da1@sanger.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Group Leader, The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
Research interests: Cancer gene discovery using mouse models and high-throughout analysis of mouse and human genomes using DNA sequencing.
(1) Mattison J et al. Novel candidate cancer genes identified by a large-scale cross-species comparative oncogenomics approach. Cancer Res 2010; 70:883-95.
(2) Sudbery I et al. Deep short-read sequencing of chromosome 17 from the mouse strains A/J and CAST/Ei identifies significant germline variation and candidate genes that regulate liver triglyceride levels. Genome Biol 2009; 10: R112.
(3) Uren AG et al. Large-scale mutagenesis in p19(ARF)- and p53-deficient mice identifies cancer genes and their collaborative networks. Cell 2008; 133: 727-41.
Dr Franklin Aigbirhio
fia20@wbic.cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Director of PET Chemistry, Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, Dept of Clinical Neurosciences
Research interests: PET radiopharmaceuticals, radiochemistry, molecular imaging, nuclear medicine www.wbic.cam.ac.uk
(1) Clatworthy PL et al. Dopamine release in dissociable striatal subregions predicts the different effects of oral methylphenidate on reversal learning and spatial working memory. J Neurosci. 2009 Apr 15;29 (15):4690-6.
(2) Price SJ et al. Imaging regional variation of cellular proliferation in gliomas using 3'-deoxy-3'-[18F]fluorothymidine positron-emission tomography: an image-guided biopsy study. Clin Radiol. 2009 Jan;64 (1):52-63.
(3) Bayly SR et al. In vitro and in vivo evaluations of a hydrophilic 64Cu-bis(thiosemicarbazonato)-glucose conjugate for hypoxia imaging. J Nucl Med. 2008 Nov;49 (11):1862-8.
Prof Jean-Pierre Allain
jpa1000@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Transfusion Medicine, Dept of Haematology
Research interests: Transfusion in Sub-Saharan Africa, blood safety, blood-borne viruses. Possible project topics: Routes of transmission of Hepatitis B virus in East Africa. Viral safety of East African blood supply. Current African links: Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana. National Blood Transfusion Centre, Conakry, Guinea. Dept of Public Health, Khartoum, Sudan.
(1) Allain JP et al. Relative safety of first-time volunteer and replacement donors in West Africa. Transfusion 2009 Oct 15. [Epub ahead of print]
(2) Allain JP et al. Characterization of occult Hepatitis B virus strains in South African blood donors. Hepatology 2009; 90: 1622-8.
(3) Allain JP et al. Deletions and recombinations in the core region of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype E strains from asymptomatic blood donors in Guinea, West Africa. J Gen Virol 2009; 90: 2442-51.
Dr Mark J Arends
mja40@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - University Reader, Dept of Pathology
Research interests: Colorectal cancer development involves cellular transit from normal mucosa via adenomas to carcinomas. The transitions are associated with characteristic genetic changes, such as alterations to APC (>80%), the DNA mismatch repair genes MLH1 & MSH2 (~15%), K-ras (~40%), and p53 (>60%) amongst others, and these genes also influence the regulation of proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. We are studying genomic changes with microarray-Comparative Genomic Hybridisation (array-CGH), models and sequencing to identify and characterise new genes in colorectal cancer development and progression. Possible project topics:Genetic analysis of African colorectal cancers. http://www.path.cam.ac.uk/research/investigators/arends/
(1) Luo F et al. Conditional expression of mutated K-ras accelerates intestinal tumourigenesis in Msh2-deficient mice. Oncogene 2007; 26: 4415 - 4427.
(2) Poulogiannis G et al. Prognostic relevance of DNA copy number changes in colorectal cancer. Journal of Pathology 2010; 220: 338 - 347.
(3) Poulogiannis G et al. PARK2 deletions occur frequently in sporadic colorectal cancer and accelerate adenoma development in Apc mutant mice. PNAS (USA) (2010) published online.
Prof Simon Baron-Cohen
sb205@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Director, Autism Research Centre, Dept of Psychiatry
Research interests: Cognitive neuroscience and clinical research of autism and Asperger Syndrome www.autismresearchcentre.com
Dr Stephen Bentley
sdb@sanger.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Senior Staff Scientist, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
Research interests: My expertise is in the analysis of whole genome sequence data for bacterial pathogens. My research interests are mainly focused on respiratory pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis as well Staphylococcus aureus with the aim of better understanding population dynamics, association with disease and responses to clinical practices. Possible project topic: projects to exploit whole genome sequencing of large collections of pathogen isolates to understand the population structure and colonisation dynamics of respiratory pathogens in different environmental settings. I would also be interested in looking at nasopharyngeal (or nasal) microbiota in a range of demographically distinct groups. Current African links: I have active collaborative links with groups in Blantyre, Malawi (Dean Everett, MLW), The Gambia (Martin Antonio, MRC) and Thailand (Paul Turner, SMRU). http://www.sanger.ac.uk
(1) Evolution of MRSA during hospital transmission and intercontinental spread. Harris SR et al. Science. 2010 Jan 22; 327 (5964): 469-74.
(2) Role of conjugative elements in the evolution of the multidrug-resistant pandemic clone Streptococcus pneumoniaeSpain23F ST81. Croucher NJ et al. J Bacteriol. 2009 Mar;191 (5): 1480-9.
(3) Genetic analysis of the capsular biosynthetic locus from all 90 pneumococcal serotypes. Bentley SD et al. PLoS Genet. 2006 Mar; 2 (3): e31.
Dr Matthew Berriman
mb4@sanger.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Group Leader, Parasite Genomics, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
Research interests: Comparative and functional genomics of parasites to study the genomic basis for similarities (such as regulatory features) or differences in parasite biology (such as host tropism). Current African links: Member of the WHO/TDR International Glossina Genomics Initiative, which includes several African partners. http://www.sanger.ac.uk/research/faculty/mberriman.html
(1) Berriman M et al. (2009). The genome of the blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni. Nature 460 (7253): 352-8.PMID: 19606141.
(2) Hertz-Fowler et al. (2008). Telomeric expression sites are highly conserved in Trypanosoma brucei. PLoS One.3(10): e3527. Epub 2008 Oct 27 PMID: 18953401.
(3) Berriman M et al. (2005). The genome of the African trypanosome Trypanosoma brucei. Science 309 (5733): 416-22. PMID: 16020726.
Dr Oliver Billker
Ob4@sanger.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Senior Group Leader, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
Research interests: The team investigates the fundamental biology of malaria parasite development and parasite-host interactions. We use a malaria species that infects rodents, Plasmodium berghei. We are particularly interested in molecular signalling mechanisms that regulate the parasite life-cycle. We are also collaborating with programmes in mouse, human and Plasmodium genetics at the institute to define molecular functions for host genes in regulating infection and pathology. http://www.sanger.ac.uk/research/projects/malariaprogramme-billker/
(1) Billker O et al. (2009) Calcium-Dependent Signaling and Kinases in Apicomplexan Parasites. Cell Host & Microbe, June 2009.
(2) Moon RW et al. (2009). A cyclic GMP signalling module that regulates gliding motility in a malaria parasite. PLoS Pathogens 5(9).
(3) Billker O et al. (2004). Calcium and a Calcium Dependent Protein Kinase Regulate Gamete Formation and Mosquito Transmission in a Malaria Parasite. Cell 117: 503-514.
Dr Barbara Blacklaws
bab2@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Senior Lecturer, Dept of Veterinary Medicine
Research interests: Immunopathology of persistent infections, particularly viral and bacterial infections. I work in the veterinary field and use visna/maedi virus, the sheep lentivirus, as well as Salmonella as persistent infections whose host cells are both involved in the immune system. This allows me to study the immune response to the infectious agent as well as the effect of the pathogen on different cells involved in that response. Possible project topic: Are Cytotoxic T cells protective against visna/maedi virus? http://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/research/investigators/blacklaws.html
(1) Niesalla H et al. (2008) Systemic DNA immunization against ovine lentivirus using particle-mediated epidermal delivery and modified vaccinia Ankara encoding the gag and/or env genes. Vaccine 27, 260-269.
(2) Wu C et al. (2008) Mapping and Characterization of Visna Maedi Virus Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Epitopes. J. Gen. Virol. 89, 2586-2596.
(3) Chan SS et al. (2008) Salmonella infection of afferent lymph dendritic cells. J. Leukoc. Biol. 83, 272-279.
Prof Carol Brayne
carol.brayne@medschl.cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Public Health Medicine, Dept of Public Health and Primary Care, and Director of the Institute of Public Health
Research interests: Ageing and health, dementia, mental health, healthy life expectancy. Current African links: Has supervised 32 African MPhil students over the years. Personal link with Tanzania. www.phpc.cam.ac.uk/people/brayne.htm
(1) Ngondi J et al. *Effect of 3 years of SAFE (surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness and environmental change) strategy for trachoma control n southern Sudan: a cross-sectional study. The Lancet 2006, vol 368, 589-95. (*accompanying editorial).
(2) Brayne C. Incidence of Dementia in England and Wales. MRC Cognitive Function and Ageing Study. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 2006, 20 Supl2 S47-51.
(3) Jagger C et al. The burden of diseases on disability-free life expectancy in later life. Journal of Geronotology A Biol Sci Med Sci 2007, 62(4), 408-14.
Prof Kevin Brindle
kmb1001@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, Dept of Biochemistry, and Senior Group Leader, CRUK Cambridge Research Institute
Research interests: Patients with similar tumour types can show markedly different responses to the same therapy. We have been developing novel, clinically applicable, imaging methods that can be used to detect early tumour responses to treatment. These could be used in early stage clinical trials of new drugs to get an indication of efficacy and subsequently, in the clinic, to guide therapy in individual patients. http://science.cancerresearchuk.org/research/loc/cambridge/ccri/brindlek/
1. Brindle K. New approaches for imaging tumour responses to treatment. Nature Rev Cancer 2008; 8: 1-14.
2. Gallagher FA et al. Magnetic resonance imaging of pH in vivo using hyperpolarized 13C-labeled bicarbonate. Nature 2008; 453: 940-3.
3. Day SE et al. Detecting tumor response to treatment using hyperpolarized 13C magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy. Nature Med 2007; 13: 1382-7.
