People

A list of principle investigators and faculty members involved in the forum.

Steering group of the Edinburgh Pandemic Research Forum

NameResearchAffiliation
Mark Woolhouse, chairPopulation dynamics of pathogens, especially those associated with emerging infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance, applying ecological and evolutionary approaches to combat threats to both human and animal healthUsher Institute
Kenny BaillieTranslational genomics in critical care medicine -using   computational biology and genomics to understand the mechanisms that make people desperately sick in intensive care, with focus on viral lung infections (including influenza and SARSCoV-2), sepsis, and the impact of oxygen  shortage.Pandemic Science Hub, the Roslin Institute
Emma CunninghamThe ecology and behaviour of animal populations, with focus on how environmental conditions affect health, fitness and an individual's ability to deal with diseaseSchool of Biological Sciences
Rowland KaoEpidemiology of animal disease outbreaks; waste water surveillance, vaccine uptake analysisThe Roslin Institute
Oliver KochClinical interventions for tuberculosis treatment  travel & tropical medicine.NHS Lothian
Sam LycettAnalysis and modelling of virus spread and evolution, phylodynamics, esp for influenzaThe Roslin Institute
Alice StreetMaterial politics of global health - investigating diagnostic devices in global health; history, present and futures of plastics in healthcare; hospitals in resource-limited settings; global health in fragile statesSchool of Social and Political Science
Andrea WeisseComputational approaches to biomedical data science, systems biology, antimicrobial resistance, disease transmission.School of Informatics

