Dr. Edmund Miller started his career in science in the pathology department at Kings College Hospital in 1972. He worked there for 14 years, leaving in 1986 as chief medical laboratory scientific officer. During that time, he earned a BSc (hons) in applied biology, FIMLS in clinical Chemistry, MSc in chemical analysis, a PhD in biochemistry from London University, and was a chartered chemist. In 1986, Dr. Miller joined the research group of Dr. Allen Cohen at the University of Texas Health Center in Tyler, Texas, as a postdoctoral fellow. Their research focused on acute lung injury, and they were the first to define interleukin-8 as a major neutrophil chemotaxin in acute respiratory distress syndrome. Dr. Edmund Miller started his career in science in the pathology department at Kings College Hospital in 1972. He worked there for 14 years, leaving in 1986 as chief medical laboratory scientific officer. During that time, he earned a BSc (hons) in applied biology, FIMLS in clinical Chemistry, MSc in chemical analysis, a PhD in biochemistry from London University, and was a chartered chemist. In 1986, Dr. Miller joined the research group of Dr. Allen Cohen at the University of Texas Health Center in Tyler, Texas, as a postdoctoral fellow. Their research focused on acute lung injury, and they were the first to define interleukin-8 as a major neutrophil chemotaxin in acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Dr. Miller’s research focuses on lung inflammation and the role of the lung as an inflammatory organ. The studies in his laboratory involve both acute and chronic disorders that impact the lung. His group has discovered that the lungs synthesize and release an important immune system messenger called macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) during severe illness. This affects cardiac and circulatory function and other vital organs, causing dysfunction and leading to multi-organ failure. They are closely studying the role of MIF at the molecular level with the goal of identifying new ways to control the inflammatory response to prevent or treat lung inflammation and injury and death associated with disease. Together with Dr. Yousef Al-Abed, they have shown that the thyroid hormone Thyroxine (T4) is a natural inhibitor of MIF and the normal balance between MIF and T4 is severely disturbed during severe illness.