Research
Professor of Child Health
He is Director of the UK’s only ‘Experimental Arthritis Treatment Centre for Children’ supported by Versus Arthritis and the ‘NIHR Alder Hey Clinical Research Facility for Experimental Medicine’.
He is Executive member of the Paediatric Rheumatology European Society and Chair of the Paediatric Rheumatology Committee of the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR). He developed and leads an internationally renowned Childhood Lupus translational research programme as part of the LUPUS UK’s Centre of Excellence for Childhood Lupus.
Experimental Arthritis Treatment Centre for Children
He is Director of the UK’s only Experimental Arthritis Treatment Centre for Children and Clinical Director of the NIHR Alder Hey Clinical Research Facility for Experimental Medicine.
He was Chair of the NIHR CRN: Children/Arthritis Research UK Paediatric Rheumatology Clinical Study Group, responsible for developing and overseeing a UK wide comprehensive portfolio of clinical trials and related studies covering the entire spectrum of diseases in paediatric rheumatology.
Juvenile-onset SLE
Professor Beresford Chairs the UK JSLE Study Group and has developed an internationally recognized Childhood Lupus translational research programme as part of the UK’s only Centre of Excellence for Childhood Lupus.
Research grants
Steroid TreAtment TRial in JIA: a randomised trial to compare effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of oral versus intravenous corticosteroid induction regimens for children and young people with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (STAR-JIA)
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)
January 2023 - December 2026
Understanding immune cell:tissue interactions in lupus nephritis: A pathway to target-directed interventions
MERCK LTD (UK)
November 2023 - October 2025
Establishing microbiota-host interactions in seronegative inflammatory arthritis across age groups
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)
June 2023 - May 2024
Improving Access to Care in Juvenile-onset SLE: Speeding up time to diagnosis
LUPUS UK (UK)
September 2023 - December 2024
Micro-RNAs as biomarkers and new molecular targets in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S CHARITY (UK)
October 2021 - September 2022
CRF Director Support
ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (UK)
April 2017 - August 2022
MCRN Pain and Palliative Care Clinical Studies Group
GREAT ORMOND STREET HOSPITAL CHILDRENS CHARITY (UK)
January 2012 - March 2021
Childhood arthritis and its associated uveitis: stratification through endotypes and mechanism to deliver benefit; the CLUSTER Consortium
ABBVIE LTD (UK), MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL, SWEDISH ORPHAN BIOVITRUM AG (SOBI) - (SWEDEN)
July 2018 - July 2024
NIHR Alder Hey CRF - PPIE-associated consumables
ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (UK)
April 2018 - August 2027
Children Growing up in Liverpool (C-GULL)
WELLCOME TRUST (UK)
October 2020 - December 2029
Delivering Paediatric Clinical Pharmacology in Experimental Medicine and Early Phase Trials
ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (UK)
April 2018 - March 2023
Delivering Paediatric Clinical Pharmacology in Experimental Medicine and Early Phase Trials in partnership with Industry
ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (UK)
April 2017 - August 2022
Clinical Research Fellow (RCF) in Experimental Medicine
ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (UK)
August 2018 - July 2020
Clinical Research Fellow (CRF) in Experimental Medicine
ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (UK)
August 2018 - July 2020
Alder Hey - Clinical Research Facility
ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (UK)
April 2017 - August 2027
Elicitation of expert prior opinion for a future Bayesian randomised controlled trial for a rare inflammatory paediatric disease, Juvenile Localised Scleroderma (JLS)
RAYNAUD'S & SCLERODERMA ASSOCIATION (UK)
December 2018 - March 2020
COllaborative Network for European Clinical Trials For Children (Conect4Children, C4C)
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
May 2018 - April 2025
NIHR ARC 2 national social care implementation projects
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK), LCCG - LIVERPOOL CLINICAL COMMISSIONING GROUP (UK)
October 2019 - March 2026
NIHR CRN: Children/BSPED Diabetes and Endocrinology Clinical Study Group
DIABETES UK (UK)
January 2017 - December 2019
YEAH: Youngsters EngAgement in Health Science
EUROPEAN INSTITUTE OF INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY (EIT) (HUNGARY)
January 2020 - December 2021
NIHR CRN Alliance funding for Liverpool CRN Theme office
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)
April 2016 - March 2020
Clinical studies group in paediatric rheumatology.
