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Professor Peter Joseph Helms

Professor of Child Health

Tel + 44 (0)1224 552471
Fax + 44 (0)1224 551919
e-mail: p.j.helms@abdn.ac.uk

Qualifications

• MBBS, University of London, 1972
• PhD, University of London, 1983

Professional Memberships

• Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, London
• Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh
• Fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
• British Thoracic Society
• American Thoracic Society
• European Respiratory Society
• Neonatal Society
• Institute of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

Previous Postings

• 1973-1974 Royal Free Hospital, (London), Pre-registration posts;
• 1974-1976: The London Hospital, (London), Senior House Officer
  Royal Brompton Hospital, (London), Senior House Officer
  The Hammersmith Hospital, (London), Senior House Officer
  The Hospital for Sick Children, Gt Ormond Street, (London), Senior House Officer;
• 1977-1978 Charing Cross Hospital Medical School, (London), Lecturer (Paediatrics);
• 1978-1982 Institute of Child Health, (London), Research Fellow;
• 1982-1983 Cardio-Thoracic Institute, Royal Brompton Hospital, (London), Research Fellow;
• 1983-1990 Institute of Child Health, (London), Senior Lecturer; Consultant Paediatrician, Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street
• 1990-1992 Consultant Paediatrician/Director of Cystic Fibrosis Clinic, Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children, London; Hon Senior Lecturer, Institute of Child Health

Research Interests

My research interests are in the following areas:

Functional growth and maturation of the respiratory system: the future respiratory health of an individual is determined by an interaction between genetic and environmental factors with much of the latter being determined in utero and in very early childhood. Much of my research interest has focussed on appropriate techniques for the assessment of respiratory function in the infant and young child and in the interpretation of cross sectional and longitudinal studies of respiratory function. My early work on the validation of lung mechanics in infancy and on the longitudinal analysis of lung function and the individual effects of training and sexual maturation was supported by the Medical Research Council UK and the Sports Council Training Of Young Athletes (TOYA) Study.

The assessment of and outcome of important cardio-respiratory disease has also formed a major part of my research which has been supported by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and the British Heart Foundation. Current research includes, the heritability of asthma and wheezing illness, modelling the seasonality of sudden infant death (supported by the Scottish Cot Death Trust) and the early origins of asthma and allergic disease (National Asthma Campaign).

A selection of more than 160 publications which reflect my research interests past and present.

Publications (Peer review):

Tobaiqy M, Stewart D, Helms PJ, Bond CM, Lee AJ, McLay JS. Views of parents and pharmacists following participation in a paediatric pharmacovigilance study. Pharm World Sci (In press)

Tobaiqy M, Stewart D, Helms PJ, Bond C, Lee AJ, Bateman N, McCaig D, McLay JS. A pilot study to evaluate a community pharmacy-based monitoring system to identify adverse drug reactions associated with paediatric medicines use. Eur J Clin Pharmacol (In press)

Prabhu N, Smith N, Campbell D, Craig LC, Seaton A. Helms PJ, Devereux G, Turner SW. First trimester maternal tobacco smoking habits and fetal growth. Thorax 2010; 65: 235-240

McNeill G., Tagiyeva N, Aucott L, Russell G, Helms PJ. Changes in the prevalence of Asthma, Eczema and Hay fever in pre-pubertal children: a 40 year perspective. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2009; 23 (6); 506-512

Helms PJ. Recent advances in pediatric asthma treatment. Expert Rev Resp Med 3(2); 165-175

Newbury DF, Winchester L, Addis L, Paracchini S, Buckingham L-L, Clark A, Cohen W, Cowie H, Dworzynski K, Everitt A, Goodyer IM, Hennessy E, Kindley AD, Miller LL, Nasir J, O'Hare A, Shaw D, Simkin Z, Simonoff E, Slonims V, Watson J, Ragoussis J, Fisher SE, Seckl JR, Helms PJ, Bolton PF, Pickles A, Conti-Ramsden G, Baird G, Bishop DVM, Monaco AP. CMIP and ATPC2 Modulate Phonological Short-Term Memory in Lanugage Impairment. Am J Hum Genetics 2009; 85:1-9.

