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Prof. Desa Lilic, MD MSc DSc/PhD FRCPath

Professor and Consultant in Clinical Immunology; Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Immunology & Inflammation Theme; Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom

Additional positions

Qualifications

  • 1993 Professor of Pathophysiology/Immunology, University Belgrade
  • 1988 CCST in Clinical Immunology (distinction award), University Belgrade
  • 1987 Doctorate in Medical Sciences (PhD / DSc), University Belgrade 
  • 1980 Master of Science Degree (MSc) in Experimental Medicine, University Belgrade 
  • 1975 Medical Doctor  (MB BS-best student award), The Medical  School, University Belgrade, Yugoslavia & University Caracas, Venezuela

Previous posts (retired 2017): 

  • 2017-2024  Associate Clinical Lecturer, Institute for Clinical & Translational Research (NUTCRI), Newcastle University
  • 2011-2017 Clinical Senior Lecturer / Associate Professor in Clinical Immunology, Institute for Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University
  • 1996-2017  Consultant Clinical Immunologist & Head of Clinical Immunology Services (University Hospital North Durham UHND, County Durham and Darlington NHS FT 2005-17 & James Cook University Hospital JCUH, South Tees NHS FT 1996-2005) 
  • 1996-2017  Honorary Consultant Clinical Immunologist, Royal Victoria Infirmary, NUTH FT
  • 1993-2017 Hon Clinical Lecturer/Clinical Senior Lecturer, Principal Investigator, Newcastle University  
  • 1993   Moved from Belgrade, former Yugoslavia (now Serbia) to Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Awards

  • 2008-13  ACCEA National Clinical Excellence Award (bronze)
  • 2013-18  ACCEA National Clinical Excellence Award (bronze) 
  • 2025 Millennial Woman Medicine Award, Belgrade, Serbia

Clinical / NHS expertise

  • Consultant Clinical Immunologist
  • Clinical Director of Laboratory and Clinical Immunology services, CDDFT & JCUH
  • Specialised / research primary immune deficiency (PID) “Candidiasis” clinics Regional Immunology and Allergy Department RVI, NUTH, translating into NHS diagnostic tests (STAT1-GOF genetic mutation & anti-cytokine (IL-17) autoantibody tests
  • Guideline development: Trust protocols and guideline flowcharts for latex allergy, anaphylaxis during anaesthesia, drug allergy investigations, radio-contrast media reactions 
  • National UK-PIN (Primary Immunodeficiency Network) guidelines for clinical investigation and diagnosis of infections / chronic candidiasis
  • Perioperative Anaphylaxis Network (PAN) member, BSACI

Academic / Research expertise

  • Principle Investigator (PI) at Newcastle University, proposed and published in high impact professional journals novel pathogenic mechanisms and gene defects in the PID syndrome of Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis (CMC), now recognised internationally
  • Research results translated into NHS diagnostic tests (STAT1-GOF genetic mutation & anti-cytokine (IL-17) autoantibody tests
  • Teaching: MBBS clinical immunology, Postgraduate student supervisor & assessor (PhD, RAs, MPhil, MD, MBBS), educational supervisor NHS, Clinical & Paediatric Immunology 
  • RCP/RCPath/RCPCH SpR training, biomedical scientist (BMS) training

Expert Witness expertise

Highly specialised and rare area of expertise is Allergy and Clinical immunology (primary immune deficiency diseases in adults); expert witness for Allergy and Anaphylaxis (drugs e.g antibiotics, NSAIDS, steroids, excipients, monoclonal antibodies, perioperative anaphylaxis, medical devices, latex, foods, chemical sensitivities etc) and Primary Immune Deficiency diseases. 

Scientific contributions and publications:

DL made significant scientific and clinical research contributions in the identification of underlying pathogenic mechanisms in the 2 largest cohorts of PID patients both presenting with Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis (CMC), defining them as different diseases requiring specific diagnostic criteria and specialised treatments:

  • in one cohort of CMC patients, her group identified an underlying STAT1-gain of function mutation
    • van de Veerdonk FL et al. (Lilic D shared co-senior authorship): Mutations in the CC-domain of STAT1 in Autosomal Dominant Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis. 
      New Engl J Med 2011,365 (1):54-61
    • Toubiana J et al (on behalf of the International STAT1-GOF study group): STAT1 gain of function mutations underlie an unexpectedly broad clinical phenotype: an international survey of 274 patients. Blood 2016;127(25):3154-3164 
  • in a second cohort of CMC patients with the AIRE gene mutation, the existence of anti-IL-17 antibodies which explained the link between autoimmunity and immune deficiency
    • Puel A et al. (Lilic shared co-senior authorship); Auto-antibodies to IL-17A, IL-17F and IL-22 in patients with chronic muco-cutaneous candidiasis and auto-immune polyendocrine syndrome type I. J Exp Med 2010; 207:291-297 (Editorial: Maxmen A. Antibodies attack IL-17. J Exp Med 2010;207(2):264-5)
    • Kisand K, Lilic D, Casanova JL, Peterson P, Meager A, Willcox N. Mucocutaneous candidiasis and autoimmunity against cytokines in APECED and thymoma patients: clinical and pathogenic implications. Eur J Immunol 2011; 41:1517-1527
  • These findings enabled not only identification of different disease pathogenesis in the 2 cohorts, but offered novel diagnostic approaches and new treatments options in these patients 

