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Outline Programme
| 12:30 | Registration open in the South Cloisters |
| 13:00 | Talks session 1 - including keynote speaker David Aanensen |
| 14:40 | Poster presentations and networking in the South Cloisters |
| 15:30 | Talks session 2 - including keynote speaker Martha Clokie |
| 17:30 | Drinks reception and networking in the South Cloisters |
Keynote Speakers:
Professor David Aanensen
David is Director of The Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance focussed on capacity, data flow and the use of genomics for surveillance of microbial pathogens through software engineering, methods development and large-scale structured pathogen surveys and sequencing of microbes with delivery of information for decision making.
David is also Director of the NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Genomic Surveillance of AMR, with partners in Nigeria, India, Colombia and the Philippines, delivering sustainable capacity for surveillance of AMR (antimicrobial resistance). Working with major public health agencies such as the CDC, the eCDC, UKHSA and the WHO, systems and technical support are utilised to interpret and aid decision making.
Professor Martha Clokie
Martha is Professor of Microbiology at the University of Leicester. Her research explores the potential of using naturally occurring viruses, known as bacteriophages (viruses that specifically infect bacteria) to treat antibiotic resistant infections. Martha recently provided expert evidence to the Commons Science and Technology Committee inquiry on the antimicrobial potential of bacteriophages.
Martha’s work investigating alternative treatments for Clostridium difficile (C. diff), a bacteria that can infect the bowel and cause diarrhoea, has identified a large set of phages that effectively kill this pathogen. Now, Martha is applying the same principles to look at other debilitating diseases, determining the impact of phages on bacteria in the gut, investigating how phages can be used to target Lyme disease, and developing phages to target Salmonella in animals.
Closing remarks will be by Dr Celia Caulcott, Vice Chair of Governing Council, John Innes Centre and Chair of The Board of Trustees, Quadram Institute Bioscience.