Reissland N, Hopkins B, Helms P, Williams B. Maternal stress and depression and the lateralisation of infant cradling. J Child Psychology and Psychiatry 2009; 50:3:263-269

N.M.Isa, Taylor MW, Helms PJ, McLay JS. How well are general practice trainees prepared for paediatric prescribing? Br J of Clin Pharm 2008; 67:3 370-373

Ayres JG, Forsberg B, Annesi-Maesano I, Dey R, Ebi KL, Helms PJ, Medine-Ramon M, Menne B, Windt M, and Forastiere F. Climate change and respiratory disease: a position statement. Eur Resp J 2009; 34:295-302

McDougall C, Blaylock M, Douglas J, Brooker R, Helms P, Walsh G. Nasal epithelial cells as surrogates for bronchial epithelial cells in airway inflammation studies. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2008; 39: 560-568

Zhu G, Whyte MK, Vestbo J, Carlsen K, Carlsen KH, Lenney W, Silverman M, Helms P, Pillai S. Interleukin 18 receptor 1 gene polymorphisms are associated with asthma. Eur J of Hum Gen 2008; 9:23-29

Ross Russell RI, Helms PJ, Elliott MJ. A prospective study of phrenic nerve damage after cardiac surgery in children. Intensive Care Med 2008: 34:728-734.

Turner SW, Craig LCA, Harbour PJ, Forbes SH, McNeill G, Seaton A, Devereux G, Russell G Helms PJ, Early rattles, purrs and whistles as predictors of later wheeze. Arch Dis Child 2008; 93:701-704

Krishnamoorthy N, Simpson CD, Townend J, Helms PJ, McLay JS. Adolescent females and hormonal contraception: A retrospective study in primary care. J of Adol Health 2008; 42:97-101

Bacharier LB, Boner A, Carlsen K-H, Eigenmann PA, Frischer T, Gotz M, Helms PJ, Hunt J, Liu A, Papadopoulos N, Platts-Mills T, Pohunek P, Simons FER, Valovirta E, Wahn U, Wildhaber J, The European Pediatric Asthma Group. Diagnosis and treatment of asthma in childhood: a PRACTALL consensus report. Allergy 2008: 63: 5 - 34

Pillai SG, Tang Y, van den Oord E, Klotsman M, Barnes K, Carlsen K, Gerritsen J, Lenney W, Silverman M, Sly P, Sundy J, Tsanakas J, von Berg A, Whyte M, Ortega HG, Anderson WH & Helms PJ. Factor analysis in the Genetics of Asthma International Network family study identifies five major quantitative asthma phenotypes. Clin and Exper Aller 2008; 38: 421-429

Webb BT, van den Oord E, Akkari A, Wilton S. Ly T, Duff R, Barnes KC, Carlsen K, Gerritsen J, Lenney W, Silverman M, Sly P, Sundy J, Tsanakas J, von Berg A, Whyte M, Blumenthal M, Vestbo J, Middleton L, Helms PJ, Anderson WH, Pillai SG Quantitative linkage genome scan for atopy in a large collection of Caucasian families. Hum Genet 2007; 121: 83-92

Willers S, Devereux G, Craig L, McNeill G, Wijga A, Abou El-Magd W, Turner S, Helms P, Seaton A. Maternal food consumption during pregnancy and asthma, respiratory and atopic symptoms in 5-year-old children. Thorax 2007; 62:773-779

Tagiyeva N, McNeill G, Russell G, Helms P. Two main subtypes of wheezing illness? Evidence from the 2004 Aberdeen schools asthma survey. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2007

Turner SW, Craig LC, Harbour PJ, Forbes SH, Martindale S. McNeill G, Seaton A. Ayres JG, Devereux G, Helms PJ. Carbonated drink consumption and increased exhaled nitric oxide in atopic children. Eur Respir J 2007; 30:177-178

Devereux G. McNeill G, Newman G, Turner S, Craig L, Martindale S, Helms P, Seaton A. Early childhood wheezing symptoms in relation to plasma selenium in pregnant mothers and neonates. Clin Exp Allergy 2007; 37:1000-1008

Turner SW, Craig LC, Harbour PJ, Forbes SH, McNeill G, Seaton A, Devereux G, Helms PJ. Spriometry in 5-year-olds - validation of current guidelines and the relation with asthma. Pediatr Pulmonol 2007; 42:1144-1151

Poobalan AS, Aucott LS, Ross L, Smith WCS, Helms PJ, Williams JHG. A systematic review of the benefits of treating postnatal depression for mother-infant interaction and child development. Br J Psychiatry 2007; 191:378-386

Osman M, Hansell AL, Simpson CR, Hollowell J, Helms PJ. Gender-specific presentations for asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema in primary care. Pr Care Resp J 2007; 16 (1): 28-35

Stewart D, Rouf A, Snaith A, Elliott K, Helms PJ, McLay JS. Attitudes and experiences of community-based pharmacists towards off-label prescribing in children: a prospective study. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2007; 64:90-95

Zhu G, Vestbo J, Lenney W, Silverman M, Whyte M, Helms P, Anderson WH & Pillai SG. Association of PTGDR gene polymorphisms with asthma in two Caucasian populations. Genes and Immun 2007; 1-6.

