New Researchers Join Marshall Centre

05 May| 2 MINS

The Marshall Centre has welcomed 6 new academics to the team, expanding research into new and exciting areas. Professor Geoff Coombs, Dr Alma Fulurija, Dr Lucy Furfaro, Dr Daniel Knight, Professor Samuel Lundin and Dr Shakeel Mowlaboccus will contributing to the vast knowledge at the Centre, with a range of specialities and backgrounds to diversify the work being conducted.

Prof. Coombs’ research focuses on antimicrobial resistance and the molecular evolution and epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococci in the community and livestock. Prof Coombs was instrumental in establishing the Antimicrobial Resistance and Infectious Diseases (AMRID) Research Laboratory, conducting research into emerging infectious diseases of viral origin in multiple species.

Dr Fulurija’s research interests are in host-pathogen interactions, host defence mechanisms and immunotherapy. She has gained international experience in both academic and applied research leading to numerous scientific publications and patents. Dr Fulurija has a strong interest in investigating H. pylori pathogenesis.

Dr Furfaro is the Raine/Robson Research Fellow, within Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Dr Furfaro’s research focuses on the prevention and treatment of bacterial infections during pregnancy. Her research explores antibiotic alternatives such as bacteriophage therapy.

Dr Knight’s research focus is the field of infectious diseases epidemiology, specialising in the bacterium Clostridium difficile. This antimicrobial resistant pathogen is ranked the number one threat to public health in the USA. Dr Knight uses microbial genomics to study the genetic factors that contribute to the spread of C. difficile in humans, animals and their environment.

Professor Lundin is an Immunologist with two decades of academic research leadership in immunology of Helicobacter pylori infection and stomach cancer. Prof Lundin is the founder of Biotome, a Biotech start-up developing next generation antibody diagnostics.

Dr Mowlaboccus’ area of expertise includes the use of bioinformatics, molecular biology and biochemistry to investigate and monitor the evolution of bacterial pathogens. Dr Mowlaboccus is also investigating the mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance in bacterial pathogens such as Neisseria meningitides and Staphylococcus aureus.