Imperial College London has national centres of excellence in infection, which are coordinated by the NIHR Imperial BRC and involve partnerships with a number of national and international funders and institutions. The BRC provides a structure to underpin work in bacteriology, HIV immunology, retrovirology, point of care diagnostics, healthcare associated infections and antimicrobial resistance, asthma, respiratory infection, global health, and the development of modelling methodology. The approach is to integrate fundamental discovery science, clinical medicine and epidemiology with the aim to treat or prevent human diseases of global importance. There are three main streams to the coordinated work of the BRC Infection theme:
Innovative diagnostics to improve management of infection
We are working to develop tests that can distinguish bacterial from viral infection, diagnose sepsis early, and identify the causative pathogen. By developing better diagnostics, we are protecting the health of current patients and also contributing to the slowing of antimicrobial resistance. We are developing a rapid point of care diagnostic in collaboration with the Institute of Bioengineering, and DNA Electronics Ltd. We are also employing new genetic sequencing technology to develop preventative strategies for viral transmission; understand the evolution of gastrointestinal microbiota from birth, in order to predict the risk and outcome of neonatal sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis; and explore susceptibility to severe bacterial infections, including scarlet fever, E.coli bacteremia, maternal sepsis, and transmission routes of nosocomial group B streptococcus in neonatal units.
New therapeutic approaches to treatment of infection
We are using our understanding of signature biomarkers in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) to evaluate new antivirals, and we continue our quest for a ‘cure’ for the common cold, focusing on antivirals and disease modification. Middle Eastern Respiratory Coronavirus (MERS) and Dengue fever virus continue to cause outbreaks globally – we are looking for new treatments, based on monoclonal antibodies. We are also exploring new antibacterial agents, including bacteriophages, enzyme inhibitors of LtaS, and inhibitors of type 6 secretion systems. By stratifying patients, we are predicting risk factors, and treatment failure or success, for a number of infections including HIV, hepatitis B and Human T-cell lymphotropic virus.
Preventing infection
Our new vaccine technologies, based on modified synthetic and replicating nucleic acid sequences (RNA/DNA vaccines) are enabling us to expedite the development of next generation vaccines against protracted and emerging viral diseases, such as Dengue fever, Zika virus disease, SARS, MERS, viral hemorrhagic fevers, and influenza. Our new tuberculosis vaccine provides a fluorescent indication of vaccine efficiency, and we are also looking for vaccine targets for other common bacterial pathogens. Our aim is not only to develop new vaccines, we are also seeking to improve existing vaccines and vaccination strategies. Alongside this work, we are developing new systems to test safety and efficacy of vaccines.
The work of the infection theme continues to inform guidelines in care, nationally and internationally – we are already world leaders in molecular diagnostics and translation of basic research into clinical delivery and aim to build on this strong position. The Imperial Vaccine Centre will support early phase trials of vaccines and platform vaccine technologies. To achieve our longer term aims to rapidly integrate new technologies into clinical practice and develop new immunomodulators and antimicrobials, we are perfectly placed to take advantage of advanced diagnostics, imaging and integrated informatics.
Key Individuals
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Professor Peter Openshaw
Theme Lead, Infection -
Dr Andrew Edwards
Non-Clinical Lecturer in Molecular Microbiology -
Dr Christopher Chiu
Senior Clinical Research Fellow -
Dr David Aanensen
Senior Lecturer -
Dr Goedele Maertens
Lecturer -
Dr Jill Gilmour
Reader in Vaccine Immunology -
Dr Julie McDonald
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Dr Marcus Dorner
Non-Clinical Lecturer in Immunology -
Professor Adnan Custovic
Clinical Chair in Paediatric Allergy -
Professor Ajit Lalvani
Chair of Infectious Diseases -
Professor Alan Winston-OKeefe
Professor of Genito-Urinary Medicine -
Professor Alison Holmes
Professor of Infectious Diseases -
Professor Anne O'Garra
Chair in Infection Immunology -
Professor Bryony Dean Franklin
Executive Lead Pharmacist (Research) -
Professor Charles Bangham
Chair of Immunology -
Professor David Holden
Director of the Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection -
Professor Douglas Young
Fleming Professor of Medical Microbiology -
Professor Eric Yeatman
Professor of Micro-Engineering -
Professor Francis Drobniewski
Professor of Global Health and Tuberculosis -
Professor Graham Cooke
Professor of Infectious Diseases -
Professor Graham Taylor
Professor of Human Retrovirology -
Professor Joanna Haigh
Co-Director, Grantham Institute for Climate Change & Environment -
Professor Jonathan Friedland
Chair in Infectious Diseases and Immunity -
Professor Kathryn Maitland
Professor of Tropical Paediatric Infectious Diseases -
Professor Maria Zambon
Visiting Professor / Director of UK Health Protection Agency -
Professor Martin Buck FRS
Professor of Molecular Microbiology -
Professor Michael Levin
Chair in Paediatrics & International Child Health -
Professor Myra McClure
Professor of Retrovirology -
Professor Neil Ferguson
Professor of Mathematical Biology -
Professor Nicholas Grassly
Professor of Infectious Disease & Vaccine Epidemiology -
Professor Onn Min Kon
Consultant Respiratory Physician -
Professor Robert Wilkinson
Professor in Infectious Diseases/Wellcome Trust Senior Clinical Fellow -
Professor Robin Shattock
Chair in Mucosal Infection and Immunity -
Professor Sarah Fidler
Professor of HIV medicine -
Professor Sebastian Johnston
NIHR Senior Investigator/Asthma UK Clinical Professor -
Professor Shiranee Sriskandan
Professor of Infectious Diseases -
Professor Sivaramesh Wigneshweraraj
Professor of Molecular Microbiology -
Professor Wendy Barclay
Chair in Influenza Virology -
Professor Xiaodong Zhang
Professor of Macromolecular Structure and Function
