Houlden
i am a microbial ecologist in the division of biosciences, within the college of health and life sciences at the university of brunel london. my research interests lie in the assessment of microbial community structure and function using high throughput sequencing and molecular microbiological techniques. focusing on the host microbiome their interaction with one another in this community and changes as a result of disease or injury, this characterisation of the communities allows the identification of functionally important changes in microbial assemblages and detection of antimicrobial resistance. my research has included work on the impact of stroke, brain injury, parasitic intestinal infections, and dementia on the interactions with the host and its microbiome. one of my current research focus areas is women's health, i am studying bacterial vaginosis, the interaction of microbes present in the vagina, detection of potential pathogens, and the development of an in-house in vitro model system using organ on a chip technology for 3d tissue culture to simulate the vaginal environment. linked to this i am interested in the impact that space travel and microgravity has on microbial populations and implications for health. i am also interested in antimicrobial resistance (amr) and detection of amr in bacterial communities with a focus on the environmental impact and ecological implications of this. it is becoming increasing an issue that amr organisms are colonising animal populations and if these pathogens are accumulated in apex predators via food chain acquisition. my doctorial training was in soil microbial ecology carrying out risk assessments and the efficacy of using bacterial biological control agents against fungi diseases of crops in laboratory, glass house and field experiments while at ceh-oxford/cardiff university. i then undertook postdoctoral research at the university of sheffield followed by the university of manchester continuing research into environmental microbiology looking a biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen and sulphur. while at manchester i moved into medical microbiome research as researcher co-investigator on a grant on t. muris and the impact on the microbiome and host. as a result of this i have formed a number of collaborations involving microbiome research. bb2716 medical microbiology (second year)
Dr Ashley Houlden
I am a Microbial Ecologist in the Division of Biosciences, within the College of Health and Life Sciences at the University of Brunel London. My research interests lie in the assessment of microbial community structure and function using high throughput sequencing and molecular microbiological techniques. Focusing on the Host microbiome their interaction with one another in this community and changes as a result of disease or injury, this characterisation of the communities allows the identification of functionally important changes in microbial assemblages and detection of Antimicrobial Resistance. My research has included work on the impact of stroke, brain injury, parasitic intestinal infections, and dementia on the interactions with the host and its microbiome. One of my Current research focus areas is women's health, I am studying bacterial vaginosis, the interaction of microbes present in the vagina, detection of potential pathogens, and the development of an in-house in vitro model system using Organ on a Chip technology for 3D tissue culture to simulate the vaginal environment. Linked to this I am interested in the impact that space travel and microgravity has on microbial populations and implications for health. I am also interested in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and detection of AMR in bacterial communities with a focus on the environmental impact and ecological implications of this. It is becoming increasing an issue that AMR organisms are colonising animal populations and if these pathogens are accumulated in Apex predators via food chain acquisition. My Doctorial training was in soil microbial ecology carrying out risk assessments and the efficacy of using bacterial biological control agents against fungi diseases of crops in laboratory, glass house and field experiments while at CEH-Oxford/Cardiff University. I then undertook postdoctoral research at The University of Sheffield followed by The University of Manchester continuing research into environmental microbiology looking a biogeochemical cycling of Nitrogen and sulphur. While at Manchester I moved into medical microbiome research as Researcher Co-Investigator on a grant on T. Muris and the impact on the microbiome and host. As a result of this I have formed a number of collaborations involving microbiome research. BB2716 Medical Microbiology (Second Year)
Li
qualifications: · 1983 md, suzhou medical university, china. · 1994 ph.d, department of immunopathology, karolinska institute, stockholm, sweden. academic appointments · 1995-1996: post-doctor, department of clinical virology, karolinska institute, · 1996-2000: assistant professor, and then associate professor since 2000, institute of cell and molecular biology, lund university, sweden · 2001-2005: lecturer, division of biosciences, brunel university london · 2009-2014: division director of biosciences, brunel university london · 2005-present: reader in immunology, division of biosciences, brunel university london, immunology antigen presentation and vaccines autoimmune disease and inflammation regulation of adaptive immune response tumor immunology immunology teaching interests: adaptive immunology; cancer immunology; pathology; vaccine; biotechnologies, including microarray, rna seq, chip seq, transgenic mouse models, technology in drug discovery.