Osman M, Tagiyeva N, Wassall HJ, Ninan TK, Devenny AM, McNeill G, Helms PJ, Russell G. Changing Trends in Sex Specific Prevalence Rates for Childhood Asthma, Eczema and Hay Fever. Ped Pulmon 2007; 42:60-65

Lakind JS, Holgate ST, Ownby DR, Mansur AH, Helms PJ, Pyatt D, Hays SM. A critical review of the use of clara cell secretory protein [CC16] as a biomarker of acute or chronic pulmonary effects. Biomarkers 2007: 12(5); 445-467

Devereux G, Litonjua AA, Turner SW, Craig LCA, McNeill G, Martindale S, Helms PJ, Seaton A, Weiss ST. Maternal vitamin D intake during pregnancy and early childhood wheezing 1-4. Am J Clin Nutr 2007; 85: 853-859

Devereux G, Turner SW, Craig LCA, McNeill G, Martindale S, Harbour PJ, Helms PJ, Seaton. Low Maternal Vitamin E Intake During Pregnancy is Associated with Asthma in 5-Year-Old Children. Am J Resp Crit Care Med 2006; 174: 499-507

McLay JS, Tanaka M, Ekins-Daukes S, Helms PJ. A prospective questionnaire assessment of attitudes and experiences of off label prescribing among hospital based paediatricians. Arch Dis Child 2006; 91: 584-587

McDougall C, Helms PJ. Neutrophil airway inflammation in childhood asthma: A novel and inviting therapeutic target? Thorax 2006; 61:739-741

Pillai SG, Chiano MN, White NJ, Speer M, Barnes KC, Carlsen K, Gerritsen J, Helms P, Lenney W, Silverman M, Sly P, Sundy J, Tsanakas J, von Berg A, Whyte M, Varsani S, Skelding P, Hauser M, Vance J, Pericak-Vance M, Burns DK, Middleton LT, Brewster S, Anderson WH, Riley JH. A genome-wide search for linkage to asthma phenotypes in the genetics of asthma international network families: evidence for a major susceptibility locus on chromosome 2p. Eur J of Human Genetics 2006; 14: 307-316.

Krishnamoorthy N, Ekins-Daukes S, Simpson CR, Milne RM, Helms PH, McLay JS. Adolescent use of the combined oral contraceptive pill: a retrospective observational study. Arch Dis Child 2005; 90: 903-905.

Stewart D, Helms P, McCaig D, Bond C, McLay J. Monitoring adverse drug reactions in children using community pharmacies: a pilot study. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2005; 59: 677-683

Simpson Cr, Lee AJ, Taylor MW, Helms P. Changing incidence of respiratory presentations in primary care fact or artefact? Arch Dis Child 2005; 90: 982-983

Helms PJ. Exercise induced asthma: real or imagined? Arch Dis Child 2005; 90: 886-887

Ekins-Daukes S, Helms PJ, Taylor MW, McLay JS. Off-label prescribing to children: attitudes and experience of general practitioners. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2005; 60: 145-149.

Thakkinstian A, McEvoy M, Minelli C, Gibson P, Hancox B, Duffy D, Thompson J, Hall I, Kaufman J, Leung T, Helms PJ, Hakonarson H, Halpi E, Navon R, Attia J. Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Association between Beta2-Adrenoceptor Polymorphisms and Asthma: A HuGE REview. Am J Epidemiol 2005; 162: 201-211,

Helms PJ, Ekins-Daukes S, Taylor MW, Simpson CR, McLay JS. Utility of routinely acquired primary care data for paediatric disease epidemiology and pharmacoepidemiology. Br J of Clin Pharmacol 2005; 59: 684-690.

Al-Abdulhadi SA, Helms PJ, Main M, Smith O, Christie G. Preferential transmission and association of the -403 G-A promoter RANTES polymorphism with atopic asthma. Genes and Immunity 2005; 6: 24-30.