Members of the Edinburgh Pandemic Research Forum

Matt AdamConsultant in Infectious Diseases & General Medicine at the Regional Infectious Diseases Unit, with particular research interest in COVID-19. In addition to his work with RIDU, he works for the RAF with a main role in aeromedical evacuation.NHS Lothian
Francisca Adom-OpareFocus on intersecting identities and inequalities—disability, gender, age, and spatiality—within international development, spanning data, education, energy and environment, livelihoods, health and COVID-related contextsCentre of African Studies
Iain AthertonNursing and data science with expertise in use of nationally representative survey, administrative and census data to answer policy relevant questions;  Co-Director of SCADR.Edinburgh Napier University, Scottish Centre for Administrative Data Research
Katie AtkinsUnderstanding the dynamics of infectious disease through mathematical modelling and phylogenetics; focus on HIV infection immdiately post-exposure, and impacts of vaccines on transmission  of drug-resistant bacteriaUsher Institute
Till BachmannDiagnostics innovation in the context of targeted and effective antibiotic therapy; equitable partnerships in One Health approaches to AMRInstitute for Regeneration and Repair
Linda BauldBehavioural research including in emergencies; prevention of non-communicable diseases and how research evidence informs policy; focus on interventions and policy to reduce harmful health behaviours, and work to better understand and address health inequalities.Usher Institute
Katie BeckmannWildlife health and the conservation of species and their ecosystems; focus on refinement of health/disease risk analysis methodology for wildlife translocation projects; health issues and disease surveillance in UK native species of conservation concernRoyal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
Laura BellussiSocial impacts of COVID-19 in both academia and the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry,  with a focus on children, families, and marginalised communitiesUsher Institute
Devanjan BhattacharyaGeomatics and geo-spatial technologies, working towards intelligent geospatial analytics merging remotely sensed data, navigation technologies, informatics and GIS together - mapping micro-mobility for urban populationsSchool of Social and Political Science
Lisa BodenContingency planning for animal disease outbreaks, food security & animal & public health law.Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
Debby BogaertPathophysiology and prevention of respiratory infections and inflammation from an ecological perspective, with a focu son the earlylife microbiomeInstitute for Regeneration and Repair
Mark BronsvoortEpidemiology of globally important infectious diseases of livestock and humans including rabies, foot-and-mouth disease, bovine tuberculosis, blue tongue and liver fluke; using molecular tools to understand disease transmission and spread at different scales, both in the United Kingdom and in the tropics particularly sub-Saharan Africa.The Roslin Institute
Helen BrownMixed (or multilevel) statistical models, identifying and accounting for sources of variation and correlation structures in the data.The Roslin Institute
Karl BurgessDevelopment of mass spectrometry methods for the exploration of the biochemistry of microorganisms, especially in the area of industrial biotechnology and infectious disease.School of Biological Sciences
Michael CholbiDeath and dying, including suicide and assisted dying; grief and memorialisation e.g during Covid-19 pandemic; ethics, particularly respect for persons, equality, and rational agencySchool of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences
Nathan CoombsEconomic sociologist working at the intersection of political economy, science and technology studies, and social theory; utilising qualitative and historical methods to address the implications of scientised knowledge and expertise for public accountability and democracySchool of Social and Political Science
Sarah Cunningham-BurleySocial and ethical contexts of medical technologies, data science, engagement, health and disease using predominantly qualitative methodsUsher Institute
Rebecca DewarClinical microiology and diagnosticsNHS Lothian
Kev DhaliwalMultidiscplinary approaches to devleop new methodologies that permit the accurate and spatial characterisation of inflammation, infection, cancer and fibrosis in the distal human lung.Institute for Regeneration and Repair
Chris DibbenQuantitative health geography with particular interest in analysing administrative data to explain and understand patterns of poverty, deprivation and inequality and their impact on lifelong health and wellbeingScottish Centre for Administrative Data Research
Paul DigardReplication and pathogenesis of influenza viruses - molecular and cellular biology of influenza virus replication, to inform understanding of virus pathogenesis and host range, as well as for translational studies on antiviral drug development and virus control measuresThe Roslin Institute
Fiona DobbietTpic expertise in the fields of gambling and nicotine research (focus on the prevention of harm for vulnerable groups); research methods expertise in qualitative social network research; applied expertise in the design and evaluation of complex health behaviour change interventionsUsher Institute
Annemarie DochertyClinical data analysis for major national COVID-19 response efforts, for example the ISARIC4C programme, applying novel analytical techniques to answer key questions including mediation analysis, interrupted time series, risk prediction modelling and trajectory clusteringUsher Institute
David DockrellRole of  macrophages in host defence against bacteria and viruses with emphasis on microbicide mechanisms and cell death paradigms in pulmonary infection and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)Institute for Regeneration and Repair
Andrea Doeschl WilsonHow genetics of individuals, together with other factors affects harmful and beneficial social interactions and the spread of infectious disease in farm animals; combining field and laboratory experiments with mathematical modelling and quantitative genetics theoryThe Roslin Institute
Lukas EngelmannHistory of epidemics and epidemiology; social and cultural dimensions of Plague, AIDS, Zika, AMR and Covid-19School of Social and Political Science
Jean-Benoit FalisseEmpirical consequences of the idea of repair; aftermath of reparation programmes for victims of atrocity crimes - access to basic social services—health care, education, and justice—in so-called 'fragile' environments; the livelihoods of displaced people; and the political economy of health careCentre of African Studies
Anne-Maree FarrellRelationship between politics, law and regulation in health and medicine, in particular public health and health security; law ethics and risk in use of human tissue; clinical negligence and patient safetly; harm and redressa and mental health and capacity law.Mason Institute, Law School
Ross Fitzgerald

Evolution and pathogenesis of clinically important species of Staphylococci including the major human and animal pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. Exploring capacity for bacterial pathogens to emerge and cause disease in different medical, agricultural, and industrial settings.