Dr Clare Bryant
ceb27@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Senior Lecturer, Dept of Veterinary Medicine
Research interests: My research group works primarily on how the activity of Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs) contribute to infectious disease and whether pharmacological manipulation of these receptors may be useful therapeutically. We study how ligands interact with Toll-like Receptor 4, whether PRRs are important for generating an adaptive immune response to Salmonella infection and we use mathematical and physical techniques to study the cell biology of infection. http://www.queens.cam.ac.uk/users/ceb27/CEB5.html
(1) Walsh CM et al. (2008) Elucidation of the MD-2/TLR4 interface required for signalling by Lipid IVa. J. Immunol. 181, 1245-54.
(2) Talbot S et al. (2009) Toll-like receptor 4 signalling through MyD88 is essential to control Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium infection, but not for the initiation of bacterial clearance. Immunology In press DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2009.03146.x
(3) Wright JA et al. (2009) Multiple redundant stress resistance mechanisms are induced in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in response to alteration of the intracellular environment via TLR4 signalling. Microbiology 155, 2919-29
Professor Graham J. Burton
gjb2@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Reproductive Biology; Dept of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience
Research interests: The principal focus of my research is human placental development and function, with a view to understanding the pathophysiology of complications of pregnancy, including pre-eclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction and miscarriage. We are interested in how the placenta responds to adverse conditions, such as hypoxia, undernutrition and infection, and how this impacts on maternal wellbeing and fetal development. Possible project topics: I would be interested in developing projects investigating the role of the placenta in the causation of pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction. http://www.trophoblast.cam.ac.uk/people/pi.shtml.
(1) Burton GJ et al. (2010). The influence of the intrauterine environment on human placental development. International Journal of Developmental Biology, 54, 303-312.
(2) Burton GJ et al. (2009). Placental endoplasmic reticulum stress and oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of unexplained intrauterine growth restriction and early-onset preeclampsia. Placenta, 30 Suppl. A, S43-S48.
(3) Fowden AL et al. (2008). The placenta and intrauterine programming. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 20, 439-450.
Dr Mark Carrington
mc115@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Reader, Dept of Biochemistry
Research interests: Interaction between trypanosomes and their mammalian hosts. Possible project topics: (1) Geographic variation in VSG repertoire. (2) Development of serodiagnostics for T. brucei, T. congolense and T. vivax. Current African links: Previously supervised Kenyan PhD students. http://web.me.com/mc115/mclab/home.html
(1) Jones N et al. (2007). J. Biol. Chem. 283, 3584-3593. Structure of a type I VSG C-terminal domain and GPI-anchor.
(2) Thomson R et al. (2009). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. – in press. Gene therapy with baboon trypanosome lytic factor eliminates both animal and human infective African trypanosomes.
(3) Kramer S et al. (2008). J Cell Sci. 121, 3002-3014. Heat shock causes a decrease in polysomes and appearence of stress granules in trypanosomes independently of eIF2a phosphorylation at a position equivalent to serine 51.
Dr Isabel Clare
ichc2@medschl.cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Affiliated Lecturer, Cambridge Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Group, Dept of Psychiatry; Consultant Clinical and Forensic Psychologist
Research interests: Health and social care policy, commissioning, and services for people with intellectual or other developmental disabilities. Mental health legislation, policy, and practice. The criminal justice system and suspects, defendants, and witnesses with mental health difficulties or intellectual or other developmental disabilities. Decision-making by people with intellectual or other developmental disabilities. Possible project topics: For any of the topics listed above, I am able to supervise projects using quantitative or qualitative methodologies, and adopting a psychological, sociological, comparative and/or human rights perspective. www.CIDDRG.org.uk
(1) Jacob R et al. (2005). Self-harm, capacity and refusal of treatment: Implications for emergency medical practice, Emergency Medicine Journal, 22, 799-802.
(2) Fistein EC et al. (2009). A comparison of mental health legislation from diverse Commonwealth jurisdictions. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 32, 147-155.
(3) Murphy GH and Clare ICH (2009). Intellectual disabilities and decision-making, in (Eds.) S.Young, M. Kopelman and G.H. Gudjonsson. Handbook of Forensic Neuropsychology, pp. 53-79.Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Dr Alasdair Coles
ajc1020@medschl.cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Senior Lecturer in Neuroimmunology, Dept of Clinical Neurosciences
Research interests: Multiple sclerosis and monoclonal antibody therapy. Possible project topic: Phenotype of demyelinating illness in Africa. Current African links: I have worked as a neurologist in Nigeria. http://www.neuroscience.cam.ac.uk/directory/profile.php?Alcool
(1) Jones JL et al. (2009), “IL-21 drives secondary autoimmunity in patients with multiple sclerosis, following therapeutic lymphocyte depletion with alemtuzumab (Campath-1H).” J Clin Invest 119(7):2052-61
(2) CAMMS223 Trial Investigators, Coles AJ et al. (2008), “Alemtuzumab vs. Interferon beta-1a in early multiple sclerosis.” N Engl J Med 359(17):1786-801
Dr William H Colledge
whc23@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Reproductive Physiology, Dept of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience
Research interests: Neuroendocrine regulation of fertility. Role of kisspeptin signalling in implantation and placental function. http://www.pdn.cam.ac.uk/groups/colledgelab/index.html
(1) d'Anglemont de Tassigny, X. et al. (2008). Kisspeptin can stimulate GnRH release by a direct action at GnRH nerve terminals. Endocrinology 149: 3926-3932.
(2) d'Anglemont de Tassigny, X. et al. (2007) Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in mice lacking a functional Kiss1 gene. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 104: 10714-10719.
(3) Seminara, S.B., et al. (2003). The GPR54 gene as a regulator of puberty. N. Engl. J. Med. 349:1614-1627.
Prof V. Peter Collins
vpc20@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Histopathology and Morbid Anatomy, Honorary Consultant Histopathologist. Head of Division of Molecular Histopathology, Dept of Pathology
Research interests: Molecular genetics of brain tumours; genomics platform development. www.path.cam.ac.uk
(1) Tandem duplication producing a novel oncogenic BRAF fusion gene defines the majority of pilocytic astrocytomas. Jones DT et al. Cancer Res. 2008 Nov 1; 68 (21) : 8673-7. PMID: 18974108.
(2) IDH1 mutations are present in the majority of common adult gliomas but rare in primary glioblastomas. Ichimura K et al. Neuro Oncol. 2009 Aug; 11 (4): 341-7. Epub 2009 May 12. PMID: 19435942.
(3) Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis with fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) probes reveals differential expression of the four ERBB4 juxtamembrane region variants between medulloblastoma and pilocytic astrocytoma. Zeng N et al. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol. 2009 Aug; 35 (4): 353-66. Epub 2008 Nov 12. PMID : 19017278.
Dr Tim J. Croudace
tjc39@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Non-Clinical Senior Lecturer (Psychometric Epidemiology), Dept of Psychiatry
Research interests:
Applied Psychometrics
Multivariate and Latent Variable models for phenotyping in mental health and well-being
Structural Equation modelling
Longitudinal Data Analysis using Latent Traits, Classes and Trajectory/Growth Models
Common mental disorder in adolescents and adults
Possible project topics: Cohort studies in mental health
Current African links: Methodological Advisor to Dr Kennedy Amone-P’Olak (THRiVE Postdoctoral fellow from Uganda). http://www.neuroscience.cam.ac.uk/directory/profile.php?mcztjc
(1) Reininghaus U, McCabe R, Burns T, Croudace T, Priebe S (2011), “Measuring patients' views: a bifactor model of distinct patient-reported outcomes in psychosis.” Psychol Med 41(2): 277-89.
(2) Goodyer IM, Croudace T, Dunn V, Herbert J, Jones PB (2010), “Cohort profile: risk patterns and processes for psychopathology emerging during adolescence: the ROOTS project.” Int J Epidemiol 39(2): 361-9.
(3) Pickles A, Croudace T (2010), “Latent mixture models for multivariate and longitudinal outcomes.” Stat Methods Med Res 19(3): 271-89.
Prof John Danesh
jd292@medschl.cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Epidemiology and Medicine and Head of Dept of Public Health and Primary Care
Research interests: I lead a research group of over 40 staff and students investigating the genetic, biochemical and lifestyle determinants of cardiovascular disease in large-scale epidemiological studies. http://www.phpc.cam.ac.uk/MEU/
(1) The Emerging Risk Factors collaboration. C-reactive protein concentration and risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and mortality: an individual participant meta-analysis. Lancet 2010;375(9709):132-40
(2) The Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration. Major Lipids, Apolipoproteins, and Risk of Vascular Disease. JAMA 2009;302(18):1993-2000
(3) The Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration. Lipoprotein(a) Concentration and the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease, Stroke, and Nonvascular Mortality. JAMA 2009;302(4):412-423
Dr Ulrich Desselberger
ud207@medschl.cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Director of Research, Dept of Medicine
Research interests: Molecular biology of rotaviruses; packaging signals of rotavirus RNA segments; interaction of rotavirus viroplasms with lipid droplet components; reverse genetics of rotaviruses. Possible project topics: Rotaviruses are a major cause of acute gastroenteritis in infants and young children. WHO have just recommended the use of the two licensed rotavirus vaccines in developing countries worldwide. African countries have specific problems with zoonotic transmission of animal rotavirus strains to humans. The molecular epidemiology of rotaviruses in Africa, surveilling both humans and animals in close contact with humans, is in its infancy. Projects can be proposed in this context. Current African links: Acting as tutor for postdoc at North-West University, S Africa.
(1) Arnoldi F et al. The interaction of the rotavirus polymerase VP1 with the non-structural protein NSP5 is stronger than with NSP2. J Virol 2007; 81: 2128-2137.
(2) Desselberger U et al. Rotaviruses and rotavirus vaccines. Brit Med Bull 2009; 90: 37-51.
(3) Cheung W et al. Rotaviruses associate with cellular lipid droplet components to replicate in viroplasms, and compounds disrupting or blocking lipid droplets inhibit viroplasm formation and viral replication. J Virol 2010
Prof Gordon Dougan
gd1@sanger.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Head of Pathogens, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
Research interests: Our aim is to understand the fundamental interactions that occur between the host – i.e. the infected human or mouse – and the pathogen; and also to understanding the evolution of members of enteric pathogens and how this affects transmission of the disease in human populations. We use genetics as a core tool, studying both the host and the pathogen. Possible project topics: Any project on enteric bacteria, including molecular epidemiology and host/pathogen interactions. Current African links: KEMRI in Nairobi (Sam Kariuki is part of my group), KEMRI Kilifi Wellcome Trust Unit (Kevin Marsh), Wellcome Unit in Blantyre Malawi (Rob Heyderman). http://www.sanger.ac.uk
(1) Kingsley RA et al. (2009) Epidemic multiple drug resistant Salmonella Typhimurium causing invasive disease in Sub-Saharan Africa have a distinct genotype. Genome Research, 19: 2279-87.
