Infection & AMR Pilot Call is now open. Find here the Proposal Form and Guidance. Call closes at 17.00 on FRIDAY 13 Oct 2023. Theme objectives can be found at the bottom of this page.
North-west London has substantial social inequality and an ethnically diverse population. The area has long been associated with a high burden of infectious diseases, but this came into sharp focus with the high mortality from COVID-19. Engagement with the local community and patient groups prior to COVID-19 identified antimicrobial resistance (AMR), HIV and pandemic preparedness as priorities for infection research. These remain strategic priorities for the Theme which is focussed on (i) Novel prevention and vaccination strategies (ii) Diagnostics and Digital Health and (iii) Novel therapeutic approaches and precision medicine
Novel prevention and vaccination strategies
Investigators are working on the next generation of vaccines, particularly RNA-based technologies including self-amplifying RNA. Theme members work closely with colleagues in bioengineering to develop new methodologies for delivery and with industrial partners on Phase I/II studies. Aligned with this, the discovery of monoclonal antibodies for both diagnostics and therapeutics is embedded in the theme, focussed particularly on bacterial infection.
Work on vaccine development is supported by controlled human infection models (CHIM). Local investigators have a long track record in respiratory virus challenge work (influenza, rhinovirus, RSV) and led the first human challenge studies with SARS-CoV2. In partnership with Imperial College NHS Trust and Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust, this programme continues with a wider capacity for human challenges including malaria and salmonella infections.
Diagnostics and digital health
Theme investigators have led the discovery of new diagnostic markers to support the management of patients with a fever (both adults and children). Novel gene expression and metabolic markers are being developed as diagnostics in collaboration with industrial partners. During the COVID-19 pandemic, investigators led the clinical development of COVIDnudge, a novel point-of-care diagnostic rolled out across the NHS. Translation of new tests to the NHS is supported by the Colebrook Laboratory and the BRC Molecular Diagnostics Unit.
Digital support tools and altering are an area of major focus, investigators continue to evaluate tools for prompt detection and management of sepsis, and selection of antimicrobials, working closely with the BRC Digital theme.
In partnership with the NHS, the BRC Igenios Clinic provides a service for children and young adults with severe infection to identify rare genetic variants that might offer insight into disease susceptibility and guide future management.
Novel therapeutic approaches and precision medicine
Investigators are developing and evaluating novel therapies that offer potential curative therapy for chronic viral infection (particularly HIV, HTLV and hepatitis C). Trials of neutralising antibody therapy are underway and novel cellular therapeutics are in development (for example iNKT cellular therapy). Trials are also underway for novel monoclonal therapy that might prevent the emergence of malignancy in patients living with HTLV.
The theme supports studies that evaluate the optimum way to use existing antimicrobials. The Centre for antimicrobial optimisation explores the optimum dosing, particularly of antibacterials while the theme supports the development of platform therapeutic trials, including REMAPCAP-flu, to evaluate different treatments for patients admitted to hospitals with influenza.
Wider infection ecosystem at Imperial
The theme works closely with other key infrastructure at Imperial in infection including the Institute of Infection, Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology, National Centre for Retrovirology, NIHR Health Protection Research Units in Healthcare Acquired Infection &AMR, and respiratory infection, Imperial NIHR Clinical Research Facility, Centre for Antimicrobial resistance (CAMO) and London In-vitro diagnostics Collaborative.
Detailed objectives can be found here
Key Individuals
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Professor Graham Cooke
Theme lead and Professor of Infectious Diseases -
Professor Wendy Barclay
Theme Lead & Chair in Influenza Virology -
Dr Andrew Edwards
Non-Clinical Lecturer in Molecular Microbiology -
Dr Anika Singanayagam
Clinical Lecturer -
Dr Aubrey Cunnington
Professor of Paediatric Infectious Disease -
Dr Christopher Chiu
Senior Clinical Research Fellow -
Dr Frances Davies
Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer -
Dr Luke Moore
Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer -
Dr Malick Gibani
Clinical Lecturer -
Dr Paul Randell
Infectious Diseases Consultant -
Professor Alison Holmes
Professor of Infectious Diseases -
Professor Anthony Gordon
Chair in Anaesthesia and Critical Care -
Professor Charles Bangham
Chair of Immunology -
Professor Darius Armstrong-James
Professor of Infectious Diseases and Medical Mycology -
Professor Faith Osier
Co-Director, IoI, Chair, Immunology & Vaccinology -
Professor Gad Frankel
Professor of Molecular Pathogenesis -
Professor Georgios Kassiotis
Professor of Retrovirology -
Professor Graham Taylor
Professor of Human Retrovirology -
Professor José R Penadés
Director MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology & Infection -
Professor Marta Boffito
Professor of Practice -
Professor Neil Ferguson
Professor of Mathematical Biology -
Professor Paul Freemont
Chair in Protein Crystallography -
Professor Paul Kellam
Professor of Virus Genomics -
Professor Robin Shattock
Chair in Mucosal Infection and Immunity -
Professor Rosemary Boyton
Professor of Immunology and Respiratory Medicine -
Professor Sarah Fidler
Professor of HIV medicine -
Professor Shiranee Sriskandan
Professor of Infectious Diseases -
Professor Sivaramesh Wigneshweraraj
Professor of Molecular Microbiology