ARTHRITIS RESEARCH UK, VERSUS ARTHRITIS (UK)
April 2016 - December 2023
A Randomised Controlled Trial of adalimumab versus pamidronate in Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis (CRMO) using a Bayesian Design
ARTHRITIS RESEARCH UK
June 2016 - March 2021
Supporting translational research in Paediatric Rheumatology and Respiratory
ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (UK)
March 2016 - April 2024
MAximizing Sle ThERapeutic PotentiaL by Application of Novel and Stratified approaches (MASTERPLANS)
MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
June 2015 - February 2021
Steroid Induction Regimen for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (SIRJIA)
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)
January 2016 - March 2019
Lupus UK and British Paediatric Surveillance Unit study of the incidence and prevalence of Juvenile-onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in children and young people in the UK and Republic of Ireland
LUPUS UK (UK)
April 2016 - September 2021
CRN Children-Pharmacy & Formulations Work Stream
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)
April 2015 - March 2016
A phase II trial of tocilizumab in anti-TNF refractory patients with JIA associated uvetis
ARTHRITIS RESEARCH UK
February 2015 - March 2020
Clinical Studies Group Chair in Paediatric Rheumatology.
ARTHRITIS RESEARCH UK
October 2014 - March 2016
Paediatric Clinical Research Facility
ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (UK)
April 2015 - March 2018
British Orthopaedic SCFE Surgery (BOSS) Study Investigating Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE) as a childhood precursor to osteoarthritis
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)
March 2015 - May 2020
The interactions of Type I & II Interferons with Neutrophils; contributions to autoimmune disease pathogenesis and potential therapeutic modifications
LUPUS UK (UK)
November 2013 - October 2014
Childhood Arthritis Response to Treatment consortium (CHART): partnership to define stratified medicine tools for childhood inflammatory arthritis
MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
July 2014 - June 2018
NIHR Medicines for Children Research Network
ACTION MEDICAL RESEARCH (UK), BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR PAEDIATRIC NEPHROLOGY (UK), DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK), GAUCHERS ASSOCIATION (UK), KING'S COLLEGE LONDON (UK)
April 2010 - March 2017
Identifying and targeting immune pathways leading to the expression of renal biomarkers in juvenile lupus
ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S KIDNEY FUND (UK)
September 2013 - December 2019
Specialist Clinical Psychologist in Childhood Lupus
LUPUS UK (UK)
April 2014 - March 2018
Investigating immunopathogenesis of JSLE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)
April 2013 - May 2014
NIHR Alder Hey CRF: Experimental Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology
ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (UK)
January 2013 - July 2013
Clinical Fellow in Paediatric and Neonatal Clinical Trials
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)
February 2012 - July 2013
CRF Clinical Research Fellow
ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (UK)
May 2015 - December 2018
Tracking cancer and mortality in UK Children and Young People with Lupus
LUPUS UK (UK)
September 2014 - February 2025
The role of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin 1 in Juvenile-onset Lupus Nephritis
ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S CHARITY (UK)
October 2013 - December 2016
MYPAN: Open label randomised controlled trial of mycophenolate mofetil versus cyclphoshamide for the induction of remission of childhood polyarteritis nodosa
ARTHRITIS RESEARCH UK
July 2013 - April 2020
2009 BSPAR annual scientific meeting
ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (UK)
January 2010 - August 2014
Clinical Fellow in Paediatric and Neonatal Clinical Trials
THE CHESHIRE AND MERSEYSIDE COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL RESEARCH NETWORK (UK)
April 2013 - December 2015
Setting up a European reference network for uniform treatment of rare paediatric Immune Mediated Inflammatory Diseases (IMID)
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
September 2012 - December 2015
Metfizz
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
October 2013 - March 2017
Validation of a composite disease activity score for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JADAS) for use in a clinical setting and as a predictor of outcome
ARTHRITIS RESEARCH UK
August 2010 - December 2012
Administrative support for Professor Beresford
ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (UK)
April 2014 - March 2015
The role of Toll like receptors in Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
ASSOCIATION OF PHYSICIANS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND
September 2009 - August 2010
Flexibility and Sustainability Funding for Lucy Ballentine
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)
January 2012 - December 2012
Investigating Biomarkers in Juvenile-onset Lupus Nephritis
ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S KIDNEY FUND (UK)
August 2009 - July 2013
Clinical Studies Group Chair in Paediatric Rheumatology.