(2) Perkins T et al. (2009) A strand-specific RNA-seq analysis of the typhoid bacillus, Salmonella typhi. PLOS Genetics Jul: e1000569.
(3) Holt KE et al. (2008) High-though-put sequencing provides insights into variation and evolution in Salmonella typhi. Nature Genetics 40: 987-93.
Prof David W Dunne
dd@mole.bio.cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Parasitology, Dept of Pathology
Research interests: Multi-disciplinary research into the immunology and morbidity of parasitic and other infections in disease endemic countries. Particular interests: human schistosomiasis and other endemic helminth infections and their interactions with other clinical conditions and environmental factors, using collaborative or in-lab expertise in serology, cellular immunology, epidemiology, GIS analysis, parasite molecular biology and post-genomics, allergology, mathematical/statistical modelling. Current African links: Long-term and on-going collaborative partnerships in Kenya, Uganda and Mali, with colleagues in Ministries of Health and national research institutes (e.g. UVRI, KEMRI) studying parasitic and other infectious diseases. http://www.path.cam.ac.uk/~schisto/
(1) Dunne DW et al. (2006). Applied and basic research on the epidemiology, morbidity, and immunology of schistosomiasis in fishing communities on Lake Albert Uganda. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 100: 216-223.
(2) Wilson S et al. (2007) Hepatosplenomegaly in Kenyan schoolchildren: exacerbation by concurrent chronic exposure to malaria and Schistosoma mansoni infection. Trop Med Int Health 12: 1442-9.
(3) Fitzsimmons CM et al. (2007) Factors affecting human IgE and IgG responses to allergen-like molecules from Schistosoma mansoni: molecular structure and patterns of in vivo exposure. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 142: 40-50.
Dr Stacey Efstathiou
se@mole.bio.cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Reader in Virology and Head of Division of Virology, Dept of Pathology
Research interests: Herpesvirus pathogenesis. http://www.path.cam.ac.uk/research/investigators/efstathiou/
(1) Milho R et al (2009). In vivo imaging of murid herpesvirus-4 infection. J Gen Virol. Jan; 90 (Pt 1): 21-32.
(2) Proenca J et al. (2008). A historical analysis of herpes simplex virus promoter activation in vivo reveals distinct populations of latently infected neurons. J. Gen. Virol. 90; 21-32.
(3) Efstathiou, S and Preston CM (2005). Towards an understanding of the molecular basis of herpes simplex virus latency (Review). Virus Research 111: 108-119
Dr Stephen Eglen
sje30@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Senior Lecturer, Cambridge Computational Biology Initiative and Dept of Applied Maths and Theoretical Physics
Research interests: Studying the development of the nervous system using computational approaches. Particular interest in development of neuronal architecture and connections. http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/sje30/
(1) Eglen SJ and Gjorgjieva J (2009). Self organisation in the developing nervous system: theoretical models. HFSP Journal 3: 176-185.
(2) Eglen SJ et al. (2008). Analysis of spatial relationships in three dimensions: tools for the study of nerve cell patterning. BMC Neuroscience 9: 68.
(3) Eglen SJ et al. (2003) Mapping by waves: patterned spontaneous activity regulates retinotopic map refinement. Neuron 40: 1053-1055.
Prof Manuel Eisner
mpe23@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Comparative and Developmental Criminology; Deputy Director of Institute of Criminology
Research interests: History of violence, cross-cultural violence research, violence prevention, causes of violence, bullying, homicide, policing.
Prof Stephen Elliott
sre1@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Chemical Physics, Dept of Chemistry
Research interests: Label-free medical diagnostics (eg HIV, TB) using MEMS (microcantilever) biosensors. Possible project topics: Field trials of portable medical-diagnostic devices.
(1) Kelling S et al. (2009) Simultaneous readout of multiple microcantilever arrays with phase-shifting interferometric microscopy (PSIM) Rev. Sci. Instr. 80, Issue 9, 093101- 093101-8
Dr Richard (Dick) Fenner
raf37@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Senior Lecturer and Course Director for MPhil in Engineering for Sustainable Development, Centre for Sustainable Development, Dept of Engineering
Research interests: Water and sanitation in developing countries, with specific reference to household water treatment systems and alternative (ecological) sanitation methods. Sustainability assessment of water services and infrastructure in hot climates. Possible project topics: Any water related project. Current African links: Contacts with Water Aid, Oxfam, Practical Action, Engineers Without Borders, and CAWST (Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technologies). Links with University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban and University of Cape Town, South Africa. http://www-g.eng.cam.ac.uk/sustdev/
(1) Flores A et al. (2009) Selecting Wastewater Systems for Sustainability in Developing Countries. Water Science and Technology, (WST) Vol 60 No 11 pp 2973-2982.
(2) Ngai TKK and Fenner RA (2008) A systems approach to characterise the dissemination process of household water treatment systems in developing countries. IWA World Water Congress Vienna, Austria 8-12 September 2008.
(3) Fenner RA et al. (2007) “Process Selection for sanitation systems and wastewater treatment in disaster relief situations” Water and Environment Journal (CIWEM) Volume 21, December 2007, Number 4, pp 252264.
Prof Mark C Field
mcf34@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Cell Biology and Parasitology, Dept of Pathology
Research interests: The laboratory is interested in the cell biology of trypanosomes, and how this applies to virulence and host pathogen interactions. We have two major areas of interest: biosynthesis and maintenance of the cell surface proteome; and understanding the biology of the nuclear envelope and how this applies to control of gene expression. Possible project topics: Projects in the areas of defining the functions of proteins involved in surface maintenance and nuclear envelope will be available. These will encompass imaging, reverse genetics, proteomics and bioinformatic strategies. http://homepage.mac.com/mfield/lab/Welcome.html
(1) deGrasse J et al. (2009) ‘Evidence for a shared nuclear pore complex architecture that is conserved from the last common eukaryotic ancestor.’ Molecular and Cellular Proteomics 8 2119 – 2030.
(2) Field MC et al. (2009) 'Macromolecular trafficking and immune evasion in African trypanosomes.' International Review of Cell and Molecular Biology 278 1 – 52.
(3) Chung W-L et al (2008) ‘Position-specific ubiquitylation is required for internalisation and degradation of trans-membrane surface proteins in trypanosomes’ Traffic 9 1681-1697
Prof Rob Foley
r.foley@human-evol.cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Human Evolution, Head of Dept of Biological Anthropology and Co-Director of Leverhulme Centre for Human Evolutionary Studies
Research interests: Human evolution and adaptation in Africa. Current African links: Kenya, with the Turkana Basin Institute, the National Museums of Kenya, and The British Institute in Eastern Africa. http://www.human-evol.cam.ac.uk/
Prof Robin Franklin
rjf1000@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Neuroscience, Dept of Veterinary Medicine and MRC Centre for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Brain Repair Centre
Research interests: Stem cells and regenerative medicine. Biology of stem cell-mediated regenerative processes in CNS and especially oligodendrocyte regeneration.
http://www.neuroscience.cam.ac.uk/directory/profile.php?rjf1000
http://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/research/investigators/franklin.html
http://www.stemcells.cam.ac.uk/
(1) Fancy SP et al. (2009), “Dysregulation of the Wnt pathway inhibits timely myelination and remyelination in the mammalian CNS.” Genes & Development 23:1571-85.
(2) Franklin RJM and ffrench-Constant C (2008), “Remyelination in the CNS: from biology to therapy” Nature Reviews Neuroscinece 9(11): 839-55
(3) Shen S et al. (2008), “Age-dependent epigenetic control of differentiation inhibitors: a critical determinant of remyelination efficiency” Nature Neuroscience 11: 1024-1034.
Dr Simon DW Frost
sdf22@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - University Senior Lecturer, Dept of Veterinary Medicine
Research interests: Mathematical, computational, and statistical approaches to understand the dynamics and evolution of pathogens. Possible project topics: molecular epidemiology, mathematical/simulation modeling of infectious diseases. Current African links: I am currently involved in the use of a sampling technique called respondent-driven sampling (RDS) to recruit individuals from 'hidden' populations such as injection drug users (IDUs), commercial sex workers (CSWs), and men who have sex with men. I am involved in RDS studies in Libya and Uganda. http://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/research/investigators/frost.html
(1) Kosakovsky Pond SL et al. (2009) Evolutionary fingerprinting of genes. Mol Biol Evol (in press).
(2) Volz EM et al. (2009) Phylodynamics of infectious disease epidemics. Genetics (in press). (3) Poon AF et al. (2009) Parsing social network survey data from hidden populations using stochastic context-free grammars. PloS One 4:e6777.
Prof Hill Gaston
jshg2@medschl.cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Rheumatology, Dept of Medicine
Research interests: Inflammatory arthritis and the relationship between infection and autoimmunity. Specific interest in immune responses to chlamydia. Expertise in T cell cloning and phenotypic characterization of T cell subsets and dendritic cells. Possible project topics: The influence of HIV infection on the incidence and immunopathogenesis of spondyloarthritis. Current African links: Supervised MD of Zimbabwean immunologist. Collaborations in the past with MRC Gambia on C. trachomatis.
(1) Matyszak MK and Gaston JSH. Chlamydia trachomatis-specific human CD8+ T cells show two patterns of antigen recognition. Infect. Immun. 72(8): 4357-67 (2004).
(2) Jarvis LB et al. Autoreactive human peripheral blood CD8+ T cells with a regulatory phenotype and function. Eur. J. Immunol. 35:2896-2908 (2005).
(3) Shen, H et al. Frequency and phenotype of peripheral blood Th17 cells in ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 60:1647-1656 (2009)
Prof Nick Gay
njg11@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Dept of Biochemistry
Research interests: Innate immunity – structure function and regulation pattern recognition receptors particularly Toll-like receptors. Mechanism of signal transduction and molecular recognition by PRRs. Possible project topics: Innate responses to tropical disease. Current African links: Long standing links with S. Africa (PhD training, collaboration).
