Position & Affiliation:
Research Associate, PHPC PCU

Research Interests:

I worked for almost 10 years in South Africa on cancer genetic diagnostics and cancer epidemiology in Africa. I have an interest in mainstreaming genetic testing for cancer and am currently working on cancer risk prediction tools for implementation in clinical care. These tools will use lifestyle, epidemiological and genetic information for cancer risk prediction.

Publications:
Singh E, Ruff P, Babb C, Sengayi M, Beery M, Khoali L, Kellett P, Underwood JM. Establishment of a cancer surveillance programme: the South African experience. Lancet Oncology Volume 16, No. 8, e414–e421, August 2015. DOI: 10.1016/S1470-2045(15)00162-X

Babb C, Urban M, Kielkowski D, and Kellett P. Prostate Cancer in South Africa: Pathology Based National Cancer Registry Data (1986–2006) and Mortality Rates (1997–2009), Prostate Cancer, Volume 2014 May (2014), Article ID 419801 DOI: 10.1155/2014/419801

Baker GL, Babb C, Schnugh DJ, Naylor SJ, Louw M, Goedhals J, Bringuier P, Blay J, Willem P. Molecular characterization of gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) in a South African population. Oncology Letters 2013 Jan;5(1):155-160 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2012.1013

Position & Affiliation:
Senior Research Fellow
sites.google.com/site/neelsoumya/Home

Research Interests:

My research interests are in AI and machine learning for social good. I want to apply these techniques in developing nations.

Publications:
Modelling the effects of phylogeny and body size on within-host pathogen replication and immune response, S. Banerjee, A. Perelson, M. Moses, Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 14(136), 20170479, 2017

Predictive metabolomic profiling of microbial communities using amplicon or metagenomic sequences, H. Mallick, E. Franzosa, L. McIver, S. Banerjee, A. Sirota-Madi, A. Kostic, C. Clish, H. Vlamakis, R. Xavier, C. Huttenhower, Nature Communications, 10(1):3136, 2019

Towards a Quantitative Understanding of Within Host Dynamics of West Nile Virus Infection, S. Banerjee, J. Guedj, R. Ribeiro, M. Moses & A. Perelson, Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 13(117), 20160130, 2016

Position & Affiliation:
Director, Autism Research Centre, Dept of Psychiatry
www.autismresearchcentre.com

Research Interests:

Cognitive neuroscience and clinical research on autism and Asperger Syndrome

Position & Affiliation:
Assistant Professor of Healthcare Systems, University of Cambridge
www.ihsg.cam

Research Interests:

Trauma systems design and development Follow-up technology in remote areas Federated health data networks Impact of attacks against healthcare workers in conflict Role of communities in accessing acute care

Position & Affiliation:
Research Associate, Faculty of Education
www.pedalhub.net/about-us/our-team-trustees/dr-ste…

Research Interests:

My work focuses on children's holistic learning in low-income settings, especially how education and play foster skills for adaptability like creativity and problem solving. This includes examining children's executive functions, in particular their cognitive flexibility, as the mental basis for such skills.

Publications:
10.1016/j.ijedudev.2022.102642

10.1332/175795921X16665759070534

Position & Affiliation:
Herchel Smith Research fellow, Department of Biochemistry
scholar.google.com/citations

Research Interests:

My interest lies in the evolution of eukaryotic genomes and what molecular mechanisms contribute to different lifestyles for adaptation. At the heart of this process are biosynthetic enzymes that work in an assembly fashion to generate chemical diversity. Using a combination of computational biology, molecular biology and biochemistry, I aim to elucidate the mode of chemical communication by applying an integrated omics approach. I also employed biophysical tools to understand DNA binding proteins and novel DNA condensation mechanisms.

Publications:
Integrated omics unveil the secondary metabolic landscape of a basal dinoflagellate. (2020) BMC Biology 18:139

Diversified secondary metabolite biosynthesis gene repertoire revealed in symbiotic dinoflagellates. (2019) Sci Reports 9:1204

Multifunctional polyketide synthase genes identified by genomic survey of the symbiotic dinoflagellate, Symbiodinium minutum. (2015) BMC Genomics 16 (1):941.

Position & Affiliation:
Principal Staff Scientist, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
www.sanger.ac.uk

Research Interests:

My expertise is in the analysis of whole genome sequence data for bacterial pathogens. My research interests are mainly focused on respiratory pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis as well Staphylococcus aureus with the aim of better understanding population dynamics, association with disease and responses to clinical practices.

Possible project topic: projects to exploit whole genome sequencing of large collections of pathogen isolates to understand the population structure and colonisation dynamics of respiratory pathogens in different environmental settings. I would also be interested in looking at nasopharyngeal (or nasal) microbiota in a range of demographically distinct groups.

Current African links: I have active collaborative links with groups in Blantyre, Malawi (Dean Everett, MLW), The Gambia (Martin Antonio, MRC) and Thailand (Paul Turner, SMRU).

Publications:
(1) Evolution of MRSA during hospital transmission and intercontinental spread. Harris SR et al. Science. 2010 Jan 22; 327 (5964): 469-74.

(2) Role of conjugative elements in the evolution of the multidrug-resistant pandemic clone Streptococcus pneumoniaeSpain23F ST81. Croucher NJ et al. J Bacteriol. 2009 Mar;191 (5): 1480-9.