Dr Su-Ling Li
Qualifications: · 1983 MD, Suzhou Medical University, China. · 1994 Ph.D, Department of Immunopathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Academic Appointments · 1995-1996: Post-Doctor, Department of Clinical Virology, Karolinska Institute, · 1996-2000: Assistant Professor, and then Associate Professor since 2000, Institute of Cell and Molecular Biology, Lund University, Sweden · 2001-2005: Lecturer, Division of Biosciences, Brunel University London · 2009-2014: Division Director of Biosciences, Brunel University London · 2005-present: Reader in Immunology, Division of Biosciences, Brunel University London, Immunology Antigen presentation and vaccines Autoimmune disease and inflammation Regulation of adaptive immune response Tumor immunology Immunology Teaching interests: Adaptive immunology; Cancer Immunology; Pathology; Vaccine; Biotechnologies, including Microarray, RNA seq, Chip Seq, Transgenic mouse models, technology in drug discovery.
Pathan
innate and adaptive immunity host-pathogen interaction immunity to mycobacterium tuberculosis tb diagnostics vaccinology
Dr Ansar Pathan
Innate and adaptive immunity Host-pathogen interaction Immunity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis TB diagnostics Vaccinology
Pazoki
raha pazok md phd fhea is a medical doctor and an epidemiologist. she studied epidemiology at the netherlands institute for health sciences (nihes) and in the university of amsterdam. she worked with various cohort and case control studies such as the arrhythmia genetics in the netherlands (agnes), the rotterdam study, the airwave health monitoring study and the uk bio bank. in 2016, she joined the department of epidemiology and bio-statistics at imperial college london as a research associate. in 2020, she started a teaching & research academic position at brunel university london. dr pazoki specializes in the field of health data research, with a primary focus on the epidemiology of cardiometabolic diseases. she holds a particular interest in exploring causal inference and precision medicine by leveraging genomics and extensive health data sets with sample sizes exceeding 500,000 individuals. her expertise spans various domains, including precision medicine, global health, interventions, and the application of artificial intelligence for predicting health outcomes. she harbors a keen interest in identification of the relationship between circulating molecules and biomarkers, nutrition, lifestyle choices, genetic factors, and their collective contribution to the modulation of health risk factors and outcomes. she was the first to identify 517 novel genetic loci associated with liver enzymes and the first to show the causal effect of liver dysfunction on cardiovascular diseases. in addition, she is the first to show the effect of the alcohol consumption wdpcp gene in lipid metabolism, and liver cirrhosis. (genetic) epidemiology of cardiovascular diseases big data genome-wide association studies genetic risk scores mendelian randomization machine learning dr paozki is a founder and director of the cardiovascular and metabolic research group hosting researchers and academics across brunel university with direct or indirect research interest involving cardiometabolic aetiology, prevention, and health. we work in various areas to identify causes of cardiometabolic diseases (environmental, lifestyle, molecular, and clinical) and provide insight into how they interplay. we use the information for better prevention of cardiometabolic diseases in the community. if you are a msc graduates (with upper second class degree or higher) in the relevant field to the above research area, please contact dr raha pazoki (raha.pazoki@brunel.ac.uk). postgraduate fees and funding | brunel university london or scholarships and bursaries | brunel university london and other funding | brunel university london
Dr Raha Pazoki
Raha Pazok MD PhD FHEA is a medical doctor and an epidemiologist. She studied Epidemiology at the Netherlands Institute for Health Sciences (NIHES) and in the University of Amsterdam. She worked with various cohort and case control studies such as the Arrhythmia Genetics in the Netherlands (AGNES), the Rotterdam Study, the Airwave Health Monitoring Study and the UK Bio bank. In 2016, she joined the Department of Epidemiology and Bio-statistics at Imperial College London as a Research Associate. In 2020, she started a Teaching & Research academic position at Brunel University London. Dr Pazoki specializes in the field of health data research, with a primary focus on the epidemiology of cardiometabolic diseases. She holds a particular interest in exploring causal inference and precision medicine by leveraging genomics and extensive health data sets with sample sizes exceeding 500,000 individuals. Her expertise spans various domains, including precision medicine, global health, interventions, and the application of artificial intelligence for predicting health outcomes. She harbors a keen interest in identification of the relationship between circulating molecules and biomarkers, nutrition, lifestyle choices, genetic factors, and their collective contribution to the modulation of health risk factors and outcomes. She was the first to identify 517 novel genetic loci associated with liver enzymes and the first to show the causal effect of liver dysfunction on cardiovascular diseases. In addition, she is the first to show the effect of the alcohol consumption WDPCP gene in lipid metabolism, and liver cirrhosis. (Genetic) Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Diseases Big Data Genome-wide Association Studies Genetic risk scores Mendelian Randomization Machine Learning Dr Paozki is a founder and director of the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research Group hosting researchers and academics across Brunel university with direct or indirect research interest involving cardiometabolic aetiology, prevention, and health. We work in various areas to identify causes of cardiometabolic diseases (environmental, lifestyle, molecular, and clinical) and provide insight into how they interplay. We use the information for better prevention of cardiometabolic diseases in the community. If you are a MSc graduates (with upper second class degree or higher) in the relevant field to the above research area, please contact Dr Raha Pazoki (raha.pazoki@brunel.ac.uk). Postgraduate fees and funding | Brunel University London or Scholarships and Bursaries | Brunel University London and Other funding | Brunel University London
