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
Dr Evangelos Bellos
Research Associate in Statistical Genomics
Dr Fadil Bidmos
Dr Fadil Bidmos
MRC Career Development Fellow
Dr Janine Bosse
Dr Janine Bosse
Senior Research Fellow
Dr Fiona Culley
Dr Fiona Culley
Senior Lecturer
Dr Aubrey Cunnington
Dr Aubrey Cunnington
Reader in Paediatric Infectious Diseases
Dr Caroline Foster
Dr Caroline Foster
Consultant
Dr Athina Georgiadou
Dr Athina Georgiadou
Research Associate
Dr Melissa Shea Hamilton
Dr Melissa Shea Hamilton
Research Fellow
Heather Hanna
Heather Hanna
Teaching Fellow
Dr Jethro Herberg
Dr Jethro Herberg
Clinical Senior Lecturer
Dr Beth Holder
Dr Beth Holder
Lecturer in Maternal and Fetal Health
Dr Kate Honeyford
Dr Kate Honeyford
Research Associate
Dr Cecilia Johansson
Dr Cecilia Johansson
Senior Lecturer in Respiratory Infection
Dr Myrsini Kaforou
Dr Myrsini Kaforou
Senior Research Fellow
Professor Beate Kampmann
Professor Beate Kampmann
Visiting Professor
Professor Simon Kroll
Professor Simon Kroll
Professor of Paediatrics and Molecular Infectious Diseases
Professor Paul Langford
Professor Paul Langford
Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases
Dr Kirsty Le Doare
Dr Kirsty Le Doare
Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer
Professor Michael Levin
Professor Michael Levin
Chair in Paediatrics and International Child Health
Dr Hermione Lyall
Dr Hermione Lyall
Clinical director, children's services
Dr Ian Maconochie
Dr Ian Maconochie
Professor of Practice (Paediatric Emergency Medicine)
Professor Kath Maitland
Professor Kath Maitland
Professor of Tropical Paediatric Infectious Diseases
Dr Stephanie Menikou
Dr Stephanie Menikou
Research Associate
Dr Simon Nadel
Dr Simon Nadel
Consultant in paediatric intensive care
Dr Sandra Newton
Dr Sandra Newton
Senior Research Fellow
Dr Ruud Nijman
Dr Ruud Nijman
NIHR Clinical Lecturer
Professor Steven Riley
Professor Steven Riley
Professor of Infectious Disease Dynamics
Dr Vanessa Sancho-Shimizu
Dr Vanessa Sancho-Shimizu
Senior Research Fellow
Professor Sonia Saxena
Professor Sonia Saxena
Professor of Primary Care
Dr James Seddon
Dr James Seddon
Clinical Senior Lecturer in Paediatric Diseases
Dr Helen Skirrow
Dr Helen Skirrow
Clinical Research Fellow
Dr John Tregoning
Dr John Tregoning
Reader in Respiratory Infections
Professor Gareth Tudor-Williams
Professor Gareth Tudor-Williams
Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases
Dr Elizabeth Whittaker
Dr Elizabeth Whittaker
Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer
Professor Robert Wilkinson
Professor Robert Wilkinson
Professor in Infectious Diseases
Professor Tom Williams
Professor Tom Williams
Chair in Haemoglobinopathy Research
Dr Peter Winskill
Dr Peter Winskill
Imperial College Research Fellow (ICRF)
Dr Victoria Wright
Dr Victoria Wright
Research Fellow