James Fullerton

James Fullerton studied Experimental Psychology at Oxford University (New College) prior to Medicine at the University of Birmingham, receiving the Gold Medal and Chancellors Prize. Following the NIHR Integrated Academic Training pathway throughout, he undertook the majority of his clinical training at University College London Hospital. 

James completed his PhD in the laboratory of Prof Derek Gilroy at University College London (UCL) in 2015, exploring the contribution of inflammation-induced eicosanoids to innate immune suppression. As a post-doctoral researcher then NIHR Clinical Lecturer he undertook year-long Fellowships at The George Institute for Global Health (Critical Care and Trauma Division, Sydney) as well as an MRC-funded Industrial Fellowship at GlaxoSmithKline’s early phase facility (Clinical Unit Cambridge, Addenbrookes). Prior to moving to Oxford in 2020 he was Deputy Head of the Centre for Precision Healthcare at UCL (Division of Medicine).

Prof Fullerton currently splits his time between the University, where he is a Principal Investigator, and the John Radcliffe Hospital, where he is an Acute General Medicine Physician and Clinical Pharmacologist. In this latter role he Chairs the Medicines Management and Therapeutics Committee.

Prof Fullerton’s research focuses on the use of experimental medicine studies to promote scientific translation for patient benefit. In particular, he is an expert in the design, development and use of human immune challenge (HIC) models. Clinically, he is interested in understanding the host immune response to inflammatory stimuli, most notably infection, and how this can inform decision making in the context of acute, unscheduled care episodes. James sits on the Network Committee of the NIHR Oxford Clinical Research Facilities, the Research Committee at St Hilda’s College and is a Research Lead for MEDROx (Research in Acute and General Medicine Oxford).

James has been heavily involved with education throughout his career and previously led Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics teaching at Oxford University Medical School. He is currently Deputy Director the Oxford University Clinical Academic Graduate School (OUCAGS) / HEE Thames Valley) and contributes to taught MSc programmes within NDORMS. He acts as Supervisor to DPhil students at Oxford, Educational Supervisor to Internal Medicine Trainees at OUH and College Adviser to St Hilda’s students.