(1) Motshwene PG et al. (2009) An oligomeric signalling platform formed by the toll-like receptor signal transducers MyD88 and IRAK4. J Biol Chem, in press.
(2) Bryant C et al. (2009) The molecular basis of the host response to LPS. Nature Rev. Microbiol., in press.
(3) Wang L et al. (2008) Peptidoglycan Recognition Protein-SD Provides Versatility of Receptor Formation in Drosophila Immunity. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) 105, 11881-11886
Dr John S Gibson
jsg1001@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Reader in Pathophysiology, Dept of Veterinary Medicine
Research interests: Cellular ion and water pathophysiology. Main interest is red blood cells, especially their altered behaviour in haemoglobinopathies including sickle cell disease, thalassaemia and enzyme deficiencies. Also interested in articular chondrocytes. Main projects currently on altered cation balance, membrane transport activity and phospholipid exposure in red blood cells from sickle cell patients, their link with disease and how they might be corrected to ameliorate symptoms. Possible project topics: Behaviour of red blood cells from patients heterogeneous for HbS and HbC –as these constitute a third of all sickle cell patients - compared to those from homogeneous HbSS individuals. Current African links: Potential students from Ghana.
(1) Gibson JS and Ellory JC (2002). Membrane transport in sickle cell disease. Blood Cells, Molecules and Disease 28, 1-12.
(2) Browning JA et al. (2006). Pathophysiology of red blood cell volume. Contrib. Nephrol. 152, 241-268.
(3) Gibson JS et al. (2008). Oxygen and reactive oxygen species in articular cartilage: modulation of ionic homeostasis. Pflugers Archiv 455, 563-573.
Dr Effrossyni Gkrania-Klotsas
eg318@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Clinical Director, Infectious Diseases, Dept of Medicine and MRC Fellow, MRC Dept of Epidemiology
Research interests: Emerging infectious diseases, population genetics and disease susceptibility epidemiology. Possible project topics: (1) GIS systems for emerging infectious diseases in Africa. (2) Non-polio Enterovirus infections epidemiology in Africa. http://www.infectiousdisease.cam.ac.uk/directory/eg318@cam.ac.uk/?searchterm=Gkrania
Dr Julia Gog
jrg20@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - University Lecturer and Royal Society University Research Fellow, Dept of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics
Research interests: My research group uses mathematical modelling to study the dynamics of infectious disease: at the epidemic scale, the microscopic scale, and everything in between. Current projects include influenza dynamics at the population level and within host, and salmonella and macrophage dynamics at the in vitro level. http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/jrg20/
(1) Gog JR (2008) The impact of evolutionary constraints on influenza dynamics Vaccine 26 C15-24.
(2) Gog JR et al. (2007) Codon conservation in the influenza A virus genome defines RNA packaging signals. Nucleic Acids Research 35, 1897-1907.
(3) Grenfell BT et al. (2004) Unifying the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of pathogens. Science 303 327-332
Dr David Good
dg25@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - University Lecturer (UTO), Dept of Social and Developmental Psychology
Research interests:
Firstly, the design and development of new communication and information technologies.
Secondly, the development and assessment of professional expertise (Medicine, Engineering, Entrepreneurship). Focusing on the development of the creative and innovative abilities of students, and how this prepares them for their future careers. http://www.sdp.cam.ac.uk/contacts/staff/profiles/dgood.html
Dr Peter Goon
pg336@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Cancer Research UK Clinician Scientist, Honorary Consultant Physician and Senior Research Associate, Division of Virology, Dept of Pathology
Research interests: We focus on using different models of HPV disease, both benign and malignant, to determine the natural life cycle and history of this viral infection, pathogenesis of disease, and the immune responses associated therewith. We aim to translate these data into clinical benefit for improved diagnosis, prevention and treatment of HPV-associated diseases, in normal and immunosuppressed individuals (esp. HIV-infected patients). Possible project topics: Analyses of HPV lifecycle and host immune responses in HPV+ and HIV-1+ co-infected patients in HPV-associated anogenital cancers and precancers. http://www.path.cam.ac.uk/pages/goon/
(1) Winder DM et al. 2009. Sensitive HPV detection in Oro-pharyngeal cancers. BioMedCentral Cancer. (Accepted).
(2) Heaps A et al. 2009. Ex vivo analyses of ano-genital wart lymphocytes to study the HPV immune response. Acta Derm Venearol.; 89 (3): 303-4.
(3) Goon PKC et al. 2009. HPV and head and neck cancer: a descriptive update. Head and Neck Oncology. 1: 36
Dr Rie Goto
rg277@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Affiliated Lecturer, Dept of Archaeology and Anthropology, Division of Biological Anthropology
Research interests: I am interested in nutrition, child growth and infectious diseases, and how they interact with poverty. I also work on a large scale extreme poor project in Bangladesh (DFID funded) to see what indirect nutritional benefits accrue because of economic empowerment. http://henge.bioanth.cam.ac.uk/rg_index.html.
Prof Peter Guthrie
pmg31@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Engineering for Sustainable Development, Dept of Engineering
Research interests: The development of decision making processes towards sustainable development in infrastructure engineering; the application of sustainable development to developing country contexts, including application of non standard materials; the deployment of engineering skills in disasters. Possible projects: Research into the possible amendment of standards for more local relevance. Current African links: Links with University of Kwa Zulu Natal.
(1) Building Roads by Hand Antoniou, J., Guthrie, PM, de Veen, JJ Longmans 1990
Prof Robert Haining
rph26@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Human Geography, Dept of Geography
Research interests: Spatial data analysis; GIS; geography of crime; geography of health. Possible project topics: Health service provision; geographical dimensions of access to health care as a factor in understanding usage. http://www.geog.cam.ac.uk/people/haining/
(1) 'Bayesian modelling of environmental risk: example using a small area ecological study of coronary heart disease mortality in relation to modelled outdoor nitrogen oxide levels.' Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment, 2007, 21(5), 501-509. (with Law, Maheswaran, Pearson and Brindley).
(2) 'Combining police perceptions with police records of serious crime areas: a modelling approach.' Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A (Statistics in Society), 2007, 170(4), 1019-1034 (with J.Law).
(3) Outdoor NOx and stroke mortality – adjusting for small area level smoking prevalence using a Bayesian approach." Statistical Methods in Medical Research, 2006, 15, 499-516. (with R. Maheswaran, P. Brindley, J. Law, T. Pearson, N. Best).
Prof Jonathan L Heeney
jlh66@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Head, Laboratory of Viral Zoonotics, Dept of Veterinary Medicine
Research interests: The laboratory focuses on cross-species transmissions of viruses, and the co-evolution of viruses and their hosts including the evolution of immune mechanisms of disease protection in naturally infected but disease-resistant species. We apply cutting-edge molecular technologies to address important questions concerning zoonotic infections of importance to both veterinary and human health. Possible project topics: RNA viral infections transmitted from non-human primates to humans. Origins of Hepatitis viruses and host-viral dynamics. Innate host immunity to RNA viruses. http://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/research/investigators/heeney.html
(1) Heeney JL. Zoonotic viral diseases and the frontier of early diagnosis, control and prevention. J Intern Med 2006; 260: 399–408.
(2) Heeney JL and Plotkin SA. Immunological correlates of protection from HIV infection and disease. Nat Immunol. 2006 Dec;7(12): 1281-4.
(3) Draper S and Heeney JL. Viruses as vaccines for Infectious Diseases and Cancer. Nature Micro Rev. in press.
Prof Tony Holland
ajh1008@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Psychiatry of Learning Disabilities, Dept of Psychiatry
Research interests: Mental health in people with learning disabilities (LD) (mental handicap); health inequalities, social inclusion and the human rights of relevance to people with LD; neurodevelopmental disorders associated with LD. Possible project topics: (1) Service responses to the needs of children and adults with learning disabilities in diverse economic and cultural settings. (2) Health inequalities, mental health and physical health needs and access to services for people with LD. Current African links: Have established links in Kenya and Ghana. www.CIDDRG.org.uk
(1) Fistein EC et al. (2009) A comparison of mental health legislation from diverse Commonwealth jurisdictions. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry 32, 147-155.
(2) Wheeler JR et al. (2009) Community services and people with intellectual disabilities who engage in anti-social or offending behaviour: referral rates, characteristics and care pathways. The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology 20, 717-740.
(3) Ball SL et al. (2008) Executive dysfunction and its association with personality and behaviour changes in the development of Alzheimer's disease in adults with Down syndrome and mild to moderate learning disabilities British Journal of Clinical Psychology 47(1), 1-29
Dr Mark Holmes
mah1@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Senior Lecturer in Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Dept of Veterinary Medicine
Research interests: Veterinary Clinical Research (I run the Clinical Research Outreach Program here which trains veterinary practitioners to undertake clinical research). I have supervised a large number of small clinical research studies. I have written textbooks on Evidence-based veterinary medicine and Veterinary Clinical Research. My specific research interests are in farm animal epidemiology and veterinary immunology. Possible project topic: Bovine mastitis pathogen dynamics.
Dr Francis Jiggins
Fmj1001@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - University Lecturer and Royal Society University Research Fellow, Dept of Genetics
Research interests: Genetics and evolution of insects and their pathogens, using mosquitoes and fruit fly to understand why insects vary in ability to transmit disease. One of the motivating reasons for this is that it may lead to ways in which vector populations could be modified to prevent them from transmitting disease. Much of this work involves East African populations of mosquitoes and flies. Possible project topics: Aedes aegypti has a genetic polymorphism in E Africa that makes some mosquitoes unable to transmit filarial nematodes uch as the human pathogen Brugia malayi. I am attempting to understand what the molecular basis of this variation is, and why it is maintained in populations. I welcome applications to work on different aspects of this interaction, from field work to molecular genetics. I am also happy to consider other applications relevant to the work in my lab. Current African links: Links in S Africa, Ghana and Kenya (KEMRI and ICIPE). http://www.gen.cam.ac.uk/Research/Jiggins/
(1) Obbard DJ et al. 2009 Quantifying Adaptive Evolution in the Drosophila Immune System. PLoS Genetics. In press.
(2) Obbard DJ et al. 2008 The evolution of TEP1, an exceptionally polymorphic immunity gene in Anopheles gambiae. BMC Evolutionary Biology 8, 274.
