Dr Harvinder Virk

Dr Harvinder Virk is an NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer in Respiratory Medicine and MRC New Investigator in the Department of Respiratory Sciences at the University of Leicester, based at the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (Respiratory), Glenfield Hospital. His research focuses on identifying and overcoming barriers to the clinical translation of research, with an emphasis on improving outcomes for patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILD).

He co-founded Only Good Antibodies (OGA), a community and open data platform working to improve how antibodies are chosen, validated and reported in biomedical research. OGA makes independent, knockout-controlled characterisation data for more than 1,700 commercial antibodies freely available, working with the YCharOS consortium, which he co-leads in the UK. OGA's two 2026 PLOS Biology studies estimated the animal and human tissue samples put at risk by poorly validated antibodies, and set out 15 consensus actions for institutions, funders, publishers and manufacturers. With the NC3Rs he runs the Antibody Champions programme, now embedded in 14 UK research institutions. A UKRI Metascience grant now extends this work to test whether AI can reliably assess research quality, using independent characterisation data as ground truth.

In ILD, he co-leads the national INDEX study of acute exacerbations and is developing robust immunoassays and biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment selection. The aim is validated diagnostics that help clinicians choose the right treatment, or clinical trial, more efficiently and robustly.

He is Deputy Chair of the UK Reproducibility Network Supervisory Board, Leicester Deputy Lead for the MRC-AIM Doctoral Training Partnership, and a Member of the Royal College of Physicians. He previously held an MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowship.

Key: * = senior/corresponding author; † = co-first author

A. Primary Research Publications

*Biddle, M., Cooper, J., Blades, K., Ruddy, D., Krockow, E.M. and Virk, H., 2026. “Inadequate antibody validation places substantial numbers of animal and human tissue samples at risk of waste.” PLOS Biology, 24(10), e3003984. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3003984

*Blades, K., Biddle, M., Froud, R., Krockow, E.M. and Virk, H., 2026. “Actionable solutions to address antibody validation failures.” PLOS Biology, 24(10), e3003981. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3003981

Goodwin, A.T., et al., 2026. “Protocol for the INterstitial lung Disease EXacerbations (INDEX) Study: a retrospective multicentre cohort study.” BMJ Open Respiratory Research, 13, e003949. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjresp-2025-003949

*Biddle, M., et al., 2026. “A guide to selecting high-performing antibodies for Guanine nucleotide-binding protein G(q) subunit alpha (UniProt ID: P50148) for use in western blot and flow cytometry.” F1000Research, 15, 1495. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.187972.1

*Biddle, M., et al., 2026. “A guide to selecting high-performing antibodies for Glucocorticoid receptor (UniProt ID: P04150) for use in western blot and flow cytometry.” F1000Research, 15, 1493. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.187961.1

*Biddle, M., et al., 2026. “A guide to selecting high-performing antibodies for TGF-beta receptor type-2 (UniProt ID: P37173) for use in western blot and flow cytometry.” F1000Research, 15, 1355. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.185842.1

*Biddle, M., et al., 2026. “A guide to selecting high-performing antibodies for PKN2 (UniProt ID: Q16513) for use in western blot and flow cytometry.” F1000Research, 15, 1311. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.185471.1

*Cooper, J., et al., 2026. “A guide to selecting high-performing antibodies for Alpha-1-antitrypsin (UniProt ID: P01009) for use in western blot, immunoprecipitation and flow cytometry.” F1000Research, 15, 73. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.175969.1

*Biddle, M., et al., 2026. “A guide to selecting high-performing antibodies for MMP7 (UniProt ID: P09237) for use in western blot and immunoprecipitation.” F1000Research, 15, 74. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.175973.1

Ayoubi, R., et al., 2026. “A validated antibody toolbox for ALS research.” eLife, 15, RP111349. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.111349.1

Leavy, O.C., et al., 2025. “Sex-specific genetic effects on susceptibility to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.” ERJ Open Research. https://doi.org/10.1183/23120541.00200-2025

Alshafie, W., et al., 2024. “The identification of high-performing antibodies for FUS (UniProt ID: P35637) for use in western blot, immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry.” F1000Research, 12, 376. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.133220.3

*Biddle, M., et al., 2024. “A guide to selecting high-performing antibodies for Synaptotagmin-1 (UniProt ID: P21579) for use in western blot, immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry.” F1000Research, 13, 817. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.154034.1

Ayoubi, R., et al., 2024. “A consensus platform for antibody characterization.” Nature Protocols. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41596-024-01095-8

Ayoubi, R., et al., 2023. “Scaling of an antibody validation procedure enables quantification of antibody performance in major research applications.” eLife, 12, RP91645. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.91645.2

†Merchant, F., et al., 2022. “Lack of benefit of high flow nasal oxygen therapy as ceiling of treatment for severe COVID-19 pneumonitis in elderly frail patients: a single centre observational study.” The Open Respiratory Medicine Journal, 15. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10156038/

