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
Professor in Paediatric Infectious Diseases
Dr Aubrey Cunnington is Professor 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
Advanced Research Fellow
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Dr Fiona Culley
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Dr Fiona Culley
Senior Lecturer
Professor Aubrey Cunnington
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Professor Aubrey Cunnington
Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases
Diego Estrada-Rivadeneyra
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Diego Estrada-Rivadeneyra
Research Associate
Dr Caroline Foster
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Dr Caroline Foster
Consultant
Dr Athina Georgiadou
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Dr Athina Georgiadou
Imperial College Research Fellow
Dr Melissa Shea Hamilton
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Dr Melissa Shea Hamilton
Research Fellow
Heather Hanna
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Heather Hanna
Senior Clinical Teaching Fellow
Dr Jethro Herberg
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Dr Jethro Herberg
Clinical Reader in Paediatric Infectious Disease
Dr Beth Holder
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Dr Beth Holder
Senior Lecturer in Maternal and Fetal Health
Dr Kate Honeyford
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Dr Kate Honeyford
Honorary Research Associate
Professor Cecilia Johansson
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Professor Cecilia Johansson
Professor of Mucosal Immunology
Dr Myrsini Kaforou
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Dr Myrsini Kaforou
Senior Lecturer in Bioinformatics
Professor Beate Kampmann
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Professor Beate Kampmann
Visiting Professor
Professor Simon Kroll
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Professor Simon Kroll
Emeritus 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
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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
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Dr Ruud Nijman
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Dr Ruud Nijman
Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer
Dr Franz Puttur
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Dr Franz Puttur
Lecturer in Early Life Airways Disease
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
Reader in Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases
Professor Sonia Saxena
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Professor Sonia Saxena
Professor of Primary Care
Dr James Seddon
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Dr James Seddon
Professor of Global Child Health
Dr Helen Skirrow
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Dr Helen Skirrow
Clinical Research Fellow
Professor John Tregoning
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Professor John Tregoning
Professor in Vaccine Immunology
Professor Gareth Tudor-Williams
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Professor Gareth Tudor-Williams
Emeritus 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
Research Fellow
Dr Victoria Wright
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Dr Victoria Wright
Research Fellow