Mooney JA, Helms PJ , Jolliffe IT. Higher incidence of SIDS at weekends, especially in younger infants. Arch Dis Child . 2004; 000: 1-4.

Mooney JA, Helms PJ, Jolliffe IT, Smail P. Seasonality of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children and its modification by weekends and holidays: retrospective observational study. Arch Dis Child 2004; 89: 970-973.

Ekins-Daukes S, Helms PJ, Simpson CR, Taylor MW, McLay JS. Off-label prescribing to children in primary care: retrospective observational study. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2004; 60: 349-353

Novak PH, Ekins-Daukes S, Simpson CR, Milne RM, Helms P, McLay JS. Acute drug prescribing to children on chronic antiepilepsy therapy and the poltential for adverse drug interactions in primary care. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2004; 59: 712-717

Dimova-Yaneva D, Russell D, Main M, Brooker R, Helms PJ . Eosinophil activation and cysteinyl leukotriene production in infants with respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis. Clin Exp Allergy 2004; 34 :555-558.

Ekins-Daukes S, Helms PJ, Taylor MW, Simpson CR, McLay JS. Paediatric homoeopathy in general practice: where, when and why? Br J Clin Pharmacol 2004; 59: 743-749.

Choonara I, Dewit O, Harrop E, Howarth S, Helms P, Kanabar D, Lenney W, Rylance G, Vallance P. Training in paediatric clinical pharmacology in the UK. Br J of Clinical Pharmacol 2004; 58: 217-218.

Helms PJ, Amin SS. Prognosis of wheezing and asthma presenting in early childhood. Breathe 2004; 1: 51 - 60

Black J, Baxter-Jones ADG , Gordon J, Findlay AL , Helms PJ . Assessment of airway function in young children with asthma. Comparison of spirometry, interrupter technique and tidal flow by inductance plethsmography. Ped Pulmonol . 2004; 37 :548-553.

Munthe-Kaas MC, Carlsen KH, Helms PJ , Gerritsen J, Whyte W, Feijen M, Skinningsrud B, Main M, Kwong GMN, Lie BA, Lødrup Carlsen KC, Undlien DE, MD. CTLA-4 polymorphisms in allergy and asthma and the Th1/Th2 paradigm. J Allerg Clin Immunol . 2004; 114 :280-287.

Srivastava P, Helms PJ , Stewart D, Main M, Russell G. Association of CCR5 Ddelta 32 with reduced risk of childhood but not of adult asthma. Thorax 2003; 58 :222-226

Dimova-Yaneva DN, Helms PJ. The role of leukotrienes and eosinophil cationic protein in acute respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis. Folia Med (Plovdiv) 203; 45:5-11

von Berg A, Papageorgiou SF, Wille S, Carrillo T, Kattamis C, Helms PJ. Efficacy and tolerability of formoterol Turbuhaler in children. Int J Clin Pract 2003: 57:852-856

Mooney JA, Helms PJ , Jolliffe IT. Fitting mixtures of von Mises distributions: a case study involving Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Computational Statistics and Data Analysis . 2003; 41 :505-513.

Ekins-Daukes S, McLay JS, Taylor MW, Helms PJ . Antibiotic prescribing for children. Too much and too little? Retrospective observational study in primary care. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2003: 56 :92-95

Ekins-Daukes S, Simpson CR, Helms PJ , Taylor MW, McLay JS. Burden of corticosteroids in children with asthma in primary care: retrospective observational study. BMJ 2002; 324 :1374.

Simpson CR, Anderson WJ, Helms PJ , Taylor MW, Watson L, Prescott GJ et al . Coincidence of immune-mediated diseases driven by Th1 and Th2 subsets suggests a common aetiology. A population-based study using computerized general practice data. Clin.Exp.Allergy 2002; 32 :37-42.

Helms PJ . 'Real World' pragmatic clinical trials: What are they and what do they tell us? Pediatr.Allergy Immunol. 2002; 13 :4-9.

Helms PJ . Early environmental influences in the development of asthma and atopic disease. Monaldi Arch.Chest Dis. 2001; 56 :265-9.

Osman LM, Baxter-Jones AD, Helms PJ . Parents' quality of life and respiratory symptoms in young children with mild wheeze. EASE Study Group. Eur.Respir.J. 2001; 17 :254-8.