The Roslin Institute
Robin FlaigLongitudinal Population Studies and four nations health and administrative data linkage; Chief Operations Officer for Generation Scotland, and Co-Director of the UK Longitudinal Linkage collaboration – the national Trusted Research Environment (TRE) for data linkage in longitudinal research.Usher Institute, Generation Scotland
Guy FletcherWell-being, ethics and practical philosophy including: benefits, harms, interpersonal comparison of benefits and harms, aggregation of benefit and harms, lifetime well-being, resource allocation.School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences
Rupsha FraserImmunology, disease progression, and the development of immunotherapeutic and prophylactic strategies; research in SARS-CoV-2 immunopathology and SARS-CoV-2 vaccines     to enhance existing vaccines in order to reduce/prevent breakthrough infections and viral transmission in vaccinees.Edinburgh Medical School
Jaime Garcia-IglesiasThe interface between sexuality, health, disease (Covid-19) memory and online/offline practices.Usher Institute
Elly GauntUnderstanding the genetic coding strategies of viruses that cause respiratory diseases, especially influenzaThe Roslin Institute
Steve GordonPrevention and treatment of lung infection in adults; compare lung defence against infection in Africa and the UK using lung samples, controlled human infection studies, and treatment trials; current focus is on pneumococcal infection and tuberculosis.Institute for Regeneration and Repair
Liz GrantPalliative care & International health systems strengthening; Planetary healthUsher Institute
Andreas GrotheyOptimization, modelling and optimization of intervention strategies (contact tracing, social distancing, vaccination roll-out) in SEIR-like models, especially under uncertainty (disease parameters, vaccination efficiency, etc.).School of Mathematics
Lauren Hall-LewVariationist sociolinguist with an interest in phonetics, social meaning, and language change; narratives of Covid-19School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences
Kathy HarrisonProgramme lead, DataLoch. DataLoch holds linked primary and secondary routine care data for the Lothian population.Usher Institute
Mark HellowellHealth systems, with research and consultancy expertise in strengthening health system preparedness and response to public health emergencies at an international level.School of Social and Political Science
Farah HuzairInterdisciplinary researcher with a background in both social and natural sciences. Covering innovation and regulation of life science industries.School of Social and Political Science
Ben Kasstan-DabushExamination of health protection definitions, authority, and reconciliation of divergent approaches, with emphasis on vaccination, disease outbreaks, and child, reproductive, and sexual health.School of Social and Political Science
Steven KerrHealth data science, statistics, machine learning and secure multiparty computation; vaccine effectiveness and safety; health economics; epidemiologyUsher Institute
Markus KetolaEnvironmental policy, populism, and storytelling; a new line of research on forests and forest governance integrates policy, governance, civil society, and storytelling.School of Social and Political Science
Ava KhamsehCausal molecular interactions in the context of cancer & population biomedicine.School of Informatics
Marlies KustatscherImpacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on early childhood education, and debates around young children’s assessment and ‘school readiness’.Moray House School of Education and Sport
Chase LedinPublic health and medicine. Explores biomedical innovation and disease elimination, HIV/STI prevention and sexual health, critical public health, and health promotion.Usher Institute
Jamie MarlandDevelopment of miniature bioelectronic interfaces for applications in synthetic biology and biomedical engineering.School of Engineering
Martin McHughApplication of genomic techniques to the public health surveillance of a range of viral and bacterial  pathogens; clinical diagnosticsNHS Lothian
Jill MacKayVeterinary science education with a focus on interdisciplinary research methodology.Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
Ruth McQuillanEvidence synthesis, long COVID, COVID-19 learning and pandemic preparedness, capacity building for global health research.Usher Institute
Susan McVieQuantitative criminology, policing the pandemic in Scotland, public health approaches to policing, the health-justice nexus, health vulnerabilities (mental health, drugs and alcohol) and inequalities, administrative data linkage, advanced methods and statistics.Scottish Centre for Administrative Data Research
Chelsea MorroniImproving sexual, reproductive and maternal health and well-being in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly lower resource, high-HIV burden settings in southern Africa.Institute for Regeneration and Repair