Memberships / Registrations

  • Newcastle University Certificate of Legacy Pledge, June 2024
  • Member of the Newcastle University Armstrong Circle 2020
  • Expert Witness Institute (EWI) individual membership 10610 & EWI Certified membership 2023-2028
  • Inspire MediLaw Medical Expert panel member 
  • Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath) (renewed 2025)
  • General Medical Council (GMC) 4269843 (renewed 2025)
  • Medical Defence Union (MDU) 339125B (renewed 2025)
  • Information Commissioners Office (ICO) ZA490882 (renewed 2025)
  • ICO registered / GDPR compliant (renewed 2054) 
  • North of England Medico Legal Society (NEMLS) (renewed 2025)
  • UK-PIN (UK Primary Immunodeficiency Network) (renewed 2025)
  • BSI – British Society of Immunology (renewed 2025)
  • British Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI) (renewed 2025)
  • European Society for Immune Deficiency (ESID) (renewed 2025)
  • Henry Kunkel Society (2025)

Selected publications 

  • Novel gain-of-function mutation in STAT1 sumoylation site leads to CMC/CID phenotype responsive to ruxolitinib. Al Shehri T, Gilmour K, Loughlin S, Bibi S3, Rowan AD, Cant AJ, Slatter MA, Lilic D#, Leahy TR#  (# equal contribution). J Clin Immunol 2019 39:776-85 
  • The ESID registry working definitions for the clinical diagnosis of inborn errors of immunity. Seidl MG, Kindle G, Gathmann B et al, ESID registry working party and collaborators JACI in practice 15 Feb 2019 doi 10.1016/j.jaip.2019.02.004
  • Al Dhanhani H et al: CMC with a mutation in both AIRE and STAT1. J Clin Immunol. 2018
  • Forbes LR et al: Jakinibs for the Treatment of Immunodysregulation in Patients with Gain of Function STAT1 or STAT3 Mutations. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2018
  • Leiding JW et al, on behalf of the Inborn Errors Working Party of EBMT and the PIDTC. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with Gain of Function STAT1 Mutation. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2018
  • Parvaneh N, Lilic D, Roesler J, Niehues T, Casanova J-L, Picard C. Defects in intrinsic and innate immunity: receptors and signalling components. In:  Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases – Definition, Diagnosis and Management 2nd Ed. Eds: Rezai N, Aghamohammadi A & Notarangelo L. Springer 2017 
  • Koo S, Kehariwal D, Al Shehri T, Dhar A, Lilic D. Oesophageal candidiasis and squamous cell cancer in patients with gain-of-function STAT1 gene mutation. United Eur Gastroent J (UEG) 2017 5(5):625-631
  • Toubiana J et al on behalf of the International STAT1-GOF study group: STAT1 gain of function mutations underlie an unexpectedly broad clinical phenotype: an international survey of 274 patients. Blood 2016 
  • Higgins E*, Al-Shehri T*, McAleer MA, Feighery C, Lilic D#, Irvine AD#. Successful treatment of a patient with Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis due to a gain-of-function STAT1 mutation with the JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2015
  • Lilic D. Unravelling fungal immunity through primary immune deficiencies. Curr Opin Microbiol 2012
  • van de Veerdonk FL et al: Mutations in the CC-domain of STAT1 in Autosomal Dominant Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis. New Engl J Med 2011
  • Kisand K et al: Mucocutaneous candidiasis and autoimmunity against cytokines in APECED and thymoma patients: clinical and pathogenic implications. Eur J Immunol 2011 
  • Puel A, et al: Auto-antibodies to IL-17A, IL-17F and IL-22 in patients with chronic muco-cutaneous candidiasis and APS1. J Exp Med 2010; Editorial: Maxmen A. Antibodies attack IL-17. J Exp Med 2010 
  • Meloni A et a. Autoantibodies against type I interferons as an additional diagnostic criterion for autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type I. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008;93(11):4389-97;