(3) Bangham J et al. 2007 The age and evolution of an antiviral resistance mutation in Drosophila melanogaster. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 274: 2027-2034
Dr Clemens Kaminski
cfk23@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Head of Laser Analytics Group and Director of CamBRIDGESens, Dept of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
Research interests:Development of advanced optical techniques for biomedical applications. We have two broad strands in this field. (1) We develop advanced optical imaging tools to study molecular mechanisms of disease directly in living cells. We are biophysicists collaborating with biologists and have projects in malaria research, cancer, and neurodegenerative disease. (2) We develop ultra-sensitive breath analysis instrumentation for use in clinic, for example to monitor anaesthetics during surgery, or for the diagnosis of disease. Possible project topics: (1) Detection of anaesthetic agents in patients by cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy of exhaled breath. (2) Imaging volume changes in malaria infected red blood cells. (3) Super resolution imaging of toxic protein aggregates in Parkinson’s disease. laser.ceb.cam.ac.uk
(1) Elder AD et al. "A quantitative protocol for dynamic measurements of protein interactions by FRET-sensitized fluorescence emission". Journal of the Royal Society Interface, Volume 6, S59-S81, 2009.
(2) Mauritz J et al. "The Homeostasis of Plasmodium falciparum Infected Red Blood Cells", PLoS Comput Biol 5(4): e1000339, 2009.
(3) Kaminski CF et al. "Supercontinuum radiation for applications in chemical sensing and microscopy" Applied Physics B 92:367-378 (2008)
Prof Jim Kaufman
jfk31@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Comparative Immunogenetics, Dept of Pathology and Dept of Veterinary Medicine
Research interests: Our lab is interested in the evolution of immunity, particularly the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), with our major experimental animal being the chicken. As part of this work, we examine chickens for resistance to infectious pathogens and response to vaccines, which has some practical interest given that chickens are a major source of protein for both the developed and the developing world. We are particularly interested in village chickens. Possible project topics: We would be interested in typing village chickens from Africa for MHC alleles, using an RSCA method that we were involved in developing, with the eventual goal of determining which MHC haplotypes confer resistance to disease and response to vaccines in Africa. http://www.path.cam.ac.uk/research/investigators/kaufman/
(1) Wallny H-J et al. (2006) Peptide motifs of the single dominantly-expressed class I molecule can explain the striking MHC-determined response to Rous sarcoma virus in chickens. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 103: 1434-1439.
(2) Balkissoon D et al. (2007) Low frequency of the Mx allele for viral resistance predates recent intensive selection in domestic chickens. Immunogenetics 59: 687-691.
(3) Worley K et al. (2008) Single locus typing of MHC class I and class II B loci in a population of red jungle fowl. Immunogenetics 60: 233-47.
Dr Belinda Lennox
bl224@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Senior Research Associate / Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist, Dept of Psychiatry
Research interests:
Biological basis of psychotic disorders
Functional imaging of psychosis
Early intervention in psychosis services
Neurimmunology of psychosis
Possible project topics: Neuroimmunological basis of psychosis in a developing country. http://www.neuroscience.cam.ac.uk/directory/profile.php?bl224
(1) Chen CH et al. (2006), “Explicit and implicit facial affect recognition in manic and depressed States of bipolar disorder: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study.” Biol Psychiatry 59(1):31-9
(2) Lennox BR et al. (2001), “A functional anatomy of auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia” Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging 100:13-20.
Prof Andrew ML Lever
sgd21@medschl.cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Infectious Diseases, Dept of Medicine
Research interests: We study the molecular biology of retrovirus (HIV) and rotavirus infection. We are interested in virus assembly and how the virus uses cell machinery to help this process. We are seeking novel inhibitors of virus assembly involving RNA binding ligands. We also study gene delivery using lentiviral vectors. http://www.infectiousdisease.cam.ac.uk/directory/amll1@cam.ac.uk/?searchterm=lever
(1) L’Hernault A et al. Dimerisation of HIV-2 genomic RNA is linked to efficient RNA packaging, normal particle maturation and viral infectivity. Retrovirology 2007; 4: 90.
(2) Poole E et al. HIV-1 Gag-RNA interaction occurs at a perinuclear/centrosomal site; analysis by confocal microscopy and FRET. Traffic 2005; 6: 741-55.
(3) Mok H-P et al. Stable gene expression occurs from a minority of integrated HIV-1 based vectors: transcriptional silencing is present in the majority. Gene Therapy 2007; 14: 741-751
Prof Nick Mascie-Taylor
nmt1@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Human Population Biology and Head, Dept of Archaeology and Anthropology
Research interests: Interactions between nutrition, disease, growth and poverty in developing countries. Current African links: Links with Sudanese scientists
Prof Duncan Maskell
djm47@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Farm Animal Health, Food Science and Food Safety and Head of the Department of Veterinary Medicine
Research interests: Bacterial infection. Molecular genetics. Genome science. Host response. Host pathogen interaction. Current African links: Some contacts in Ghana.
(1) Chaudhuri RR et al. Comprehensive identification of Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium genes required for infection of BALB/c mice. PLoS Pathogens. 2009 Jul; 5 (7): e1000529. Epub 2009 Jul 31.
(2) Wright JA et al. Multiple redundant stress resistance mechanisms are induced in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in response to alteration of the intracellular environment via TLR4 signalling. Microbiology 2009, 155: 2919-29.
(3) Mastroeni P et al. A dynamic view of the spread and intracellular distribution of Salmonella enterica. Nat Reviews Microbiology 2009, 7: 73-80.
Dr Pietro Mastroeni
pm274@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Reader in Infection and Immunity, Dept of Veterinary Medicine
Research interests: Systems biology and in vivo dynamics of bacterial infections. Immunity to bacterial infections and vaccine development. Current African links: In the process of applying for MRC funding in collaboration with MRC Unit in Banjul, The Gambia.
(1) Modeling within-host spatiotemporal dynamics of invasive bacterial disease. Grant AJ et al. PLoS Biol. 2008; 6: e74.
(2) A dynamic view of the spread and intracellular distribution of Salmonella enterica. Mastroeni P et al. Nature Rev. Microbiol. 2009; 7: 73-80.
(3) B-cell intrinsic MyD88 signals drive IFN-γ production from T cells and control switching to IgG2c. Barr TA et al. J. Immunol., 2009;183:1005-12.
Dr TJ McKinley
tjm44@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Research Associate in Statistics, Cambridge Infectious Diseases Consortium, Dept of Veterinary Medicine
Research interests: I am interested in applying and developing statistical methodology for the study of infectious diseases. In particular I am interested in using Bayesian methodology to deal with fitting to partially observed data, in both large-scale (e.g. bovine TB, foot-and-mouth disease) and small-scale (e.g. within-host spread of Salmonella enterica) systems. http://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/cidc/people/TJ.html
(1) McKinley TJ et al. (2009), “Inference in epidemic models without likelihoods,” The International Journal of Biostatistics, 5 (1), doi: 10.2202/1557-4679.1171.
(2) Grant AJ et al. (2008), “Modeling within-host spatiotemporal dynamics of invasive bacterial disease,” PLoS Biology, 6(4), e74, doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0060074.
Dr Richard Meiser-Stedman
richard.meiser-stedman@mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - MRC Clinician Scientist Fellow, MRC Cognition & Brain Sciences Unit
Research interests: Post-traumatic stress in children and adolescents
Perseverative thinking (e.g. worry and rumination) in children and adolescents.
(1) Meiser-Stedman R et al. (2009). Maladaptive cognitive appraisals mediate the evolution of posttraumatic stress reactions: A 6-month follow up of child and adolescent assault and motor vehicle accident survivors. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 118, 778-787.
(2) Meiser-Stedman R et al. (2009). Development and validation of the Child Post-Traumatic Cognitions Inventory (CPTCI). Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 50, 432–440.
(3) Meiser-Stedman R et al. (2008). The post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis in pre-school and elementary school-aged children exposed to motor vehicle accidents. American Journal of Psychiatry, 165, 1326-1337.
Dr Gos Micklem
g.micklem@gen.cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Director, Cambridge Computational Biology Institute; Dept of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics; Dept of Genetics
Research interests: Bioinformatics, genomics, synthetic biology. http://www.sysbiol.cam.ac.uk/index.php?page=dr-gos-micklem
(1) Celniker SE et al. (2009) Unlocking the secrets of the genome. Nature 459: 927-930.
(2) Lyne R et al. (2007) FlyMine: an integrated database for Drosophila and Anopheles genomics. Genome Biology 8: R129 PMID: 1761505.
(3) Choksi SP et al. (2006) Prospero Acts as a Binary Switch between Self-Renewal and Differentiation in Drosophila Neural Stem Cells. Developmental Cell 11: 775-789. PMID: 17141154
Dr Irene Miguel-Aliaga
im307@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Wellcome Trust Research Career Development Fellow, Dept of Zoology
Research interests: We are investigating the signals mediating the crosstalk between the nervous and digestive system in Drosophila melanogaster. By doing so, we hope to understand how our own body integrates nutritional and metabolic information to adjust internal functions and behaviour, as well as what goes wrong in metabolic conditions such as diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome. http://www.zoo.cam.ac.uk/zoostaff/miguel-aliaga/main.html.
(1) Cognigni P et al. (2011) Enteric neurons and systemic signals couple nutritional and reproductive state with intestinal homeostasis. Cell Metab 3(1): 92-104.
(2) Miguel-Aliaga I et al. (2008) Postmitotic specification of Drosophila insulinergic neurons from pioneer neurons. PLoS Biol 11;6(3):e58.
(3) Miguel-Aliaga I & Thor S (2004) Segment-specific prevention of pioneer neuron apoptosis by cell-autonomous, postmitotic Hox gene activity. Development 131(24): 6093-105.