Francisca MutapiImmune responses to helminths (Schistosomes) within individuals and across populations primarily in AfricaSchool of Biological Sciences
Adrian MuwongeFocus on digital one-health and molecular epidemiology to develop technology that enables implementation of one-health strategies in Africa; genomic analytical pipelines to support the utility clinical metagenomics in AMR research and training for developing countries such as Uganda and Malawi.The Roslin Institute
Harish NairEpidemiology of child pneumonia, including RSV, influenza, human metapneumovirus and human parainfluenza virus related child pneumonia; also interested in refugee health, gender inequities in child health, maternal health and health sector reformUsher Institute
Meghan PerryMicrobial dynamics in antimicrobial resistance; metagenomics of sewage for AMR surveillance; Covid-19 and deprivationNHS Lothian
Martyn PickersgillSocial dimensions of biomedicine and public healthUsher Institute
Andrew RambautMolecular evolution of RNA viruses; development of computational tools to analyse viral outbreaks inc. SARS-CoV-2, Ebola, mpox, Zika, and influenza, by tracking genomic changes in real-timeSchool of Biological Sciences
Sarah ReeceEvolution of parasite transmission strategies in malaria parasites (Plasmodium)School of Biological Sciences
Jan SavnicUsing large datasets collected routinely by public bodies for studies to benefit public health.Scottish Centre for Administrative Data Research
Yuze ShaDigital health communication during public health crises, including NHS Covid-19 communciaion policy; socio-political consequences of current approaches to regulation of misleading health claimsUsher Institute
Ting ShiInfectious disease epidemiology and preparedness, with particular attention to respiratory viruses such as RSV, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2.  Approaches including individual participant data meta-analysis, national linked datasets, and big data analysis. Usher Institute
Matt SilkThe social dynamics, population biology and epidemiology of wildlife populations; social network analysis of disease spread/controlSchool of Biological Sciences
Lila SkoundridakiWork experiences of home-based and hybrid workers (skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled); impact of Covid-19 pandemic on working in the UKEdinburgh Business School
Richard SloanBroad spectrum inhibition of virus replication by innate immune factors or antiviral therapeutics, with focus on HIVInstitute for Regeneration and Repair
Devi SridharImproving the effectiveness of international health organizations; tracking financing to global public health and improving global health security, including pandemic responsesUsher Institute
Joyce TaitPolicy analysis, risk assessment and regulation, stakeholder theory, sustainable development, strategic management, cell therapies, regenerative medicine, synthetic biology, GM technologies, drug development, stratified medicine,School of Social and Political Science
Anne TempletonHow group processes (e.g., social norms, social influence) and communication influence uptake of pandemic prevention behaviours.School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences
Kate TempletonMolecular diagnostics and molecular epidemiology in NHS Lothian; development of new molecular assays for diagnosis across pathologyRoyal Infirmary of Edinburgh
Evi Theodoratucolorectal cancer epidemiology, focusing on projects in genetic, molecular and clinical epidemiology; phenome-wide association study methodology to investigate the associations between genetic variations, biomarker levels and clinical outcomesUsher Institute
Holly TibbleData scientist and epidemiologist, working with electronic health records and real world evidence - including data extraction from electronic health records; clinical decision support tool co-design; understanding the barriers and facilitators of clinical decision support tool adoptionUsher Institute
Kay TisdallChildren's rights and citizenship; disability issues affecting children; education and schooling; family law; social media and children's privacy; and methodologies to involve children and young people in research and policy-making.Moray House School of Education and Sport
Jano van HemertProcessing data to distil information into the knowledge required to drive positive impact.Edinburgh Parallel Computing Centre
Amrit VirkHealth policy and systems in low- and middle-income countries, spanning work across Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore), South Asia (India), and West Africa (Sierra Leone and Nigeria).School of Social and Political Science
Eleanor WatsonCampylobacter species and other zoonotic pathogens, applying proteomics and comparative genomics to investigate how they persist in animal reservoirs and cause disease in humans.Moredun Research Institute
Simon WoodComputational statistics, smoothing, statistical ecology/epidemiology, pandemic riskSchool of Mathematics

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