About
I am a microbiologist with an interest in microbial infections of the respiratory tract. In particular, my research focuses on Streptococcus pneumoniae, a leading cause of pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the major pathogen of the cystic fibrosis lung and a common cause of hospital-acquired infection. I am interested in understanding how these pathogens can live as harmless commensals in the upper respiratory tract and what factors (bacterial and host) determine the switch from asymptomatic infection to clinical disease. Ongoing work examines the process of pathogen adaptation to host environments, using experimental evolution approaches. We also aim to improve on existing in vitro and in vivo models of infection, to better capture the physical, chemical and biological conditions of the respiratory tract in health and disease. A long-term goal is the development of novel therapeutics and vaccines for treatment and prevention of bacterial respiratory diseases.
Funded Fellowships
- Henry Dale Fellowship (Wellcome Trust and Royal Society, 2017)