-investigatorCIHR2011Knowledge Translation Supplement

Principal investigators: Green, Francis H

Keywords: Asthma; Carbon Dioxide; Commercialization Audience; Perfluorocarbon

$77,269

Do rhinovirus infections contribute to airway remodeling in asthma?

Nominated PICIHR2010Chair: GlaxoSmithKline Partnered - Operating Component

Principal investigators: Leigh, Richard

Keywords: Airway Epithelial Cell; Airway Remodeling; Asthma; Cell Biology; Clinical Trial; Intercellular Signaling; Rhinovirus; Translational Research

$500,000

Rhinovirus induced exacerbations of asthma and COPD

Co-investigatorCIHR2010Operating Grant

Principal investigators: Proud, David

Keywords: Antivirals; Asthma; Chemokines; Cigarette Smoke; Copd; Epithelial Cells; Gene Regulation; Host Defense; Inflammation; Rhinovirus

$810,305

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Medicine
Family Medicine
Physiology and Pharmacology
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
School of Population and Public Health
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Surgery
Other

Co-authors at University of Calgary, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

Robert Newton

Physiology and Pharmacology

14 shared papers, latest 2025

David Proud

Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

13 shared papers, latest 2019

Leigh Sowerby

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

1 shared papers, latest 2023

Lee Green

Family Medicine

1 shared papers, latest 2022

Ying Wang

Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

1 shared papers, latest 2014

Amin Javer

School of Population and Public Health

1 shared papers, latest 2023

Ian Witterick

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

1 shared papers, latest 2023

James Martin

Rheumatology

1 shared papers, latest 2019

Lee Green

Family Medicine

1 shared papers, latest 2022

Amy Metcalfe

Obstetrics and Gynecology

1 shared papers, latest 2024

Shaun Kilty

Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

1 shared papers, latest 2023

John Matyas

Faculty

1 shared papers, latest 2022

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mention

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Airway Remodeling Dear Professor Leigh, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Epidemiology and Outcomes of Bronchiectasis in Alberta, Canada: A 15-Year Population-Based Study." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]

Richard Leigh

Research

Latest papers

Latest funding

Epidemiology and Outcomes of Bronchiectasis in Alberta, Canada: A 15-Year Population-Based Study.

Assessing Disparities in Asthma and Respiratory Health in&#xa0;Indigenous People.

Inflammatory cytokines promote interferon regulatory factor (IRF) transcriptional activity in human pulmonary epithelial cells through the induction of IRF1 by nuclear factor-&#x3ba;B.

Letter from Canada: Global warming and wildfire smoke pollution emerging as major threats to respiratory health.

Inducible gene expression of I&#x3ba;B-kinase &#x3b5; is dependent on nuclear factor-&#x3ba;B in human pulmonary epithelial cells.

Impact of Asthma Medications During Pregnancy on Asthma Exacerbation, Maternal, and Neonatal Outcomes.

Benralizumab for allergic asthma: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Synergy between Interleukin-1&#x3b2;, Interferon-&#x3b3;, and Glucocorticoids to Induce TLR2 Expression Involves NF-&#x3ba;B, STAT1, and the Glucocorticoid Receptor.

Differential regulation of BIRC2 and BIRC3 expression by inflammatory cytokines and glucocorticoids in pulmonary epithelial cells.

Cost Analysis of a Transition Care Bundle Compared with Usual Care for COPD Patients Being Discharged from Hospital: Evaluation of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Frequent collaborators

Robert Newton

David Proud

Paul O'Byrne

Gail Gauvreau

Kieran Killian

Susan Waserman

Roma Sehmi

Donna Goodridge

Leigh Sowerby

Lee Green

Ying Wang

Ranjani Somayaji

Amin Javer

Victor Lewis

Darcy Marciniuk

Ian Witterick

Jaclyn Quirt

Harold Kim

Melanie Kjarsgaard

Simon Rousseau

Christopher Carlsten

Andrew Cave

James Martin

Pat Camp

Lee Green

Jean Bourbeau

Amy Metcalfe

Shaun Kilty

John Matyas

Assessing Disparities in Asthma and Respiratory Health in Indigenous People.

Inflammatory cytokines promote interferon regulatory factor (IRF) transcriptional activity in human pulmonary epithelial cells through the induction of IRF1 by nuclear factor-κB.

Inducible gene expression of IκB-kinase ε is dependent on nuclear factor-κB in human pulmonary epithelial cells.

Synergy between Interleukin-1β, Interferon-γ, and Glucocorticoids to Induce TLR2 Expression Involves NF-κB, STAT1, and the Glucocorticoid Receptor.