ARTHRITIS RESEARCH CAMPAIGN, ARTHRITIS RESEARCH UK
October 2007 - September 2014
BPSU Behcet’s Study
ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (UK), BEHCET'S SYNDROME SOCIETY (UK), THE UK VASCULITIS TRUST (UK)
December 2014 - December 2019
UK JSLE Conhort study & repository: Phase 2
LUPUS UK (UK)
November 2012 - December 2016
Use of dried blood spots to measure methotrexate polyglutamates as biomarkers of methotrexate use in paedriatric patients with juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) and Juvenile Dermatomyostitis.
ARTHRITIS RESEARCH UK
June 2010 - July 2013
Investigating the serum effects on apoptosis in Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (JSLE)
LUPUS UK (UK)
July 2010 - July 2013
Investigating neutrophil function in juvenile onset systemic lupus erythematosus.
ARTHRITIS RESEARCH CAMPAIGN
April 2007 - March 2008
Experimental Arthritis Treatment Centre (EATC) for Childhood Arthritis
ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S CHARITY (UK), ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (UK), ARTHRITIS RESEARCH UK, VERSUS ARTHRITIS (UK)
April 2014 - February 2026
TINN Trial EU FP7
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
November 2008 - October 2015
Lupus travel grant
ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S KIDNEY FUND (UK)
December 2014 - December 2019
A study of factors involved in phagocytosis in Juvenile Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus during periods of disease flare and quiescence
WELLCOME TRUST (UK)
July 2013 - September 2013
NIHR AlderHey CRF- Senior Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacology
ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (UK)
April 2013 - March 2019
Development of an Internationally agreed Minimal Dataset for Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM); a rare but severe, potentially life-threatening, childhood rheumatological condition
ARTHRITIS RESEARCH UK
January 2014 - June 2017
Feasibility study for an RCT to evaluate an intervention for parents early in the diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)
January 2013 - September 2015
Research collaborations
CAPS Steering Committee
ARC epidemiology Unit, Manchester University
Principal Investigator
Dr N Wilkinson
Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford
UK JSLE Registry
Dr J Davidson
The University of Glasgow
UK JSLE registry
Professor S Edwards
Joint grant applications with a view to developing research program in juvenile onset SLE and paediatric rheumatology. This was successful with a £64K grant awarded to investigate neutrophil function in JSLE
Dr H Foster
The University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Collaborative research: development of national research program exploring clinical characteristics and immunopathology of JSLE
Dr N McHugh
The University of Bath
Collaborative research: development of national research program exploring clinical characteristics and immunopathology of JSLE
Dr H Venning
The University of Nottingham
Collaborative research: development of national research program exploring clinical characteristics and immunopathology of JSLE
Dr C Pilkington
Institute of Child Health, London
JLSE Registry and Repository
Steering Committee
Institute of Child Health, London
Steering Committee member of UK JDM R&R
Professor D Isenberg
University College London
Collaborative research: development of national research program exploring clinical characteristics and immunopathology of JSLE
Professor R Moots
Joint grant applications and close collaboration in developing strong links between the Department of Paediatric Rheumatology and the extensive program of clinical and basic science research. Application for grants were successful with an award of £64K for invesitgating neutrophil function in JSLE
Dr E Baildam
The University of Manchester
Collaborative research: development of national research program exploring clinical characteristics and immunopathology of JSLE
Dr J McDonagh
The University of Birmingham
Collaborative research: development of national research program exploring clinical characteristics and immunopathology of JSLE