Infection and Global Health Research Division
Research at the University of St Andrews School of Medicine
Research
Respiratory infection
We have multiple areas of research in respiratory medicine covering tuberculosis pneumonia and bronchiectasis. Our researchers are keen to develop improved diagnostic pathways to support early recognition and then treatment of severe infection, drug development, and mathematical modelling of infection and treatment strategies. We also study molecular mechanisms of resistance, model systems to measure the fitness deficits found in drug resistant strains and investigate genomics of respiratory pathogens
Related
Research staff
Dr Devesh Dhasmana
Respiratory infection; bronchiectasis; pneumonia; severe airways disease
Prof Stephen Gillespie
Tuberculosis; Clinical trials; Antibiotic resistance; MBLA; Scattered Light Integrated Collection (SLIC)
Dr Derek Sloan
Senior Lecturer/Consultant in Infectious Diseases
Dr Wilber Sabiiti
Principal Research Fellow
Antimicrobial resistance
Progress in sequencing technology have meant that it is possible to capture and investigate the genetic diversity of the pathogen populations. This has opened up new possibilities for probing the biology and genetics of pathogens. Our group are interested in the relationship between a pathogen’s genotype and phenotype, in particular how the genetic makeup of an organism influences its virulence and resistance to antibiotics.
Hospital associated infections
The emergence and spread of bacterial pathogens that have become adapted for survival in hospitals poses a major threat to global health systems. One of the most prevalent organisms causing healthcare-associated infections is S. aureus. Clones of epidemic drug-resistant S. aureus have emerged.
The Holden group uses genomics to investigate the epidemiology and evolution of MRSA, from the global level right down to the patient level on the ward. Using phylogenetic and bioinformatic approaches we investigate the events surrounding the emergence and spread of successful clones of MRSA and the effect that antibiotics have had on shaping the pathogen population.
Zoonotic malaria
Plasmodium knowlesi is a malaria parasite of Old-World macaques that has entered the human population. P. knowlesi malaria is widespread, can cause severe and fatal infections and, like Plasmodium falciparum, can reach very high parasitaemia in those infected. We use P. knowlesi genetics, genomics, clinical samples, in vitro culture and genetic manipulation to determine how and why some patients develop high parasitaemia and severe disease and others not. Our focus is to compare severe P. knowlesi malaria with severe P. falciparum malaria and to develop the necessary tools to translate research findings on severe malaria into human health benefit.
Research staff
Global Child Health
We are interested in the global influences on government revenue in low- and middle-income countries, and the impact this has on development and fundamental rights.
We try to quantify their impact in terms of access to fundamental rights (water, sanitation, education and healthcare), which are also Sustainable Development Goals, and the number of lives saved or lost. This project is called the Government Revenue and Development estimations, GRADE
Related
- GRADE
- Dr Bernadette O’Hare – Global Health
- GRADE on the NHS Scotland Global Citizenship: Scottish Global Health project grade
Ophthalmology
The ophthalmology research is performed in the United Kingdom as well as a number of lower resource settings with strong links in Rwanda, Malawi, Tanzania, India and Indonesia. Our aim is to reduce needless blindness, support sustainable growth of capacity, rehabilitate and positively influence policy.
The research programme covers a wide range of areas that include:
Diagnostics and Innovations
Our research focuses on developing new diagnostic tools and medicines. So far, we have developed SLIC- a device which can test for the presence of bacteria in 10 minutes and thereafter for resistance in 30 minutes. The Arclight is a low-cost diagnostic tool which can be used to screen for conditions in the eyes and ears. MBLA is an assay originally specifically for TB infection but now being broadened to encompass a wider range of pathogens.
Research staff
Ophthalmology; Global Health; Early Diagnosis; Frugal Technology; Medical Education Antimicrobial Resistance; Diagnostics; Tuberculosis; Dormancy; Optics Tuberculosis; Clinical trials; Antibiotic resistance; MBLA; Scattered Light Integrated Collection (SLIC) 
Dr Andrew Blaikie
Dr Wilber Sabiiti
Dr Robert Hammond
Dr Derek Sloan
Prof Stephen Gillespie