Sala
trained in biochemistry and cellular biology at the university of rome and the italian national institute of health, i completed a phd in biochemistry at the university of rome “la sapienza” on the topic of dna and rna methylation in relation to muscle cell differentiation. after a short postdoctoral training in the national institute of health in rome, i won an international post-doctoral fellowship from the italian association for cancer research (airc) and moved to the kimmel cancer institute, thomas jefferson university philadelphia. working in the laboratory of prof. bruno calabretta, i was the first to characterize the transcription factor and oncoprotein b-myb and establish its relationship with key tumour suppressor genes, such as p53 and retinoblastoma family members. in 2001 i was recruited by the ucl institute of child health as senior lecturer and later promoted to reader. in ucl i continued to pursue the study of oncogenic transcription factors in the context of neuroblastoma, a childhood tumour affecting the peripheral nervous system. i was appointed professor of translational cancer research and deputy director of the brunel institute of cancer genetics and pharmacogenomics in september 2011. in 2016 i joined the synthetic biology theme in the institute of environment, health and societes. neuroblastoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, friedreich's ataxia rare cancers; neurodegenerative diseases; gene and cell therapy coordinator of the masters' cancer module
Professor Arturo Sala
Trained in Biochemistry and Cellular Biology at the University of Rome and the Italian National Institute of Health, I completed a PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Rome “La Sapienza” on the topic of DNA and RNA methylation in relation to muscle cell differentiation. After a short postdoctoral training in the National Institute of Health in Rome, I won an international post-doctoral fellowship from the Italian Association for Cancer Research (AIRC) and moved to the Kimmel Cancer Institute, Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia. Working in the laboratory of Prof. Bruno Calabretta, I was the first to characterize the transcription factor and oncoprotein B-MYB and establish its relationship with key tumour suppressor genes, such as p53 and retinoblastoma family members. In 2001 I was recruited by the UCL Institute of Child Health as Senior Lecturer and later promoted to Reader. In UCL I continued to pursue the study of oncogenic transcription factors in the context of neuroblastoma, a childhood tumour affecting the peripheral nervous system. I was appointed Professor of Translational Cancer Research and Deputy Director of the Brunel Institute of Cancer Genetics and Pharmacogenomics in September 2011. In 2016 I joined the Synthetic Biology Theme in the Institute of Environment, Health and Societes. Neuroblastoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, Friedreich's ataxia Rare cancers; neurodegenerative diseases; Gene and cell therapy Coordinator of the masters' cancer module
Smith
steven obtained a b.sc. in medical sciences from the university of leeds and received a ph.d. for a project at the cancer medicine research unit at st. james's university hospital, leeds, investigating the cd8 t-cell stimulating properties of a dna vaccine encoding multiple, melanoma-associated epitopes. following a post-doctoral position at the edward jenner institute for vaccine research in which he examined the role of auto-reactive cd8 t-cells and t-cell regulation in the context of joint inflammation, he joined the group of prof. hazel dockrell at the london school of hygiene and tropical medicine where he investigated the cellular immune response to bcg vaccination and more generally with immune mechanisms that might provide protection against tuberculosis infection and disease. steven joined the division of biosciences in january 2020. i am is interested in understanding which immune response elements are responsible for protection against infection with mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tb, as well as those which prevent the development of active tb disease. although it provides incomplete protection against tb, there is much to be learnt from the immune response to the bcg vaccine which in certain circumstances, may be effective. although traditionally seen as t-cell-mediated, recent times have seen an increased interested in the role of b-cells and antibodies as well as potentially long-lived innate cells in immune protection against tb. as bcg is known to impact upon each of these immune compartments, each or all could have a role in protection. in collaboration with teams at the mrc/uvri & lshtm unit in uganda, the international tuberculosis research center, korea and institut politecnico nacional, mexico, i use samples from bcg-vaccinated individuals, a variety of in vitro cellular models of innate and adaptive immune responses and analytical methods such as functional bacterial inhibition assays, multiparameter flow cytomtry, elisa/luminex and dna methylation analysis to probe questions such as: the phenotype and function of bcg-vaccine-induced t-cells the potential for bcg-"trained" monocytes to protect against tb the role of metabolic intermediates in bcg-induced trained immunity and the potential for these to enhance vaccine effectiveness the use of immunological biomarker assays to monitor responses in patients and in vaccine trials against tb in different settings immunological biomarkers of protection against tuberculosis bcg vaccination innate/adaptive immunity
