Join the next online Infectious Diseases Special Interest Group (SIG), this SIG will focus on “The Microbiome: Emerging and Innovative Technologies”.
Recent advances in microbiome research have highlighted the significant influence these microbial populations have on our wellbeing. The upcoming SIG will be focussing on this rapidly accelerating field, looking at the role of the microbiome in human health and how imbalances lead to disease. It will also look at the application of emerging technologies that can be used to better understand the microbiome, and the development of new therapeutic approaches for associated diseases.
This event is in partnership with De Montfort University and led by Dr Katie Laird, Professor of Microbiology and also Head of the Infectious Disease Research Group at De Montfort University.
Confirmed speaker presentations:
– Open Innovation in Biofilms R&D: Translation of Academic Research to Address Industry Needs
– Manipulating respiratory microbiomes: a role for commensals?
– Labskin: Commercial Skin models to understand the microbial/host interaction
– Rapid Prototyping of Microfluidic Systems
DURATION: 1.5 hours
This free to attend event is held as part of the SoLSTICE programme – a project part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, click here to be re-directed to further information about the project. This event is classed as State Aid to participating businesses, the value of which is £190, but is delivered completely free of charge to participants.
Please note: whilst this event is held as part of the SoLSTICE programme, attendance is not restricted to companies in the Leicester/Leicestershire region and is open to all.
Speaker Profiles:
Dr Katie Laird, Professor of Microbiology and Head of the Infectious Disease Research Group at Leicester School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University
Katie has a BSc (Hons) in Biology and obtained a PhD in applied microbiology in 2008. During her PhD she developed and patented an essential oil based antimicrobial vapour, whilst her postdoctoral work included the assessment of natural antimicrobials efficacy against post-harvest pathogens.
Her research interests include the use of natural products as antimicrobials in particular to combat hospital acquired infections and biofilms. Her other area of research includes the assessment of healthcare laundry as a potential route of cross contamination in the clinical arena.
Dr Katerina Steventon, Senior Innovation Consultant, National Biofilms Innovation Centre
Katerina is a healthcare specialist with substantial experience of working at the clinical, commercial and research interface. She holds a MSc in Clinical Biochemistry, a PhD in Transdermal Absorptions and over 20 years of global work experience in the personal care and wound care industry. Katerina has an in-depth knowledge of skin biology in both its healthy and diseased states. The strengths Katerina brings to NBIC comprise a comprehensive understanding of the industry and academia, commercialisation of research in a spectrum of healthcare areas and an experience of running an innovation consultancy with a focus on functional skincare.
Dr David Cleary, Career Track Post-Doctoral Fellow, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton and the Southampton NIHR Biomedical Research Centre
David graduated in Medical Microbiology from the University of Surrey in 2002 and went on to complete his PhD with the University of Warwick whilst employed as a microbiologist at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratories (DSTL), Porton Down. His current research interests include characterising human respiratory tract microbiomes to determine the microbiota-host interactions that determine colonisation and progression to disease, as well as understanding the epidemiology of pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and Non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae.
Dr David Caballero-Lima, Head of R&D, Labskin
David received his undergraduate degree in Biology and his PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the Universidad de Extremadura in Spain. David took postdoctoral research positions at the University of Sheffield and the University of Manchester, with both roles focussing on studying human/pathogen interaction via tissue models and obtaining a greater understanding in the regulation of the cell cycle and vesicle transportation during morphological changes.
David was initially Services Manager at Labskin, bringing his 18 years’ experience working with microbiology and host-pathogen interactions. As Head of R&D, David now leads the research department, focusing on the development of new methods for studying the native skin microflora, prebiotic, probiotics and antimicrobial effects of ingredients and formulation for pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical studies. He is also the scientific lead for the development of Labskin new consumers service; Skin Trust Club. David is a key collaborator on international research bids, as a peer with leading international experts from academia and industry.
Paul Marshall, Engineering Consultant, Co-Founder of Rapid Fluidics Ltd
An experienced Chartered Mechanical Engineer, Paul lead the engineering for QuantuMDx Ltd in Newcastle to develop the Q-POC point of care mobile diagnostics system and is now an engineering consultant specialising in Life Sciences. His works covers a wide range of projects from microfluidic instrumentation and consumable systems design for diagnostics through to technical reviews of water, sanitation and health projects for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Dr Raymond Allan, Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, De Montfort University
Raymond’s research focusses on the investigation of bacterial biofilms, developing an understanding of the adaptive mechanisms they employ to enable their survival within the human host, and their role in chronic infectious disease. His research also includes the identification of targets for the development and investigation of novel treatment strategies for biofilm-associated infections. He has several years’ experience investigating biofilms at University of Southampton, the National Biofilms Innovation Centre, and Southampton NIHR Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, before joining De Montfort University.
