Dr Rupsha Fraser

  • Edinburgh Medical School
  • The University of Edinburgh

Contact details

Address

Street

University of Edinburgh
BioQuarter, Little France

City
Edinburgh
Post code
EH16 4UU

Biography

Background

I am an immunologist with interests focusing on precision immunomodulation through site-specific temporal immune programming to improve human health. I have foundational expertise in reproductive immunology, which has extended into human infection immunology and translational vaccine research.

I began in reproductive immunology, where my work defined functional roles for maternal immune cells in uterine vascular remodelling and placentation, with implications for pregnancy complications. I subsequently developed a hormone-responsive 3D endometrial organotypic model of uterine receptivity to study the transient window of embryo implantation, providing a platform with applications across reproductive and gynaecological conditions.

My current work focuses on addressing a key limitation of respiratory vaccines, which generate systemic immunity but do not effectively protect the upper respiratory tract, the primary site of infection and transmission. I have developed a novel intranasal adjunct strategy that combines standard intramuscular vaccination with a brief, targeted nasal intervention to promote immune protection at the site where infection begins. I am progressing this work towards clinical application through defining an immunologically relevant dose range, developing a clinical-grade product, and evaluating the approach alongside existing and investigational vaccines in human studies.

Within the same framework of site-specific temporal immune programming, I am also interested in developing distinct immunomodulatory strategies in a reproductive context to support implantation and pregnancy outcomes.

 

Recent relevant publications
  • Fraser R, Schwarze J, Dockrell DH. A novel vaccination strategy induces vaccine-specific mucosal responses at port of viral entry and exit: using systemic SARS-CoV-2 vaccination as a test case. BioRxiv; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.10.09.681417.

 

  • Fraser R, Orta-Resendiz A, Mazein A, Dockrell DH. Upper respiratory tract mucosal immunity for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Trends Mol. Med. 2023; 29(4): 255–267.

 

  • Fraser R, Orta-Resendiz A, Dockrell DH, Müller-Trutwin M, Mazein A. Severe COVID-19 vs. multisystem inflammatory syndrome: comparing two critical outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Eur. Respir. Rev. 2023; 32(167):220197.

 

  • Dockrell DH, Russell CD, McHugh B, Fraser R. Does autonomous macrophage-driven inflammation promote alveolar damage in COVID-19? Eur. Resp. J. 2022; 25:2201521.

 

  • Fraser R & Zenclussen AC. Killer timing: the temporal uterine natural killer cell differentiation pathway and implications for female reproductive Health. Front. Endocrinol. 2022; 13:904744.

 

  • Fraser R, Smith R, Lin C-J. A 3D endometrial organotypic model simulating the acute inflammatory decidualisation initiation phase with epithelial induction of the key endometrial receptivity marker, integrin αVβ3. Hum. Reprod. Open 2021(4): hoab034.

 

  • Ostaszewski M, … Fraser R, et al. COVID-19 Disease Map, a computational knowledge repository of SARS-CoV-2 virus-host interaction mechanisms. Mol. Syst. Biol. 2021; 17(10): e10387.

 

Qualifications

  • PhD in Reproductive Immunology
  • MRes in Human Genetics
  • BSc Hons in Biotechnology

 

Responsibilities & affiliations

I am part of the core HCP-Med team, a shortened, government-funded, graduate-entry MBChB (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) programme for practising healthcare professionals in Scotland; and I teach across undergraduate and postgraduate medical programmes at the University of Edinburgh. These include HCP-Med, the undergraduate MBChB programme, and MSc CMID (Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases) and MSc CT (Clinical Trials) programmes

My responsibilities span module and course leadership, curriculum design, and the development and delivery of integrated teaching linking preclinical and clinical domains. I lead modules and courses within the HCP-Med and MSc CMID programmes, and work collaboratively with academic and clinical colleagues to shape curriculum development and teaching practice. I design and deliver lectures, tutorials, and digital learning resources across the modules and courses I lead. I am responsible for module structure and renewal, including implementing new teaching strategies, integrating interdisciplinary content, developing formative and summative assessments, and aligning teaching across programmes.

I also supervise MSc research projects, provide academic mentorship to students, contribute to Boards of Examiners, and support candidate selection and admissions processes.

 

Brief description of the HCP-Med programme and a link to an example of one of the modules I lead: https://open.ed.ac.uk/hcp-med-year-1-integrity/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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