Daniel Neill

Division of Molecular Microbiology, University of Dundee

Dr. Neill’s lab studies bacterial infections of the human airways. In particular, the lab seeks to understand how the physical, chemical and biological environment of the respiratory tract influences bacterial phenotypes, including those associated with virulence and antimicrobial resistance. The lab focuses on the relationship between upper airway commensalism and lung pathogenesis and aim to define the host and pathogen factors that drive a switch between these two modes of life. Dr. Neill, with his lab strives to improve on existing in vitro and in vivo models of infection, to better capture the key conditions of the respiratory tract in health and disease. A long-term goal is the development of novel therapeutics and vaccines for treatment and prevention of bacterial respiratory diseases.

Miguel Cámara

School of Life Sciences and Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham

Prof. Miguel Cámara is Co-Director of the National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC) working with academic and industrial partners on different areas of biofilm research and innovation. He has many years of expertise in quorum sensing-mediated bacterial cell-cell signalling mechanisms with a particular emphasis on the Cystic Fibrosis opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. He has led several drug discovery programs aiming at reducing the impact of antimicrobial resistance through novel anti-virulence target discovery and the design of inhibitors against these, mainly targeting quorum sensing-driven mechanisms. Some research areas he currently studies on include: (i) identification of novel biomarkers of infection for the development of point of care diagnostics; (ii) molecular mechanisms of biofilm development and adaptation to low oxygen conditions; (iv) identification of novel drugs which prevent biofilm formation or sensitise them to antibiotics; (v) mechanisms of interactions between biofilms and the human host.  

Joanne Fothergill

Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Liverpool

Dr. Fothergill's research activities are focused on understanding the mechanisms of pathogens, particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in disease. Her work delves into chronic infections. Employing genomics, molecular microbiology, and population studies, she investigates P. aeruginosa's interactions in polymicrobial biofilms, for insights into pathogen evolution. With an expertise in bacterial genomics, molecular epidemiology, and antimicrobial resistance, Dr. Fothergill has developed diagnostic tests for P. aeruginosa. Additionally, she also explores infections caused by Escherichia coli. As deputy director of the Microbiome Innovation Centre at the University of Liverpool, she studies microbiome changes during disease treatment and its impact on pathogen biology.