Professor Alyn H Morice

Professor Morice qualified at Cambridge University and after House jobs in London undertook research (MD) into the pharmacology of asthma at St Mary’s Hospital. As Clinical Lecturer at Addenbrooke’s Hospital Professor Morice developed his interest in cough, demonstrating cough hypersensitivity caused by ACE inhibitors. In 1989 Professor Morice was appointed as Senior Lecturer in Sheffield, developing a Pulmonary Vascular service and the first UK Cough Clinic. In 1998, Professor Morice was appointed to the Foundation Chair in Respiratory Medicine in Hull University (now part of Hull York Medical School).

Professor Morice has pioneered investigation into the epidemiology, diagnosis and therapeutics of cough culminating in the production of national and international guidelines.

His research on the neuronal mechanisms has radically altered understanding, leading to the concept of cough hypersensitivity. This has been translated through randomised controlled trials in man demonstrating novel tussive pathways (TRPA1) and therapeutic advances (opiates and P2X3 antagonists). This paradigm shift in the clinical management is disseminated through the NHS by extensive publication, invited lectures, and seminars at both national and international meetings. The immense social and economic morbidity of cough has been revealed in epidemiology studies. Whilst overlapping with other respiratory disease, it is now recognised as a distinct condition (the cough hypersensitivity syndrome) which is stimulating the burgeoning pharmacological developments in the field.

In the UK, Professor Morice leads the Hull Cough Clinic, a nationally recognised tertiary referral centre for the management of intractable cough, He has global collaboration with cough centres as evidenced by the team he assembled as Chair of the ERS Guidelines Committee, consisting of 15 members from 10 countries.