*Virk, H.S., et al., 2021. “TGFβ1 induces resistance of human lung myofibroblasts to cell death via down-regulation of TRPA1 channels.” British Journal of Pharmacology, 178(15), 2948–2962. https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.15467

*Virk, H.S., et al., 2019. “Validation of antibodies for the specific detection of human TRPA1.” Scientific Reports, 9(1), 18500. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-55133-7

Harvey, A.G., et al., 2008. “The subjective meaning of sleep quality: a comparison of individuals with and without insomnia.” Sleep, 31(3), 383–393. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/31.3.383

B. Reviews, Commentaries and Policy Publications

*Biddle, M., et al., 2024. “Improving the integrity and reproducibility of research that uses antibodies: a technical, data sharing, behavioral and policy challenge.” mAbs, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/19420862.2024.2323706

Kahn, R.A., Virk, H., et al., 2024. “Science Forum: Antibody characterization is critical to enhance reproducibility in biomedical research.” eLife, 13, e100211. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.100211

Virk, H., Eyre, R., Holmes, A., Biddle, M. and Krockow, E., 2024. “Defining the role of antibodies in improving research reproducibility.” NC3Rs and Only Good Antibodies community workshop report. NC3Rs report (PDF)

Kahn, R.A., Virk, H.S. and McPherson, P.S., 2023. “Heed a decade of calls for antibody validation.” Nature, 620(7974), 492. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-02566-w

†Aponte Santiago, N., et al., 2023. “Tales of the unexpected.” eLife, 12, e87444. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.87444

*Biddle, M. and Virk, H.S., 2023. “YCharOS open antibody characterisation data: lessons learned and progress made.” F1000Research, 12, 1344. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.141719.1

Virk, H., Greer, A. and Bradding, P., 2016. “Mast cells and their activation in lung disease.” Translational Research, 174, 60–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trsl.2016.01.005

C. Manuscripts Under Review

*Goodwin, A.T., et al., 2026. “An evaluation of hospitalised patients with interstitial lung disease – a real-world analysis.” Clinical Medicine. Under revision.

D. Open Resources, Datasets and Online Resources

Only Good Antibodies (OGA) database and data portal: public database of knockout-controlled antibody characterisation data (155 genes, 1,600+ antibodies, 4,200+ tests), with bulk download and a programmatic API. https://onlygoodantibodies.co.uk/

YCharOS Zenodo Community: open repository of antibody characterisation datasets with DOIs. https://zenodo.org/communities/ycharos/

NC3Rs / OGA Antibody Champions programme: national training and culture-change network run jointly with the NC3Rs. https://onlygoodantibodies.co.uk/champions/

OGA browser extension: shows independent characterisation data alongside antibody citations as you read published papers. https://onlygoodantibodies.co.uk/extension/

Virk, H.S., et al. “Antibodies and research reproducibility: a technical, open data, behavioural and policy challenge.” Recorded seminar. https://doi.org/10.52843/cassyni.dh8zrx

PhD supervision

Bhavanaa Arunakumar (2025–2029), primary supervisor. MRC-AIM iCASE studentship co-funded with Abcam.

Ana Prie (2026–2029), primary supervisor.

Multiple MSc and BSc research projects supervised to completion.

PhD examining

External Examiner, PhD, University of Strathclyde (2026)

External Examiner, PhD, University of Leeds (2024): “Direct replacement of secondary antibodies by Affimers”

Please contact me if you are interested in iMSc or PhD projects.

Module Lead: Science, Society and Responsible Research (intercalated MSc), University of Leicester

Antibody Validation Masterclasses: MRC-AIM Doctoral Training Partnership and Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership

Lectures for the BSc in Clinical Sciences, University of Leicester

Small-group teaching for third-year MBChB students (CSFC module) and clinical teaching in respiratory examination

Please contact me if you are interested in iMSc or PhD projects.

Grants as Principal Investigator

UKRI Metascience Research Grant | September 2026
Testing whether AI can assess research reliability: from independent ground truth to a figure-level evidence base

UoL Impact Development Fund | March 2026
Reforming global antibody validation practices: from independent research to multi-sector impact on research integrity, animal welfare, and government policy

MRC iCASE AIM DTP Studentship | October 2025
Exploration of markers of fibrotic and inflammatory signalling, and associated clinical phenotypes, in patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILDs)

BBSRC MIBTP CASE Studentship | September 2025
Development of a toolbox to characterise the structural cell compartment of the human lung

Michael J Fox Foundation Contract via YCharOS Inc. | March 2025
Delivery of flow cytometry antibody characterisation for 6 Parkinson's disease targets

BBSRC IAA Locally Managed Impact Accelerator | March 2025
Developing a sustainable business model to realise the economic, ethical, and societal benefit of robust antibody characterisation data

