Research
Research Projects:
FlaviPrime - the FlaviPrime study is looking at the cross-reactivity between flaviviruses in a model system, using an infectious attenuated vaccine in a unique human experimental system. We have used the recombinant Japanese encephalitis vaccine IMOJEV in Europe for the first time. We have studied the new antibody response using single cell sequencing of plasmablasts, and we have cloned antibodies to study their specificity and cross-reactivity. We are also studying T cell responses to vaccines against Japanese encephalitis.
ZikaVac - ZikaVac (lead: Prof Neil French) is taking a novel Zika vaccine designed to generate a broad and physiological immune response into first in human trials. I am responsible for the immune endpoint work for the study, and partly for the clinical conduct of the study.
PITCH/SIREN - I am co-PI of the SIREN study in Liverpool, and I run the Liverpool arm of the PITCH consortium (lead: Prof Susie Dunachie) alongside Dr Dan Wootton. PITCH (Protective Immunity from T Cells in Healthcare workers) is a collaboration between 6 universities and UK-HSA
ARBO-UK - the ARBO-UK study is lead by Dr Lynsey Goodwin and is prospectively collecting cases of arbovirus infection imported into the UK. ARBO-UK is funded by NIHR, through the HPRU in emerging and zoonotic infections, in collaboration with UK-HSA and Dr Tom Fletcher
Cross-reactive T cells in human virus infection - we are studying the potential of cross-reactive T cells to kill cells infected with viruses that have never infected the host. We hope to identify common T cell antigens that could form the basis of of multi-valent vaccines.
CCP Cancer - I am co-CI of the CCP cancer study alongside Prof Carlo Palmieri. This study is examining the effects of COVID-19 on patients with cancer.
A full list of publications can be found here (Google Scholar) or here (Pubmed)
Research Interest 1
Neurological infections, immunology of Flavivirus infections, T lymphocytes, T cells receptor cross reactivity.
Research groups
Research grants
University of Liverpool - NIMHANS Collaborative Programme
PRATIKSHA TRUST (INDIA)
November 2023 - October 2029
Design of a common epitope vaccine between Japanese encephalitis virus and Zika virus
ROYAL SOCIETY
March 2023 - March 2025
Protective immunity from T cells to COVID-19 in Healthcare workers (PITCH)-2
MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
December 2022 - July 2025
Interim support for ISARIC4C Clinical Characterisation Protocol (CCP) activation for acute severe hepatitis in children of unknown cause
MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
June 2022 - September 2024
Understanding host interactions with high consequence pathogens using super resolution light microscopy in biocontainment
BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL
August 2022 - July 2023
A UK underpinning platform to study immunology and immunopathology of COVID-19:The UK Coronavirus Immunology Consortium
MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
August 2020 - August 2022
CCP–CANCER UK: Clinical Characterisation Protocol for Severe Emerging Infections in the UK (CCP-UK) – a prospective companion study for patients with Cancer and COVID-19.
MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL, THE CLATTERBRIDGE CANCER CHARITY (UK)
June 2020 - April 2024
COVID-19 vaccine responses in follicular lymphoma: impact of frontline therapy options
UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM (UK)
April 2021 - September 2022
NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections (HPRU EZI)
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)
April 2020 - March 2025
COVID-19 vaccine responses in follicular lymphoma: impact of frontline therapy options (PETReA)
BLOOD CANCER UK (UK)
May 2021 - November 2022
CCP - UK
MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
March 2020 - September 2022
How well do new vaccines against COVID-19 work in people with follicular lymphoma
UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM (UK)
January 2021 - March 2021
Characterization of severe coronavirus infection in humans and model systems for medical countermeasure development and evaluation
FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTATION (USA)
September 2020 - September 2025
Investigation of proven vaccine breakthrough by SARS-CoV-2 variants in established UK healthcare worker cohorts: SIREN consortium & PITCH Plus Pathway
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK), MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
November 2020 - February 2023
NIHR Global Health Research Group on Improving the Management of Acute Brain Infections at University of Liverpool
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)
April 2018 - December 2022
Understanding cross-reactive immunity to Japanese encephalitis virus (FlaviPrime)
WELLCOME TRUST (UK)
July 2017 - June 2022
A phase I study of recombinant poxvirus Zika vaccines
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)
September 2017 - March 2022
Adjuvant free vaccines and companion diagnostics to control emerging flaviviruses
INNOVATE UK (UK)
May 2017 - April 2018
Zika Preparedness Latin American Network — ZikaPLAN
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
October 2016 - March 2021
Human T lymphocyte responses in Japanese encephalitis
WELLCOME TRUST (UK)
October 2009 - January 2014