Research
Pneumococcal disease
I have a long term interest in pneumococcal disease bridging immunology, microbial genomics and prevention of disease. Current activity includes a Gates funded project to characterise the burden of residual vaccine type disease in Malawi following conjugate vaccine introduction in 2011 which is now evolved into an evaluation of alternative vaccine schedules to maximise herd protection; studies of pneumococcal transmission in high burden areas and the implications for vaccine control including protection of the neonate and young infant; understanding the interaction of the pneumococcus with viral infections, particularly influenza; characterisation of the immune response to pneumococcus in high risk adult groups; understanding the evolution of the pneumococcus under vaccine pressure; and preclinical studies of a novel pneumococcal vaccine based on pneumococcal proteins.
The interest in developing new vaccines means I am also involved in the development of a Zika vaccine which is moving towards GMP manufacture and first in human studies in 2020.
Vaccine evaluation for efficacy and effectivness.
Having been involved in several vaccine trials and post introductory evaluations of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and Rotavirus vaccine I have become interested in efficient methods for evaluating new vaccines both in the pre-licensure stage and after introduction to assess effectiveness. Current work is focused on using routine data in the UK to assess rotavirus and influenza virus vaccine effectiveness; and large scale efficient demographic studies to determine vaccine outcomes in resource poor settings.
Group B streptococcal infection.
As a consequence of studies on pneumococcal conjugate vaccines in adults, the move into the use of Group B streptococcal vaccines in pregnant women was relatively straightforward. As well as vaccine trials I am interested in other potential control methods for GBS and understanding the genomic associations with pathogenicity in this bacteria. Within the group we work on model systems to understand disease and protection and are developing assays for use in vaccine development.
Research grants
One Health Research Network for the Horn of Africa (HORN)
BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL
October 2017 - March 2023
The role of immune tolerance and regulation in pneumococcal carriage and invasive disease
MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
June 2017 - August 2023
Preparing a network of primary care providers to study infection in the elderly
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)
January 2018 - March 2018
Epidemiology, Prevention, and Treatment of Influenza and Other Respiratory Infections in a Malaria-Endemic Area of Malawi with High HIV Prevalence. (Year 4)
CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (USA)
August 2017 - July 2018
A phase I study of recombinant poxvirus Zika vaccines
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)
September 2017 - March 2022
Epidemiology, Prevention, and Treatment of Influenza and Other Respiratory Infections in a Malaria-Endemic Area of Malawi with High HIV Prevalence. (Year 3)
CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (USA)
August 2016 - July 2020
Shifts in the metabolic and virulence profiles of Streptococcus pneumoniae following the introduction of conjugatepolysaccharide vaccine in Malawi
MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
June 2016 - November 2019
Genomic diversity of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 1 across sub-Saharan Africa
BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION (USA)
January 2011 - March 2015
Describing the burden of severe influenza associated illness across local communities in relation to influenza vaccine uptake and socio-economic deprivation
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)
October 2016 - March 2017
Impact of an improved stove on reductions in PM2.5 exposure and nasopharyngeal carriage of streptococcus pneumoniae in 6 month old Malawian children.
BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION (USA)
July 2015 - September 2017
Impact of rotavirus vaccination on winter /spring pressures at a large paediatric hospital in the UK: an ecological study.
GLAXOSMITHKLINE (UK)
October 2015 - September 2018
Understanding the epidemiology of life threatening invasive Group A Streptococcal infections in Merseyside.
LIVERPOOL HEALTH PARTNERS (UK)
March 2013 - April 2013
Estimating the economic burden of acute gastroenteritis in Malawian children
PATH(USA)
June 2012 - September 2014
Impact of national rotavirus vaccination on diarrhoea deaths among infants in rural Malawi
GLAXOSMITHKLINE BIOLOGICALS S.A. (BELGIUM)
May 2014 - December 2016
Epidemiology, Prevention, and Treatment of Influenza and Other Respiratory Infections in a Malaria-Endemic Area of Malawi with High HIV Prevalence.
CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (USA)
August 2014 - July 2016
Mansoor Alsahag - Bench fees
ROYAL EMBASSY OF SAUDI ARABIA
October 2014 - September 2015
The role of influenza in pneumonia in HIV-infected adults in Malawi
WELLCOME TRUST (UK)
August 2012 - January 2016
Liverpool - Glasgow Wellcome Trust Centre for Global Health Research.
WELLCOME TRUST (UK)
September 2013 - August 2019