Infectious Diseases

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Infectious Diseases

10 million

people are forecasted to die from drug resistant bacteria

every year unless new antibiotic strategies are developed.

£5 billion

was lost to agricultural businesses and wider society

following the 2001 outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

18 million

people have died from COVID-19

worldwide since 2020.

Our purpose

Infectious diseases caused by viral, bacterial, fungal or protozoal pathogens are among the leading causes of human death and disability across the globe. Understanding how infections develop, and resist existing drugs is critical to improve patient outcomes.

Dr John Barr, Associate Professor, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology

Our approach

We take an interdisciplinary approach to infectious disease research, with groups using structural, biochemical and cellular techniques to uncover and exploit fundamental biological processes of both viral and bacterial pathogens. Our aim is to translate this understanding into solutions to mitigate the impact of infectious diseases in real-world settings.

We work with researchers across the University to harness expertise across all relevant subject areas, including working closely with the Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology.

Examples of our research

Accelerating COVID-19 testing in Nigeria

More on Accelerating COVID-19 testing in Nigeria

Tackling anti-microbial resistance

More on Tackling anti-microbial resistance

A better understanding of foot-and-mouth disease

More on A better understanding of foot-and-mouth disease

Preventing BK virus complications in kidney transplants

More on Preventing BK virus complications in kidney transplants

Speeding up new vaccine development

More on Speeding up new vaccine development

Combatting tick-borne encephalitis

More on Combatting tick-borne encephalitis

Facilities

Our world-class facilities enable us to analyse viruses and infections in exquisite detail.

Bio-imaging and Flow Cytometry

State-of-the-art light microscopy and flow cytometry technology to support cutting-edge research.

Electron Microscopy

Electron Microscopy generates high resolution date to produce structures of a broad range of complexes, such as membrane proteins, ribosomes and viruses.

Join our postgraduate research community

Research degrees

Being a postgraduate researcher in the Faculty of Biological Sciences gives you the opportunity to become part of a vibrant and supportive research community.

Training the next generation of scientists

We inform, encourage and inspire the next generation of scientists through our undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses, and use new knowledge from our research to drive our teaching.