Dr Steven Smith
Steven obtained a B.Sc. in Medical Sciences from the University of Leeds and received a Ph.D. for a project at the Cancer Medicine Research Unit at St. James's University Hospital, Leeds, investigating the CD8 T-cell stimulating properties of a DNA vaccine encoding multiple, melanoma-associated epitopes. Following a post-doctoral position at the Edward Jenner Institute for Vaccine Research in which he examined the role of auto-reactive CD8 T-cells and T-cell regulation in the context of joint inflammation, he joined the group of Prof. Hazel Dockrell at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine where he investigated the cellular immune response to BCG vaccination and more generally with immune mechanisms that might provide protection against tuberculosis infection and disease. Steven joined the Division of Biosciences in January 2020. I am is interested in understanding which immune response elements are responsible for protection against infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of TB, as well as those which prevent the development of active TB disease. Although it provides incomplete protection against TB, there is much to be learnt from the immune response to the BCG vaccine which in certain circumstances, may be effective. Although traditionally seen as T-cell-mediated, recent times have seen an increased interested in the role of B-cells and antibodies as well as potentially long-lived innate cells in immune protection against TB. As BCG is known to impact upon each of these immune compartments, each or all could have a role in protection. In collaboration with teams at the MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Unit in Uganda, the International Tuberculosis Research Center, Korea and Institut Politecnico Nacional, Mexico, I use samples from BCG-vaccinated individuals, a variety of in vitro cellular models of innate and adaptive immune responses and analytical methods such as functional bacterial inhibition assays, multiparameter flow cytomtry, ELISA/Luminex and DNA methylation analysis to probe questions such as: the phenotype and function of BCG-vaccine-induced T-cells the potential for BCG-"trained" monocytes to protect against TB the role of metabolic intermediates in BCG-induced trained immunity and the potential for these to enhance vaccine effectiveness the use of immunological biomarker assays to monitor responses in patients and in vaccine trials against TB in different settings Immunological biomarkers of protection against tuberculosis BCG vaccination Innate/adaptive immunity
Tsolaki
qualifications: dphil, university of oxford, 1999 msc, london school of hygiene and tropical medicine, 1994 bsc (hons), biochemistry, university of north london, 1993 academic appointments september 2006 - present lecturer, brunel university london september 2004 - august 2006, post doctoral fellow, imperial college london may 2000 - july 2004 post doctoral fellow, stanford university may 1999 - may 2000 university of california, berkeley molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis host-pathogen interactions in tuberculosis molecular evolution of mycobacterium tuberculosis mechanisms of genomic variability in mycobacterium tuberculosis microbial genomics innate immunity in tuberculosis infection teaching responsibilities: bb2716 medical microbiology bb3716 microbial pathogenesis bb2805 biomedical sciences
Dr Anthony Tsolaki
Qualifications: DPhil, University of Oxford, 1999 MSc, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 1994 BSc (Hons), Biochemistry, University of North London, 1993 Academic Appointments September 2006 - Present Lecturer, Brunel University London September 2004 - August 2006, Post Doctoral Fellow, Imperial College London May 2000 - July 2004 Post Doctoral Fellow, Stanford University May 1999 - May 2000 University of California, Berkeley Molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis Host-pathogen interactions in tuberculosis Molecular evolution of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Mechanisms of genomic variability in Mycobacterium tuberculosis Microbial genomics Innate Immunity in tuberculosis Infection Teaching Responsibilities: BB2716 Medical Microbiology BB3716 Microbial Pathogenesis BB2805 Biomedical Sciences
Turner
claire turner is an interdisciplinary scientist with a bsc in chemistry and biochemistry from the university of natal and a phd in biochemical engineering from ucl. her aim is to enable all our students to have an excellent education and student experience irrespective of their background and circumstances. she is very interested in innovations in pedagogy and how we can use these in improving the student experience. she was previously at the open university where she taught analytical science, and interdisciplinary science. her research is focussed around the analysis of volatile organic compounds, applied to diverse field as non-invasive disease dignosis and environmental monitoring.
