Matthew Bottomley

My research focuses on developing understanding of how local (tissue) and systemic factors influence immunity, particularly against viruses and cancer.

One major systemic factor relevant to my clinical practice is the impact of pharmacological immunosuppression, such as after a kidney transplant. We are particularly focused upon the role of the immune system in two major issues that affect transplant recipients:

• BK virus infection - almost all of us are infected with BK virus (BKV) early in childhood, but this virus rarely causes problems after this. When patients are immunosuppressed after a transplant, BKV can come back and cause inflammation and dysfunction within the kidney graft. No specific treatments exist for BKV.
• Skin cancer - skin cancer is the most common post-transplant malignancy, eventually affecting up to half of transplant recipients. It develops up to two decades earlier than the general population, and with much poorer outcomes. We have recently shown that outcomes after development of post-transplant skin cancer have not improved for thirty years (Crisp et al, Kid Int Reports, 2026).

Our current work focuses on changes that occur within the immune cells present in the skin and kidney prior to and during the development of skin cancer and BKV infection, respectively. To evaluate this we use high-resolution spatial proteotranscriptomic profiling of tissue and blood alongside validatory functional assays.

The work we are undertaking in this area may lead to the development of new treatment approaches to prevent and improve outcomes after viral infection and cancer, particularly in immunosuppressed populations. We hope to be able to use markers within the immune system in clinical practice in the future, to guide the type and amount of immunosuppression we give to transplant recipients.  

My research has been generously funded by Kidney Research UK, the Wellcome Trust, British Skin Foundation, Oxford Hospitals Charity, University of Oxford and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

Within the CAMS Oxford Institute, I lead our Gene and Spatial Profiling Hub, which offers the nCounter Pro bulk multi-omic profiling platform as well as the complementary GeoMx DSP and CosMx SMI spatial profiling platforms. Please get in touch or complete the enquiry form if you would like to discuss potential collaborations using these approaches.

Alongside my research, I am a practicing physician, qualified in nephrology and acute general medicine, and work clinically in the Oxford Kidney Unit at the Churchill Hospital. I am passionate about expanding opportunities for and experience in clinical research amongst early-career doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, building on our findings in a national survey which revealed barriers to research engagement in early-career nephrology healthcare practitioners (Bottomley et al, BMJ Open, 2022).

I also sit on the board of the British Society for Skin Care in Immunocompromised Individuals (BSSCII).

Outside of work I live in North Oxfordshire with my wife and two sons. In my spare time I enjoy running, reading and cooking.