Vadim Taraban

Dr Vadim Taraban

Course Leader

School of Sport, Health and Social Sciences

023 8201 6077 ext. 6077 Room no. RM218a

Biography

As the course leader of the BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science programme, Vadim has extensive experience in conducting biomedical research and teaching undergraduate students both in Russia and the United Kingdom. 

Having graduated as a medical doctor, he initially spent two years specialising in clinical immunology, which included intercalated six-month periods of hospital practice in haematology and rheumatology and extensive laboratory training in molecular and cellular biology and immunology. Soon after that, he joined a research laboratory with a strong interest in stem cells and immunosuppression, to study the newly emerged group of cells called myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). Subsequently, his PhD project involved assessing the mechanisms which underlie a surprising ability of myeloid haematopoietic precursors both to suppress the response of T cells and to inhibit tumour growth.

Since then, Vadim has extended his interest in tumour immunology and, following his move to University of Southampton in 2000, focused on the regulation of T cell functions through co-stimulatory receptors belonging to the TNFR superfamily. He studied a number of signalling pathways mediated by the death receptor 3 (DR3 or TNFRSF25), OX40 (CD134), 4-1BB (CD137) and CD27, with particular emphasis on their probing as potential targets for therapeutic interventions in cancer, inflammation and autoimmunity. As a visiting research fellow at Barts Cancer Institute, he has also been studying the role of human polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase/PNPT1) in regulation of lymphocyte activation and pathogenesis of the chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

Following a spell at London South Bank University as a senior lecturer in human biology and a course director in biosciences, Vadim has joined Solent University to lead on the new BSc (Hons) programme and to continue developing his research and teaching interests in biomedical sciences.

Taught courses

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BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science

Further information

  1. Recent publications

    Vadim's previous publications include the Differential impact of CD27 and 4-1BB costimulation on effector and memory CD8 T cell generation following peptide immunization.

    Willoughby JE, Kerr JP, Rogel A, Taraban VY, Buchan SL, Johnson PW, AlShamkhani A. 2014. Differential impact of CD27 and 4-1BB costimulation on effector and memory CD8 T cell generation following peptide immunization. J Immunol. 193(1):244-51.

    Taraban VY, Rowley TF, Kerr JP, Willoughby JE, Johnson PM, Al-Shamkhani A, Buchan SL. CD27 costimulation contributes substantially to the expansion of functional memory CD8(+) T cells after peptide immunization. Eur J Immunol. 2013, 43(12):3314-23.

    Polak, M.E., L. Newell, V.Y. Taraban, C. Pickard, E. Healy, P.S. Friedmann, A. AlShamkhani, and M.R. Ardern-Jones. 2012. CD70-CD27 interaction augments CD8+ T-cell activation by human epidermal Langerhans cells. J Invest Dermatol 132:1636- 1644. 

  2. Research interests

    Vadim’s research interests include mechanisms of lymphocyte activation and of the regulation of T-cell functions...

    Vadim’s research interests include mechanisms of lymphocyte activation and of the regulation of T-cell functions through co-stimulatory receptors of the tumour necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily, with particular emphasis on muscular-skeletal, intestinal and skin inflammation.

    Recent research themes have also included low grade inflammation in metabolic disorders and inflammatory responses in muscular damage (exercise-associated muscular straining). In particular focus is the role of mammalian and human polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase/PNPT1) in regulation of lymphocyte activation and the pathogenesis of the chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

  3. Teaching experience

    While the main focus of his teaching interests is Immunology and Cell Biology, Vadim has a considerable experience of teaching a broad Bioscience...

    While the main focus of his teaching interests is immunology and cell biology, Vadim has a considerable experience of teaching a broad bioscience curriculum for undergraduate students through levels 4 to 6, as well as of supervising research projects of final-year BSc and PhD students.