Russell RIR, Helps B-A, Helms PJ. Normal Values for Phrenic Nerve Latency in Children. Muscle & Nerve 2001; 24: 1548-1550

Smith OO, Helms PJ. Genetic/environmental determinants of adult chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and possible links with childhood wheezing. Paediatric Respiratory Reviews 2001; 2: 178-183.

Helms PJ. Issues in Pediatric Asthma. Ped Pulmonol (Suppl) 2001; 21: 49-56

Helms PJ . CCR5-delta32 polymorphism in asthma. Lancet 2001; 357 :802.

Baxter-Jones AD, Helms PJ . Early introduction of inhaled steroids in wheezing children presenting in primary care. A pilot study. EASE Study Group. Clin.Exp.Allergy 2000; 30 :1618-26.

Christie GL, Helms PJ , Ross SJ, Godden D, Friend JAR, Legge JS, Haites NE & Douglas JG. Outcome for children of parents with atopic asthma and transient childhood wheezy bronchitis. Thorax 1997; 52 : 953-957.

Hopes E, McDougall C, Christie G, Dewar J, Wheatley A, Hall IP, Helms PJ . Association of the GLN27 b2-Adrenoceptor polymorphism with reported childhood asthma: Population based study. Brit Med J 1998; 316 : 664.

Martinez FD, Helms PJ. Types of asthma and wheezing. Eur Resp J 1998; 12 : S27 3-8.

Hamilton NM , Furnace J, Duguid KP, Helms PJ , Simpson JG. Development and integration of CAL ; a case study in medicine. Medical Education 1999; 33 : 298-305.

Christie GL, Helms PJ , Godden DJ, Ross SJ, Friend JAR, Legge JS, Haites NE, Douglas JH. Asthma, wheezy bronchitis and atopy across two generations. Am J Resp Crit Care Med 1999; 159 : 125-129.

Douglas AS, Helms PJ, Jolliffe IT. Seasonality of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome but not prevalence varies by region in mainland Britain . Eur Resp J 1999; 13 : 95-99.

Helms PJ , Christie G. Asthma prospects for prevention. Arch Dis Child 1999; 80 : 401-405.

Baxter-Jones ADG, Cardy AH, Helms PJ , Phillips DO & Smith WCS. The influence of socio-economic conditions on growth in infancy: The 1921 Aberdeen Birth Cohort. Arch Dis Child 1999; 81 : 5-9.

Hall IP, Wheatley A, Christie G, McDougall C, Hubbard R & Helms PJ. Association of CCR5 D32 with reduced risk of asthma. Lancet 1999; 354 : 1264-1265.

Helms PJ. Corticosteroid sparing options in the treatment of childhood asthma. Drugs . 2000; 59 : suppl.15-22.

Mansur AH, Christie G, Turner A, Bishop DT, Helms PJ & Morrison JFJ. Lack of linkage between chromosome 5q22-23 markers and IgE/bronchial hyperreactivity in 67 Scottish families. Clin Exp Allergy . 2000; 30 : 945-961

Helms PJ . Asthma in transition from childhood through adolescence to adulthood. Proc R Coll Physicians Edinb 1999; 29 : 6-10.

Books chapters & invited reviews:

McIntosh N, Helms PJ & Smyth R. Forfar and Arneil's Textbook of Pediatrics 6 th Edition Churchill Livingstone 2003

Helms PJ & Henderson J. Respiratory Disorders In Forfar and Arneils Textbok of Paediatrics 6th Edition Eds McIntosh N, Helms,PJ, Smyth,RJ. Pub Churchill Livingstone 2003

Helms PJ. Is early treatment of children necessary? In Asthma critical debates. Pub Blackwell Science. Ed Johnston SL, Holgate S. 2002

Current research:

Reissland N and Helms PJ . Duration and end 2 years Sept 2005

Children's Research Fund. Maternal mood and infant emotional development.

Helms PJ , McNeill G Russel G. Duration and end 1 Year April 2005.

Asthma UK. Trends in prevalence and sex ratio in prepubertal asthma.

Helms PJ , Smith WCS. Scottish Evidence Based Child Health Unit (SEBCHU)

Helms PJ , Hannaford P. Paediatric Clinical Pharmacology Unit (PCPU)

Other Expertise:

Clinical trials; Evidence-based practice, Paediatric Clinical pharmacology, Application of teaching and learning technology.

Personal Interests:

Hill walking, European history