Research
My big research question is: How do microbes and climate change influence the risk of mosquito-borne diseases? Mosquitoes are responsible for transmitting a large number of viruses to people and animals (arboviruses) such as dengue fever, zika and West Nile viruses resulting in substantial disease burdens. As a result of climate change, globalisation and urbanisation, outbreaks of arboviruses are becoming more common and are appearing in regions where they have previously not been observed.. My current project focuses on understanding the risk posed by an emerging mosquito-borne diseases in the UK (Usutu virus) through infection work using field-caught mosquitoes alongside modelling current and future climate scenarios.