University of St Andrews

Infection and Global Health Research Division

IGH 5 Research 5 Respiratory Infection

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. 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

Principal Investigators

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Dr Devesh Dhasmana

Clinical Teacher

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Prof Stephen Gillespie

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Dr Derek Sloan

Senior Lecturer/Consultant in Infectious Diseases

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Dr Wilber Sabiiti

Principal Research Fellow

Projects of Interest

Through this project we building clinical trial capacity in 4 African countries, Gabon, Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. The OpiRimox pragmatic trial is evaluating high dose rifampicin as a replacement for rifapentine in the newly WHO endorsed 4-month regimen to treat drug susceptible TB.

The University of St Andrews is proud to support mutual health research partnerships that build real research capacity across Africa in collaboration with British researchers.

UVC radiation is naturally emitted by our sun. Our upper atmosphere absorbs this radiation leaving just UVA & B to reach ground level. UVC is a powerful decontamination tool that has been shown to destroy viral particles. The reaction of commensal bacteria to UVC is unknown. If we wish to use UVC to reduce circulation SARS CoV-2 (COVID-19) as well as other viral pathogens, such as seasonal influenza, it is necessary to know how this unusual form of radiation will affect the bacteria that naturally live on our skin.

We are a leading developer of RNA-based real-time assays that detect and quantify live bacteria and monitor treatment of tuberculosis, non-tuberculosis mycobacterial infections and infectious causes of COPD exacerbation. Please follow the link to order Research Use Only kits.