Jamie Burgess

Research Associate, University of Liverpool

Orcid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7165-6918

Main Research Interests

My research investigates the roles of structural and functional factors in the diagnosis and pain generation of small fibre and polyneuropathies, focusing on the central and peripheral contributions. By understanding the mechanisms behind neuropathic and nociplastic pain, the disease course of cryptogenic pain conditions can be identified, and we can propose testable hypotheses for their detection and treatment. I am particularly interested in the diagnostic and prognostic efficacy of corneal confocal microscopy and skin biopsy in identifying small fibre pathology in individuals with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, fibromyalgia syndrome, and idiopathic polyneuropathy. Additionally, I am keen to employ advanced histological techniques, such as automated multiplex staining for pathomechanistic targets, and to participate in collaborative projects incorporating a neurohistopathological multi-omics approach.

Current Research Activity

I am currently working on a Medical Research Council (MRC) funded study named Pain Mechanisms in Long-COVID. Our study aims to explore whether small fibre pathology and autoimmunity underly persistent neurological symptoms in people with long COVID, such as pain, fatigue, paraesthesia, and dysautonomia.

Memberships

I hold memberships with the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (IBMS), Pain Relief Foundation Scientific Committee and the Neurodiab Discovery Team.

Biography

Jamie completed his undergraduate degree with honours in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Central Lancashire in 2014, alongside fulfilling his registration portfolio requirements with the IBMS at the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust. Working as a Biomedical Scientist in the histopathology department, he earned his IBMS Specialist Diploma in Cellular Pathology at the Neuropathology department of the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Jamie's expertise in nerve, muscle, and brain specimens drove the curiosity to investigate less invasive diagnostic techniques for neurodegenerative diseases. Subsequently, he started a PhD studentship funded by the Pain Relief Foundation, focusing on the detailed phenotyping of patients with small fibre neuropathy and fibromyalgia syndrome. He used less invasive methodologies such as quantitative sensory testing and corneal confocal microscopy, in comparison with skin biopsy. Jamie's research is expanding into exploring small fibre involvement in conditions like post-COVID syndrome and neuroimmune interactions in chronic pain demonstrating his commitment to advancing the field of neuropathology. Jamie is keen to bring about advancements in understanding the drivers of pain generation and maintenance so that improvements can be made to the quality of life of people in chronic pain.

Recent publications

2024

Burgess J, de Bezenac C, Keller SS, et al. Brain alterations in regions associated with end-organ diabetic microvascular disease in diabetes mellitus: A UK Biobank study. Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2024;40(2):e3772.

Marshall A, Rapteas L, Burgess J, et al. Small fibre pathology, small fibre symptoms and pain in fibromyalgia syndrome. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):3947.

Dobbie LJ, Burgess J, Hamid A, et al. Effect of a Low-Calorie Dietary Intervention on Liver Health and Body Weight in Adults with Metabolic-Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) and Overweight/Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2024;16(7):1030.

2023

Lim JZM, Burgess J, Ooi C, et al. Corneal Confocal Microscopy Predicts Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Events and Demonstrates Greater Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes and Foot Ulcers. Diagnostics (Basel). 2023;13(17).

2022

Preston FG, Meng Y, Burgess J, et al. Artificial intelligence utilising corneal confocal microscopy for the diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy in diabetes mellitus and prediabetes. Diabetologia. 2022;65(3):457-466.

Lim J, Burgess J, Ooi C, et al. The Peripheral Neuropathy Prevalence and Characteristics Are Comparable in People with Obesity and Long-Duration Type 1 Diabetes. Advances in Therapy. 2022;39(9):4218-4229.

Al-Bazz DY, Nelson AJ, Burgess J, et al. Is Nerve Electrophysiology a Robust Primary Endpoint in Clinical Trials of Treatments for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy? Diagnostics. 2022;12(3):731.

Akil H, Burgess J, Nevitt S, Harding SP, Alam U, Burgess P. Early Worsening of Retinopathy in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes After Rapid Improvement in Glycaemic Control: A Systematic Review. Diabetes Therapy. 2022;13(1):1-23.

2021

Kirthi V, Brown E, Nevitt S, Petropoulos IN, Burgess J, Roylance R, Cuthbertson DJ, Jackson TL, Malik RA, Alam U. Prevalence of peripheral neuropathy in pre-diabetes: a systematic review. BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care. 2021;9:e002040.

Burgess J, Petropoulos I, Gad H, et al. Corneal confocal microscopy for the diagnosis of diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy in people with type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus (Protocol). The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2021;2021(12).

Burgess J, Frank B, Marshall A, et al. Early Detection of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Focus on Small Nerve Fibres. Diagnostics. 2021;11(2):165.

Burgess J, Ferdousi M, Gosal D, et al. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: epidemiology, pathomechanisms and treatment. Oncology and Therapy. 2021:1-66.