Prof Ashley Moffett
am485@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Reproductive Immunology, Dept of Pathology
Research interests: I work on how the mother’s immune system in the uterus regulates placentation so that both demands of baby and health of mother are optimal. This balance goes wrong in major disorders of pregnancy such as pre-eclampsia, still-birth, recurrent miscarriage and poor fetal growth. These diseases are far more prevalent in Africa for reasons that are unknown. We are looking for the variation in the immune system genes in Africans to see if this is part of their susceptibility. Possible project topics: Maternal health in Africa, particularly HIV and pre-eclampsia. Current African links: I have a PhD student who is recruiting pre-eclampsia and control patients in Entebbe for KIR and HLA genotyping in Cambridge. I will be visiting the hospital and labs in Kampala in 2010. http://www.path.cam.ac.uk/research/investigators/moffett/
Prof Nick Morrell
nwm23@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Cardiopulmonary Medicine, Dept of Medicine
Research interests: My research group is studying the molecular mechanisms of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), in particular the molecular and cell biology of familial PAH caused by mutations in the bone morphogenetic protein type 2 receptor (BMPR2). One of the main consequences of BMPR2 mutation is an exaggerated inflammatory response and release of inflammatory cytokines. We have developed a new mouse model of PAH caused by Schistosomiasis, and we are examining the role of BMPR2, progenitor cells and cytokines in this model. Possible project topics: Mechanisms of PAH caused by Schistosomiasis. Field studies of the epidemiology of PAH associated with Schistosomiasis. Current African links: Sudan. http://www.med.cam.ac.uk/HTML/PI/Morell/index.html
Dr Andrew Murray
ajm267@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Lecutrer, Dept of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience
Research interests: Our work is concerned with mitochondrial function; how this is altered in metabolic diseases (e.g. heart failure and diabetes), during development and ageing, and with changes in diet, exercise and oxygen; and the effects of these changes on physiological performance. We aim to elucidate the causes of mitochondrial dysfunction and the impact this has on function at the level of the tissue, organ and whole body. Current links in the developing countries: Collaborative links with groups in Brazil. http://www.pdn.cam.ac.uk/staff/murray/.
(1) AJ Murray. Metabolic adaptation of skeletal muscle to high altitude hypoxia: how new technologies could solve the controversies. Genome Med. 1: 117, 2009.
(2) AJ Murray, NS Knight, LE Cochlin, S McAleese, RM Deacon, JN Rawlins, K Clarke. Deterioration of physical performance and cognitive function in rats with short-term high-fat feeding. FASEB J. 23: 4353-60, 2009.
(3) AJ Murray, MA Cole, CA Lygate, CA Carr, DJ Stuckey, SE Little, S Neubauer, K Clarke. Increased mitochondrial uncoupling proteins, respiratory uncoupling and decreased efficiency in the chronically infarcted rat heart. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 44: 694-700, 2008.
Dr Sergey Nejentsev
sn262@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Royal Society Research Fellow, Dept of Medicine
Research interests: Genetics of susceptibility to tuberculosis. Host-pathogen interaction in tuberculosis. http://tb.med.cam.ac.uk/
(1) Szeszko JS et al. Resequencing and association analysis of the SP110 gene in adult pulmonary tuberculosis. Hum Genet 121(2): 155, 2007.
(2) Nejentsev S et al. Analysis of association of the TIRAP (MAL) S180L variant and tuberculosis in three populations. Nat Genet 40(3): 261, 2008.
Dr Willem H Ouwehand
who1000@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - University Reader in Platelet Biology and Genetics, Dept of Haematology
Research interests: The main interest of my group is the relationship between sequence variation and the traits of count, volume and function of platelets. Our programme is highly relevant to cardiovascular diseases and research on platelet formation and megakaryopoiesis. Possible project topics: Studies of platelet function in relation to atherothrombosis in patients with Sickle Cell disease. www.haem.cam.ac.uk and www.bloodomics.org
(1) O'Connor MN et al. (2009) Functional genomics in zebrafish permits rapid characterization of novel platelet membrane proteins. Blood, 113, 4754-4762.
(2) Soranzo N et al. (2009) A novel variant on chromosome 7q22.3 associated with mean platelet volume, counts, and function. Blood, 113, 3831-3837.
(3) Soranzo N et al. (2009) A meta-analysis of eight hematological parameters identifies 22 associated loci and extensive disease pleiotropy on chromosome 12q24. Nat Genet, 41, 1182 - 1190
Dr Michelle Oyen
mlo29@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Lecturer in Mechanics of Biological Materials, Dept of Engineering
Research interests: Biomedical engineering, mechanics of connective tissues, injury, premature birth, arthritis, biomimetics. Possible project topics: Engineering factors in premature birth in developing countries. http://oyenlab.org
(1) Oyen ML et al. Mechanical Failure of Human Fetal Membrane Tissues. J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Med. 15 (2004) 651 − 8.
Dr David Parker
djp27@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Lecutrer, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience
Research interests: My work investigates spinal cord neuronal networks using lower vertebrates as model systems. The aim is to understand how different classes of nerve cell interact to generate rhythmic locomotor outputs. I also examine how spinal cord injury introduces changes in locomotor networks and sensory inputs below lesion sites to influence recovery. http://www.pdn.cam.ac.uk/staff/parker/
(1) Hoffman N & Parker D (2010) Lesioning alters functional properties in isolated spinal cord hemisegmental networks. Neuroscience 168: 732-43.
(2) Parker D (2010) Neuronal network analyses: premises, promises and uncertainties. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B 365: 2315-28.
(3) Cooke RM & Parker D (2009) Locomotor recovery after spinal cord lesions in the lamprey is associated with functional and ultrastructural changes below lesion sites. J Neurotrauma 26: 597-612.
Prof Julian Parkhill
parkhill@sanger.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Head of Pathogen Genomics, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
Research interests:Genomics of human and animal bacterial pathogens; Population genomics; Genotype/phenotype associations; High-throughput phenotype analysis. Current African Links: We have strong existing links with Wellcome Trust overseas units in Kenya and Malawi, and with the MRC unit in The Gambia. These links involve reciprocal training, exchange of staff and collaborative projects. http://www.sanger.ac.uk/research/faculty/jparkhill/
(1) Harris SR et al. (2010) Evolution of MRSA during hospital transmission and intercontinental spread. Science, 327, 469-474.
(2) Kingsley RA et al. (2009) Epidemic multiple drug resistant Salmonella Typhimurium causing invasive disease in sub-Saharan Africa have a distinct genotype. Genome Res, 19, 2279-2287.
(3) Langridge GC et al. (2009) Simultaneous assay of every Salmonella Typhi gene using one million transposon mutants. Genome Research, 19, 2308-16.
Prof Gabriel Paternain
g.p.paternain@dpmms.cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Mathematics, Dept of Mathematics & Mathematical Statistics (DPMMS)
Research interests: Hamiltonian Dynamics and Symplectic Geometry
(1) Cieliebak K et al. Symplectic Topology of Mañé’s critical values, Geom. Topol. 14 (2010) 1765—1870.
Prof Sharon Peacock
sharon@tropmedres.ac
Position & affiliation - Professor of Clinical Microbiology, Dept of Medicine
Research interests: Bacterial diseases research: clinical epidemiology, molecular epidemiology, diagnostic test evaluation, Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, Leptospira spp, leptospirosis, Burkholderia pseudomallei, melioidosis.
Dr Emma Pitchforth
epitchfo@rand.org
Position & affiliation:
Research Leader, RAND Europe
Visiting Senior Research Fellow, IPH, University of Cambridge
Visiting Senior Fellow, London School of Economics and Political Science
Research interests: Health service research; mixed methods research; qualitative research; hospital ethnography; maternal, neonatal and child health; quality of care; global health; globalization and health; emergency care; chronic disease.
Current links with developing countries: I have ongoing links with colleagues in Ghana, Ethiopia, Bangladesh and India
(1) Pitchforth E, Lilford RJ, Kebede Y, Asres G, Stanford C, Frost J. Assessing and understanding quality of care in a labour ward: a pilot study combining clinical and social science perspectives in Gondar, Ethiopia. Social Science & Medicine 2010; 71: 1739-1748.
(2) Al-Attas AH, Williams CD, Pitchforth EL, O’Callaghan C, Lewallan S. Understanding delay in accessing specialist emergency eye care in a developing country: eye trauma in Tanzania. Opthalmic Epidemiology 2010; 17: 103-112.
(3) Pitchforth E, van Teijlingen E, Graham W, Dixon-Woods M, Chowdhury M. Getting women to hospital is not enough: a qualitative study of access to emergency obstetric care in Bangladesh. Quality and Safety in Health Care 2006; 15: 214-219.
Dr Julian Rayner
jr9@sanger.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Group Leader, Malaria Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
Research interests: The ability of Plasmodium parasites to invade human erythrocytes is a variable trait and is influenced by natural genetic variation in both the parasite and host. My lab works on host-parasite interactions during the blood stages of Plasmodium falciparum development, with a particular focus on erythrocyte invasion. We have recently developed a new platform to quantitatively phenotype erythrocyte invasion using flow cytometry, which allows us to quantitate invasion on a larger scale than has been previously possible. By combining this new phenotyping platform with nextgen sequencing technologies, we aim to perform genotype-phenotype association studies to identify the genes responsible for specific invasion pathways. Possible project topics: Several projects are possible in this general area, and all would involve learning the phenotyping platform at Sanger and potentially transferring the knowledge and platform back to the partner institution. Current African links: MalariaGen consortium (some members are also in the THRiVE network). http://www.sanger.ac.uk/Teams/faculty/rayner
Dr Mark Reacher
MHR28@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Consultant Epidemiologist at the Health Protection Agency and affiliated Lecturer, University of Cambridge Dept of Public Health & Primary Care
Research interests: Infection Epidemiology. Current African links: Supervision of Ghanaian and Kenyan Nationals at Masters Level and one at doctoral level.
(1) Ngondi J et al. Trachoma survey methods: a literature review. Bull World Health Organ 2009; 87(2): 143-151.
(2) Morgan O et al. Personal protective equipment and risk for avian influenza (H7N3). Emerg Infect Dis 2009; 15(1): 59-62.
(3) Reacher M et al.; Lewes Flood Action Recovery Team.
Health impacts of flooding in Lewes: a comparison of reported gastrointestinal and other illness and mental health in flooded and non-flooded households. Commun Dis Public Health. 2004 Mar; 7(1):39-46.
Dr Marcus Redley
mr382@medschl.cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Senior Research Associate, Cambridge Intellectual and Development Disabilities Research Group, Dept of Psychiatry
Research interests: Citizenship and the human rights of adults with intellectual disabilities. Possible project topics: Improving the health and social support provided to adults with intellectual disabilities. http://www.ldrg.org.uk/
(1) Redley M (2009) Understanding the social exclusion and stalled welfare of citizens with learning disabilities, Disability & Society, 24,4 489-501.
