Infection
Improving diagnosis, treatment and prevention of severe childhood infections
The Infection theme brings together world-leading research teams focused on improving diagnosis, treatment and prevention of globally important severe and life-threatening infections in children. We study common infectious diseases which can affect any child, whilst also seeking to explain and learn from those who have unusually severe infections. Translational research programs link patients recruited at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and elsewhere with sophisticated laboratory and informatics research methods. Complementary research is also benefitting animal health by tackling important veterinary pathogens. The interdisciplinary membership of the theme includes clinicians, laboratory scientists, molecular and cell biologists, microbiologists, proteomics experts, bioinformaticians and statisticians. The Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group was awarded the 2019 President’s Medal for Outstanding Research Team in Imperial College.
Research interests and theme leadership
Key research areas
- Genetic determinants of susceptibility and severity of infection
- Pathogenesis of infectious and inflammatory diseases
- Diagnosis and prognosis of infectious diseases
- Immune responses and vaccine design
- Personalised medicine
- Omics approaches
- Severe and chronic viral infections, including HIV and viral hepatitis
- Bacterial infections
- Tuberculosis
- Malaria
Theme lead
Dr Aubrey Cunnington
Reader in Paediatric Infectious Diseases
Dr Aubrey Cunnington is Reader in Paediatric Infectious Diseases at Imperial College and Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Infectious Diseases at St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. His research focuses on the interactions between hosts and pathogens which result in severe infectious diseases, particularly severe malaria.
Theme members
Dr Evangelos Bellos
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Dr Evangelos Bellos
Research Associate in Statistical Genomics
Dr Fadil Bidmos
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Dr Fadil Bidmos
MRC Career Development Fellow
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Dr Fiona Culley
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Dr Fiona Culley
Senior Lecturer
Dr Aubrey Cunnington
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Dr Aubrey Cunnington
Reader in Paediatric Infectious Diseases
Dr Caroline Foster
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Dr Caroline Foster
Consultant
Dr Athina Georgiadou
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Dr Athina Georgiadou
Research Associate
Dr Melissa Shea Hamilton
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Dr Melissa Shea Hamilton
Research Fellow
Heather Hanna
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Heather Hanna
Teaching Fellow
Dr Jethro Herberg
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Dr Jethro Herberg
Clinical Senior Lecturer
Dr Beth Holder
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Dr Beth Holder
Lecturer in Maternal and Fetal Health
Dr Kate Honeyford
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Dr Kate Honeyford
Research Associate
Dr Cecilia Johansson
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Dr Cecilia Johansson
Senior Lecturer in Respiratory Infection
Dr Myrsini Kaforou
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Dr Myrsini Kaforou
Senior Research Fellow
Professor Beate Kampmann
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Professor Beate Kampmann
Visiting Professor
Professor Simon Kroll
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Professor Simon Kroll
Professor of Paediatrics and Molecular Infectious Diseases
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Professor Paul Langford
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Professor Paul Langford
Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases
Dr Kirsty Le Doare
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Dr Kirsty Le Doare
Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer
Professor Michael Levin
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Professor Michael Levin
Chair in Paediatrics and International Child Health
Dr Hermione Lyall
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Dr Hermione Lyall
Clinical director, children's services
Dr Ian Maconochie
Dr Ian Maconochie
Professor of Practice (Paediatric Emergency Medicine)
Professor Kath Maitland
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Professor Kath Maitland
Professor of Tropical Paediatric Infectious Diseases
Dr Stephanie Menikou
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Dr Stephanie Menikou
Research Associate
Dr Simon Nadel
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Dr Simon Nadel
Consultant in paediatric intensive care
Dr Sandra Newton
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Dr Sandra Newton
Senior Research Fellow
Dr Ruud Nijman
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Dr Ruud Nijman
NIHR Clinical Lecturer
Dr Franz Puttur
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Dr Franz Puttur
Research Associate
Professor Steven Riley
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Professor Steven Riley
Professor of Infectious Disease Dynamics
Dr Vanessa Sancho-Shimizu
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Dr Vanessa Sancho-Shimizu
Senior Research Fellow
Professor Sonia Saxena
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Professor Sonia Saxena
Professor of Primary Care
Dr James Seddon
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Dr James Seddon
Clinical Senior Lecturer in Paediatric Diseases
Dr Helen Skirrow
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Dr Helen Skirrow
Clinical Research Fellow
Dr John Tregoning
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Dr John Tregoning
Reader in Respiratory Infections
Professor Gareth Tudor-Williams
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Professor Gareth Tudor-Williams
Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases
Dr Elizabeth Whittaker
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Dr Elizabeth Whittaker
Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer
Professor Robert Wilkinson
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Professor Robert Wilkinson
Professor in Infectious Diseases
Professor Tom Williams
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Professor Tom Williams
Chair in Haemoglobinopathy Research
Dr Peter Winskill
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Dr Peter Winskill
Imperial College Research Fellow (ICRF)
Dr Victoria Wright
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Dr Victoria Wright
Research Fellow