NC3Rs Non-animal Product Validation Grant | October 2024
Characterisation of antibodies and affinity reagents to promote the adoption of robust and reproducible non-animal reagents

MRC IAA | September 2024
Developing robust and reproducible immunoassays for interstitial lung disease (ILD) diagnosis, prognostication, and treatment selection

MRC Better Methods Better Research New Investigator Award | August 2024
Improving the integrity, reproducibility, and usability of biomedical research that utilises commercial antibodies

MRC IAA + LD3 Time | November 2023
Biomarker discovery and target validation utilising the YCharOS antibody characterisation pipeline

BBSRC IAA Exchange | June 2023
Knowledge and skills exchange for international expansion of YCharOS

BBSRC IAA Event | June 2023
The Only Good Antibodies Community Stakeholder Engagement Meeting

Leicester Institute of Advanced Studies Pioneering Partnerships | September 2022
Identifying and addressing human and research culture factors driving the insufficient validation of antibodies in biomedical research

MRC Training Supplement | June 2019
Training to establish the use of genetically encoded redox sensors

MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowship | September 2015
Redox sensitive TRP ion channels in the interaction between human lung mast cells and oxidative stress

MAARA Starter Grant | March 2014
TRP ion channels as sensors and modulators of oxidative stress in allergic inflammation and asthma

Collaborative Grants (Co-I)

Structural Genomics Consortium Collaborative Infrastructure Investment | March 2026
A knockout cell line facility to enable robust characterisation of E3 ligases with relevance to lung fibrosis and drug discovery
PI: Michael Biddle; Role: Mentor & Co-I

Van Geest Fund Pump-Priming | November 2025
Developing robust immunoassays for improved risk stratification of asymptomatic aortic stenosis
Role: Mentor & Co-I

MRC IAA | September 2025
Early detection of heart failure risk in diabetes using minimally invasive biomarkers
Role: Mentor & Co-I

BBSRC Mid-range Equipment (ALERT 2024) | May 2025
A VR-modularised lattice light sheet microscope for deep imaging of 3D biosystems
Project lead: Himanshu Kaul

Boehringer Ingelheim Investigator Initiated Grant | February 2025
Interstitial Lung Disease Exacerbations Study (INDEX)

Industry sponsorship (Miltenyi Biotec, Abcam, Cell Signaling Technology) | 2025
NC3Rs and OGA Antibody Champions Programme

BBSRC IAA Proof of Concept | June 2023
Using fluorescent biosensors to understand mechanisms of lung ageing

MRC Project Grant | April 2017
TRPA1 as a novel therapeutic target in human pulmonary fibrosis

Fellowships

NIHR Academic Clinical Lectureship | February 2022 – present

NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship | August 2012 – August 2015

Prizes and Honours

Dorothy Bishop Prize for Open and Reproducible Research | 2025
With OGA co-lead Michael Biddle. UKRN announcement

NIHR Future Focused Leadership Programme | 2024–25
Emerging Leaders Cohort (nationally competitive selection)

BRC Excellence Award Nomination (Industry Engagement) | 2024
NIHR Leicester BRC

Policy and Impact

Cancer Research Horizons | 2026
Antibody validation guidance put in place for its Therapeutic Innovation teams, drawing on OGA resources. Cancer Research UK article

Animals in Science Committee advice to Government | 2026
The OGA/NC3Rs Antibody Champions programme cited in Establishing the Alternative Methods Expert Committee. ASC advice

NC3Rs Impact Report case study | 2026
“Large-scale characterisation of recombinant antibodies to replace animal-derived reagents”: 150 antibodies characterised across 15 targets, an estimated 96 animal-derived antibodies replaceable, and over £580,000 in follow-on funding. Impact report (PDF)

UKRN Impact Case Study | 2025
Highlighted by the UK Reproducibility Network as an exemplar of improving biomedical research through antibody reproducibility. UKRN case study

2026

PLOS Biology antibody validation studies (October 2026): PLOS Biology Primer, The Scientist, Biocompare, EurekAlert!, University of Leicester news

Antibody catalogue image-integrity concerns (August 2026): interviewed and quoted as an OGA/YCharOS expert in Nature, Science, Chemical & Engineering News and The Scientist

Earlier

Nature feature (2024): profiled in “The antibodies don't work! The race to rid labs of molecules that ruin experiments” (Nature 635, 26–28)

CiteAb interview: How do you use the CiteAb reagent search engine?

PhD, University of Leicester (2021)

MRes with distinction, University of Leicester (2016)

Specialty Certificate Examination in Respiratory Medicine, Royal College of Physicians (2025)

MRCP (UK), Royal College of Physicians (2013)

MBChB (Hons) with 4 distinctions, University of Birmingham (2010)

MA (Oxon), University of Oxford (2010)

BA (Hons) Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford (2005)