(2) Redley M (2008) Citizens with learning disabilities and the right to vote, Disability & Society, 23,4,375-384.
(3) Redley M and Weinberg D (2007) Learning disability and the limits of liberal citizenship: Interactional impediments to political empowerment, Sociology of Health and Illness, 29,5,767-786.
Dr Alice Reid
amr1001@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Senior Research Associate, Cambridge Group for the History of Population and Social Structure, Dept of Geography
Research interests: The demography of the British Isles and further afield over the last two centuries, with particular interest in the determinants and measurement of infant and child mortality, maternal and child health, and fertility, using individual level data sources including census enumerators’ books, civil registration and health visitors’ records. http://www.geog.cam.ac.uk/people/reid/
(1) Reid A et al. (2006), 'Vulnerability among illegitimate children in nineteenth century Scotland', Annales de Demographie Historique no. 111, 2006-1: 89-113.
(2) Reid A (2006), 'Health visitors and enlightened motherhood', in Infant mortality: a continuing social problem? Eilidh Garrett, Chris Galley, Nicola Shelton and Robert Woods (eds), Ashgate, pp.191-210.
(3) Reid A (2005), 'The effects of the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic on infant and child health in Derbyshire'. Medical History, 49(1): 29-54.
Dr Olivier Restif
or226@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Royal Society Research Fellow, Dept of Veterinary Medicine
Research interests: Infectious disease dynamics. Mathematical models. Population dynamics. Evolutionary ecology. Possible project topics: Ecology of zoonotic infectious diseases. Would like to help the development of mathematical biology in African universities by promoting interactions between applied mathematicians and biologists. Current African links: Involved in collaboration between UK (Cambridge/London) and Ghana on bat ecology and zoonotic infections. http://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/research/investigators/restif.html
(1) Grant AJ et al. 2008. Modeling within-host spatiotemporal dynamics of invasive bacterial disease. PLOS Biology 6:e74.
(2) Restif O and Grenfell BT. 2007. Vaccination and the dynamics of immune evasion. Journal of the Royal Society Interface 4: 143-53.
(3) Restif O and Koella JC. 2004. Concurrent evolution of resistance and tolerance to pathogens. The American Naturalist 164:E90-E102.
Prof Margaret Robinson
msr12@mole.bio.cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Molecular Cell Biology, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research (Dept of Clinical Biochemistry)
Research interests: Our research is mainly basic cell biology, trying to understand how proteins are trafficked to the correct part of the cell. We use a range of approaches including microscopy, molecular biology, flow cytometry, biochemistry (including mass spectrometry), and genome-wide RNAi library screening. One of our interests is how the HIV-encoded protein, Nef, hijacks the normal trafficking machinery to change the localisation of different host cell proteins. Possible project topics: (student or postdoc) an investigation into how Nef changes the protein composition of both the plasma membrane and clathrin-coated vesicles. We are well set up for comparative proteomics, and this would provide training in a number of different techniques.
http://www.cimr.cam.ac.uk/investigators/robinson/index.html
(1) Robinson MS et al. (2010). Rapid inactivation of proteins by rapamycin-induced rerouting to mitochondria. Dev. Cell 18: 324-331.
(2) Lubben NB et al. (2007). HIV-1 Nef-induced down regulation of MHC Class I requires AP-1 and clathrin but not PACS-1 and is impeded by AP-2. Mol Biol. Cell 18: 3351-3365.
(3) Borner GHH M. et al. (2006). Comparative proteomics of clathrin-coated vesicles. J. Cell Biol. 175: 571-578.
Prof Martin Roland
mr108@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Health Services Research, Institute of Public Health
Research interests: Health services research
Measuring quality of care
Evaluating innovations to improve quality of care
Delivery of primary care
Financial incentives to improve quality of care
http://www.medschl.cam.ac.uk/gppcru/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=324&Itemid=46&catid=20
(1) Gravelle H et al. Impact of case management (Evercare) on frail elderly patients: controlled before and after analysis of quantitative outcome data. British Medical Journal. 2007; 334: 31-34.
(2) Doran T et al. Should physicians be able to exclude individual patients from pay-for-performance targets? Analysis of exception reporting in the English pay-for-performance scheme. New England Journal of Medicine 2008; 359: 274-84.
(3) Campbell SM et al. Effects of pay-for-performance on the quality of primary care in England. New England Journal of Medicine 2009; 361: 368-78.
Dr Kai Ruggeri
dar56@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Research Associate, Institute of Public Health; Visiting Researcher, Engineering Design Centre (Inclusive Design for Health); Affiliate, Centre for Science and Policy; Well-being Institute
Research interests: Current: Evidence-based policy in health and innovation, primarily public health, mental health and sport/physical activity. Primarily quantitative with some qualitative/systematic review.
Previous: Policy development in post-conflict regions, primarily former Yugoslavia, focusing on education and provision of health care to marginal groups and IDPs. Current links with Africa and other developing countries: In Africa, I continue to supervise a former student who is currently working on a research project for the UNDP office in Johannesburg. Additionally, I regularly contribute to organisations in the Balkans focusing on education, health and human rights. Possible project topics: Happy to help with any needs, though largely interested in helping with analysis or planning of new research. http://www.csap.cam.ac.uk/network/kai-ruggeri/
(1) Macher, D., Pächter, M., Papousek, I., & Ruggeri, K. (2012). Statistics anxiety, trait anxiety, learning behavior, and academic performance. European Journal of Psychology of Education. Available at: http://www.springerlink.com/content/q452168314273v6r/.
(2) Papousek, I., Ruggeri, K., Macher, D., Pächter, M., Heene, M., Weiss, E.M., Schulter, G., & Freudenthaler, H.H. (2012). Psychometric evaluation and experimental validation of the Statistics Anxiety Rating Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 94(10), 82-91.
(3) Ruggeri, K., de Azevedo, F., Bechard-Torres, E., Joyce, C., Jurkevičiūtė, I., Knight, S., McDermott, E., Naber, B., Piest, J., Vainre, M., & Zupan, Z. (2011). Divided Education: Analysing systemic segregation in Bosnian schools. Journal of East European and Asian Studies, 2(1), 49-65.
Dr David Sargan
drs20@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Director of the Graduate School of Life Sciences, and Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Medicine, Dept of Veterinary Medicine
Research interests: I am part of a collaborative project (with Wood et al.) investigating the Straw coloured fruit bat (Eidolon helvum), as a potential reservoir of zoonotic diseases, especially lyssa and henipavirus infections. My own lab’s role has been to measure population structure and migration, focussing on population genetics. Current African links: Through the Eidolon consortium, links with Ghana especially, but also Malawi, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, DRC. In the past I have also worked on canine Leishmania resistance in Sudan.
http://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/research/investigators/sargan.html
http://www.biomed.cam.ac.uk/gradschool/
Dr Nadeem Sarwar
nadeem.sarwar@phpc.cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Lecturer in Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology, Dept of Public Health and Primary Care
Research interests: My research focuses on better understanding the role of lifestyle, biochemical and genetic factors in global vascular health. My work involves coordination of large-scale epidemiological studies based across Western Europe and North America, South Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Possible project topics: Causes and determinants of cardiometabolic diseases in East Africa. Current African links: Principal Investigator, Botswana Pelo (Heart) Initiative – bioresource for the study of cardiovascular diseases in sub-Saharan Africa; in collaboration with several local organisations including the Heart Foundation of Botswana, University of Botswana, Botswana Ministry of Health and the Botswana National Food Technology Research Centre.
(1) Sarwar N et al. The Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration. Major lipids, apolipoproteins and risk of vascular disease: individual data analysis of 302,430 participants from 68 cohorts. JAMA in press.
(2) Sarwar N et al. CETP genotypes, circulating levels of lipid fractions and coronary risk. JAMA 2008; 299 (23): 2777-88.
(3) Sarwar N et al. Triglycerides and the risk of coronary heart disease: 10 158 incident cases among 262 525 participants in 29 western prospective studies. Circulation 2007; 115 (4): 450-8
Dr Stephen Sawcer
sjs1016@mole.bio.cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Reader in Neurogenetics, Dept of Clinical Neurosciences
Research interests: Genetics of multiple sclerosis. Possible project topics: Follow up studies in genes identified as relevant in multiple sclerosis.
Dr Jeremy Neil Skepper
Jns1000@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Multi-Imaging Centre, Dept of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience
Research interests: Nanoparticle toxicity and pathological mineralisation.
(1) Porter AE, Gass M, Muller K, Skepper JN, Midgley P and Welland M (2007) High resolution imaging of single-walled carbon nanotubes in cells. Nature Nanotechnology 2, 713 - 717.
(2) Motskin M, Wright DM, Muller K, Kyle N, Gard TG, Porter AE and Skepper JN (2009) Hydroxyapatite micro and nano particles: Correlation of particle properties with cytotoxicity and biostability. Biomaterials 19, 3307-17.
(3) Müller KH, Kulkarni J, Motskin M, Goode A, Winship P, Skepper JN, Ryan M and Porter A (2010) "pH-Dependent Toxicity of High Aspect Ratio ZnO Nanowires in Macrophages Due to Intracellular Dissolution" ACS Nano 4, 11 6767 - 6779.
Prof Derek Smith
dsmith@zoo.cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Infectious Disease Informatics, Dept of Zoology
Research interests: Pathogen evolution. Antigenic cartography. Fitness landscapes. Possible project topics: Antigenic variation of malaria parasites. Antigenic variation of Dengue viruses. Antigenic variation of other antigenically variable pathogens. Current African links: Working in collaboration with Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Kilifi, Kenya (Margaret MacKinnon, Pete Bull, Alex Rowe). http://www.antigenic-cartography.org/cam/
(1) Garten RJ et al. 2009. Antigenic and Genetic Characteristics of Swine-Origin. A(H1N1) Influenza Viruses Circulating in Humans, Science, 325 (5937): 197-201.
(2) Russell CA et al. 2008. The global circulation of seasonal influenza A(H3N2) viruses. Science, 320(5874), pp. 340-346.
(3) Smith DJ et al. 2004. Mapping the Antigenic and Genetic Evolution of Influenza Virus. Science 305, pp 371-376.
