Organismal Health and Development

Understanding the biological processes that sustain healthy living organisms is key to addressing global challenges such as sustainable food production, pest control, emerging diseases, disease management, and animal welfare.

Agriculture and livestock are vital to global economies, with the total market value of farmed animals estimated to be between 1.61 and 3.3 trillion USD. Yet pests and diseases result in substantial losses, including 20–40% of crop yields globally, costing over £270 annually in the UK (≈ €1.8 billion per year in Europe), posing a threat to food security in the UK and globally.

Emerging dieases, like COVID-19, reinforce the importance of studying zoonotic infections that move between animals and humans, and understanding the fundamental mechanisms that drive this.

Our researchers have strong international and interdisciplinary networks. We maintain strong links to University of Leeds initiatives including Leeds Omics and Global Food and Environment Institute  

We also work with researchers who are interested in Sustainable Ecosystems and Adaptation and Future Agrisystems to deepen fundamental knowledge and overcome common goals, such as food insecurity and biodiversity loss.