Professor Claire Turner
Claire Turner is an interdisciplinary scientist with a BSc in Chemistry and Biochemistry from the University of Natal and a PhD in Biochemical Engineering from UCL. Her aim is to enable all our students to have an excellent education and student experience irrespective of their background and circumstances. She is very interested in innovations in pedagogy and how we can use these in improving the student experience. She was previously at The Open University where she taught Analytical Science, and interdisciplinary science. Her research is focussed around the analysis of volatile organic compounds, applied to diverse field as non-invasive disease dignosis and environmental monitoring.
Kumari
professor veena kumari obtained a phd in psychology from banaras hindu university, india in 1993 prior to joining the institute of psychiatry, london for post-doctoral research. she became a beit memorial research fellow in 1999, a wellcome senior fellow in basic biomedical science in 2002, and a full professor in 2006 at the institute of psychiatry, psychology and neuroscience (formerly known as the institute of psychiatry), king’s college london, uk. she left king’s college london in 2016 to join the sovereign health group (usa) as the chief scientific officer and returned to the uk in 2018 to join brunel university london as professor of psychology and the director of the centre for cognitive neuroscience (ccn). her research interests include the neurobiological effects of pharmacological and psychological treatments in psychosis, neurobiology of violence in mental illness, psychobiology of addiction, and personality and brain functioning. prof kumari has over 250 publications in reputed psychology, psychiatry and neuroscience journals and received various national and international awards for her research including the young investigator award from the national alliance of research on schizophrenia and depression, usa (1999), research fellowship from beit memorial foundation (1999-2002), the bap (british association of psychopharmacology) clinical psychopharmacology prize (2002), wellcome senior fellowship in basic biomedical science (2002-2009), the prestigious humboldt research award (2014), and most recently a bonn international fellowship (2020). professor kumari has supervised a large number of post-graduate and doctoral students and served in editor or editorial board member roles for a number of psychology and psychiatry journals. cognitive and affective deficits in schizophrenia and personality disorders neurobiological effects and predictors of outcome following drug and psychological treatments neurobiology of violence and addiction sleep deprivation and mental health neuroscience of mindfulness cognitive psychopharmacology, particularly the effects of psychostimulants, antipsychotics, nicotine and anxiolytics neurobiology of sex and sexual-orientation related differences personality neuroscience msc cognitive and clinical neuroscience (starting oct 2018) module lead for py5618 - cognitive psychopharmacology and addiction module lead for py5616 - cognitive and clinical neuroscience - core topics
Professor Veena Kumari
Professor Veena Kumari obtained a PhD in Psychology from Banaras Hindu University, India in 1993 prior to joining the Institute of Psychiatry, London for post-doctoral research. She became a Beit Memorial Research Fellow in 1999, a Wellcome Senior Fellow in Basic Biomedical Science in 2002, and a Full Professor in 2006 at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (formerly known as the Institute of Psychiatry), King’s College London, UK. She left King’s College London in 2016 to join the Sovereign Health Group (USA) as the Chief Scientific Officer and returned to the UK in 2018 to join Brunel University London as Professor of Psychology and the Director of the Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience (CCN). Her research interests include the neurobiological effects of pharmacological and psychological treatments in psychosis, neurobiology of violence in mental illness, psychobiology of addiction, and personality and brain functioning. Prof Kumari has over 250 publications in reputed psychology, psychiatry and neuroscience journals and received various national and international awards for her research including the Young Investigator Award from the National Alliance of Research on Schizophrenia and Depression, USA (1999), research fellowship from BEIT Memorial Foundation (1999-2002), the BAP (British Association of Psychopharmacology) Clinical Psychopharmacology Prize (2002), Wellcome Senior Fellowship in Basic Biomedical Science (2002-2009), the prestigious Humboldt Research Award (2014), and most recently a Bonn International Fellowship (2020). Professor Kumari has supervised a large number of post-graduate and doctoral students and served in editor or editorial board member roles for a number of psychology and psychiatry journals. Cognitive and affective deficits in schizophrenia and personality disorders Neurobiological effects and predictors of outcome following drug and psychological treatments Neurobiology of violence and addiction Sleep deprivation and mental health Neuroscience of mindfulness Cognitive psychopharmacology, particularly the effects of psychostimulants, antipsychotics, nicotine and anxiolytics Neurobiology of sex and sexual-orientation related differences Personality neuroscience MSc Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience (starting Oct 2018) Module Lead for PY5618 - Cognitive Psychopharmacology and Addiction Module Lead for PY5616 - Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience - Core Topics