Prof Kenneth GC Smith
kgcs2@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Medicine, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research and Dept of Medicine
Research interests: My lab has two main components. (1) Studying how changes in regulatory control of the immune system can lead to autoimmunity and alter defence against infection. Recent work includes a focus on how FcgRIIb, an inhibitory receptor for IgG, controls the immune system, and how polymorphic variants in it modulate immunity and influence autoimmunity and protection against bacterial infection and malaria. This has provided an insight into the evolution of predisposition to autoimmunity, and identified potential therapeutic strategies.
(2) A translational programme studying patients with autoimmune diseases (esp. SLE and vasculitis) and correlating clinical data before and after treatment with data generated from RNA microarrays. This is leading to the design of better informed clinical trials, and the identification of important genes involved in disease pathogenesis. It is being extended to study Asian populations, in whom SLE is more common and severe.
Possible project topics: We have, however, developed an interest in examining the effects of immune defects that predispose to autoimmunity in the context of infection. To this end we have a number of mouse models of malaria under investigation in the laboratory. We are also investigating genetic alterations which lead to spontaneous variation in these immune regulatory pathways in patients with autoimmune disease, but also in those with malaria and dengue shock syndrome. Thus work at the interface between malaria and autoimmunity (in either mouse or man) could form the core of a project. Current African links: Collaborations with KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Programme, Kilifi, Kenya (Tom Williams et al). http://www.immunology.cam.ac.uk/directory/profile.php?kgcs2
(1) Willcocks LC et al. (2008), “Copy number of FcgammaRIIIb, which is associated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, correlates with protein expression and immune complex uptake”, Journal of Experimental Medicine 205(7): 1573–1582
(2) Clatworthy MR et al. (2007), “SLE-associated defects in the inhibitory receptor FcgammaRIIb reduce susceptibility to malaria”, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA (Track II) 2007 104: 7169–7174.
(3) Floto RA et al. (2005), “An SLE-associated polymorphism of the inhibitory receptor FcgammaRIIb excludes it from lipid rafts and leads to loss of function”, Nature Medicine 11: 1056–1058
Dr David Spring
spring@ch.cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - University Teaching Officer, Dept of Chemistry
Research interests: Our research interests originate from a desire to understand and exploit biological systems using organic synthesis primarily. The areas of research that we are exploring include Diversity-Oriented Synthesis, Synthetic Methodology: Medium Ring Synthesis and Natural Product Synthesis, Quorum Sensing, New Antibiotic Discovery, Modulation of Protein-Protein Interactions, Molecular Therapeutics: Chemistry-Driven Drug Discovery.
Current African links: Mentor for a THRiVE Postdoctoral Fellow from Kenya.
http://www-spring.ch.cam.ac.uk/
(1) Diversity-Oriented Synthesis of Macrocyclic Peptidomimetics. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2011, 108, 6793-6798.
(2) Better leads come from diversity. Nature 2011, 470, 43.
(3) Novel and Efficient Copper-Catalysed Synthesis of Nitrogen-Linked Medium-Ring Biaryls. Chem. Eur. J. 2011, 17, 2981-2986.
Prof Azim Surani
a.surani@gurdon.cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor and Senior Group Leader, Wellcome Trust Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute and Dept of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience
Research interests: Germ cells; epigenetic reprogramming; stem cells.
(1) Hayashi K and Surani MA. Resetting the epigenome beyond pluripotency in the germline (2009) Cell Stem Cell 5; 4 (6): 493-498.
(2) Surani MA et al. Germ Line, Stem Cells and Epigenetic Reprogramming (2008) In 73rd Cold Spring Harbor Symposium on Stem Cells Quant Biol 6 Nov.
(3) Surani MA et al. (2007) Genetic and Epigenetic Regulators of Pluripotency. Cell 128, 747-762
Dr Estee Torok
estee.torok@addenbrookes.nhs.uk
Position & affiliation - Consultant in Infectious Diseases, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge
Research interests: I trained in Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology at Oxford University. From 2004 to 2008, I was a Wellcome Training Fellow at the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Vietnam where I conducted my PhD research in HIV-associated TB meningitis. In 2009, I was appointed as a Consultant in Infectious Diseases at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge. My research interests are in clinical trials, HIV, tuberculosis, CNS infections, and viral hepatitis. Possible project topics: Improving the diagnosis and management of tuberculosis and central nervous system infections in resource-limited settings. Current African links: Professor Robert Wilkinson, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
(1) Torok ME et al. Immune reconstitution disease of the central nervous system. Curr Opinions HIV/AIDS 2008; 3: 438 – 445.
(2) Caws M et al. Evaluation of the MODS culture technique for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis. PLoS ONE 2007 Nov 14; 2 (11): e1173.
(3) Torok ME. CNS infectious diseases research 2006: clinical advances and emerging threats. Lancet Neurology 2007; 6: 16-18.
Dr Flavio Toxvaerd
fmot2@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Lecturer, Faculty of Economics
Research interests: The economics of infectious disease. Optimal control of epidemics. Externalities and decentralisation of control policies. http://people.pwf.cam.ac.uk/fmot2/
Dr Hendrik W van Veen
hwv20@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - University Senior Lecturer, Dept of Pharmacology
Research interests: I have built up an enthusiastic and productive research group focusing on the structural and functional mechanisms of drug binding and transport by multidrug transporters in cancers cells and pathogenic microorganisms. My long-term aim is to design new and better drugs that circumvent the drug pump activity of these transporters, or that are able to modulate or reverse their transport activity. Possible project topics: Any of the topics listed on my website is open for collaboration. http://www.phar.cam.ac.uk/ri/van_veen.html
(1) Gutmann DAP et al. (2009) Understanding polyspecificity of multidrug ABC transporters: closing in on the gaps in ABCB1. Trends in Biochemical Sciences. In Press. DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2009.07.009.
(2) Velamakanni S et al. (2009) A multidrug ABC transporter with a taste for salt. PLoS One 4:e6137
.
(3) Velamakanni S et al. (2008) Multidrug transport by the ABC transporter Sav1866 from Staphylococcus aureus. Biochemistry 47: 9300-9308.
Prof Megan Vaughan
mav26@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Commonwealth History and Director of the Centre of African Studies
Research interests: History of East/Central Africa. History of medicine and psychiatry in Africa. Current African links: Close collaborations in Malawi. Research experience in Zambia.
(1) Cutting Down Trees: Gender, Nutrition and Agricultural Change in Northern Zambia (Heinemann and James Currey, 1995).
(2) Curing Their Ills: Colonial Power and African Illness (with H Moore) (Polity Press, 1991).
(3) The Story of an African Famine: Gender and Famine in Twentieth Century Malawi (Cambridge University Press 1987)
Dr Rietie Venter
hv214@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellow, Dept of Pharmacology
Research interests: Research in my laboratory focuses on multi-drug resistance and virulence of human pathogens. Current work aim at the characterisation of proteins involved in drug efflux and iron acquisition and their roles in invasion and pathogeneses in ‘superbugs’ such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Current African links: A visiting scientist from Nigeria is working in my laboratory for three months in 2010. http://www.phar.cam.ac.uk/ri/venter.html
Dr Alain Vuylsteke
a.vuylsteke@nhs.net
Position & affiliation - Consultant in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Papworth Hospital, Cambridge
Research interests: Our research collaboration investigates the impact of IT on the delivery of intensive care. So far, our team of Papworth Hospital clinical staff and computer scientists, social psychologists and organisational researchers at the University of Cambridge have studied the deployment of a commercial practitioner-customisable clinical information system (CIS). We are now working towards informing the design, development and deployment of open-source, practitioner-customisable clinical information systems to support the care of critically-ill patients in limited-resource countries. Existing developing country link: Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) - http://www.who.int/csr/sars/goarn/en/
(1) Morrison et al: Report on existing open-source electronic medical records http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/techreports/UCAM-CL-TR-768.html.
(2) Morrison C, Blackwell A, Vuylsteke A: Practitioner-Customizable Clinical Information Systems: a case-study to ground further research and development opportunities. Journal of Healthcare Engineering, (In press).
(3) Morrison C, Jones M, Blackwell A, & Vuylsteke A. Electronic patient record use during ward rounds: a qualitative study of interaction between medical staff. Critical Care 2008; 12:R148.
Dr Daniel Wheeler
dww21@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - University Lecturer in Anaesthesia, Dept of Medicine
Possible project topics: I could offer two potential research strands. One would be research into chronic pain syndromes in East Africa, the other examining the challenges to and means of improving patient safety in East Africa.
Prof James Wood
jlnw2@cam.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Professor of Equine and Farm Animal Science and Director, Cambridge Infectious Diseases Consortium, Dept of Veterinary Medicine
Research interests: My interests lie in the dynamics of infections at different scales, from cellular to the population level. The group works on processes underlying emergence of infectious diseases in 3 main areas, including the dynamics of the generation of viral variants within hosts and during transmission, lyssavirus and henipavirus infections in African bats and bovine Tuberculosis control. Holder of a national programme grant on pandemic H1N1 infection in pigs and farmers. Possible project topics: Many areas in influenza, viral emergence from animal and wildlife reservoirs and mathematical modelling of infectious diseases could be accommodated. Broad expressions of interest are encouraged and specific project areas could be developed to meet specific interests. Current African links: Close collaborations in Ghana (University of Ghana; Wildlife & Veterinary Services). Other African collaborations include with physicians in Malawi, virologists in Pretoria and with wildlife experts in Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi and Cameroon. http://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/cidc
http://www.infectiousdisease.cam.ac.uk/directory/jlnw2@cam.ac.uk/?searchterm=Wood
(1) Park AW et al. (2009) Quantifying the impact of immune escape on transmission dynamics of influenza. Science 326, 726-8.
(2) Hayman DTS et al. (2008) Evidence of Henipavirus Infection in West African Fruit Bats. PLOS One 3 (7); e2739.
(3) Hayman DTS et al. (2008) Antibodies against Lagos Bat Virus in Megachiroptera from West Africa. Emerging Infectious Diseases 14, 926-8.
Dr Gavin Wright
gw2@sanger.ac.uk
Position & affiliation - Investigator, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
Research interests: Cell surface protein interactions in pathogenesis of Malaria. Erythrocyte and heptatocyte invasion, fertilisation. Other host-pathogen cell surface interactions. Possible project topics: Screening of Malaria patient sera (particularly longitudinal samples) against recombinant merozoite (or sporozoite) surface proteins to look for correlates of humoral protection. http://www.sanger.ac.uk/research/projects/cellsurfacesignalling/