(3) Genetic analysis of the capsular biosynthetic locus from all 90 pneumococcal serotypes. Bentley SD et al. PLoS Genet. 2006 Mar; 2 (3): e31.

Position & Affiliation:
Postdoctoral Researcher
franciscoberkemeier.com

Research Interests:

Mathematical Modelling DNA Replication Computational Genetics Cell Signalling

Publications:
Coupling dynamics of 2D Notch-Delta signalling, 2023, Mathematical Biosciences, DOI: 10.1016/j.mbs.2023.109012

Position & Affiliation:
Group Leader, Parasite Genomics, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
www.sanger.ac.uk/research/faculty/mberriman.html

Research Interests:

Comparative and functional genomics of parasites to study the genomic basis for similarities (such as regulatory features) or differences in parasite biology (such as host tropism).

Current African links: Member of the WHO/TDR International Glossina Genomics Initiative, which includes several African partners.

Publications:
(1) Berriman M et al. (2009). The genome of the blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni. Nature 460 (7253): 352-8.PMID: 19606141.

(2) Hertz-Fowler et al. (2008). Telomeric expression sites are highly conserved in Trypanosoma brucei. PLoS One.3(10): e3527. Epub 2008 Oct 27 PMID: 18953401.

(3) Berriman M et al. (2005). The genome of the African trypanosome Trypanosoma brucei. Science 309 (5733): 416-22. PMID: 16020726

Position & Affiliation:
Senior Lecturer, Dept of Veterinary Medicine
www.vet.cam.ac.uk/research/investigators/blacklaws…

Research Interests:

I have a long-term interest in the immune response to persistent viral infections. Presently we are studying the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal viruses using murine norovirus as a model virus. This can establish both acute and persistent infections. It may also spread from the gut to cause a systemic infection that can lead to pathology in different organ systems. As such it is both a good model system for studying gastrointestinal immunity and mechanisms of viral persistence. We are investigating the role of different cell types and factors in the gut that protect from infection as well as properties of the virus itself that affect its pathogenesis. We would like to expand this into coinfections with other pathogens including bacteria and parasites.

I am also using metagenomic analysis to detect and monitor arboviral infections as well as studying the gastrointestinal microbiome in a wild-life setting.

Possible project topic: Viral pathogenesis, viral metagenomics

Publications:
Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium trxA mutants are protective against virulent challenge, but induce less inflammation than the live-attenuated vaccine strain SL3261. Peters, S. E., Paterson, G. K., Bandularatne, E. S. D., Northen, H. C., Pleasance, S., Willers, C., Wang, J., Foote, A. K., Constantino-Casas, F., Scase, T. J., Blacklaws, B. A., Bryant, C. E., Mastroeni, P., Charles, I. G. & Maskell, D. J. (2010) Infect. Immun. 78, 326-336.

Molecular characterization of poxviruses associated with tattoo skin lesions in UK cetaceans. Blacklaws, B.A., Gajda, A. M., Tippelt, S., Jepson, P. D., Deaville, R., Van Bressem, M.-F., Pearce, G. P. (2013) PLOS ONE, 8, e71734.
Pathology caused by persistent murine norovirus infection. Shortland, A., Chettle, J., Archer, J., Wood, K., Bailey, D., Goodfellow, I., Blacklaws, B.A. & Heeney, J.L. (2014) J. Gen. Virol., 95, 413–422.
Differential expression of Toll-like receptors and inflammatory cytokines in ovine interdigital dermatitis and footrot. Davenport, R., Heawood, C., Sessford, K., Baker, M., Baiker, K., Blacklaws, B., Kaler, J., Green, L. & Tötemeyer, S. (2014) Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol. 161, 90-8.
Intestinal intraepithelial lymphocyte activation promotes innate antiviral resistance. Swamy, M., Abeler-Dörner, L., Chettle, J., Mahlakõiv, T., Goubau, D., Chakravarty, P., Ramsay, G., Reis e Sousa, C., Staeheli, P., Blacklaws, B.A., Heeney, J.L. & Hayday, A.C. (2015) Nature Comm. 6, 7090. doi: 10.1038/ncomms8090. PMID: 25987506

Position & Affiliation:
Professor of Interdisciplinary Design, Computer Science and Technology
www.cst.cam.ac.uk/~afb21

Research Interests:

entrepreneurship and academia/business relations innovation in artificial intelligence, data science and machine learning software design, interaction design and design research postcolonial computing and critical methods in technology research

Publications:
Objective Functions: (In)humanity and Inequity in Artificial Intelligence. (2019). HAU: Journal of Ethnographic Theory 9(1), 137-146.

Artificial intelligence and the abstraction of cognitive labour. (2019) In M. Davis (Ed.), Marx200: The significance of Marxism in the 21st century. London: Praxis Press, pp. 59-68.

Ethnographic artificial intelligence. Forthcoming in Interdisciplinary Science Reviews

Position & Affiliation:
Professor of International Politics, POLIS
www.polis.cam.ac.uk/Staff_and_Students/dr-adam-bra…

Research Interests:

My research focuses on international politics, specifically around questions of political violence, intervention, and justice, with a regional focus on East Africa. My current agenda explores the politics of global climate change and climate justice, in particular through the lens of the political ecology of woodfuels. I have also worked on the politics of human rights, peacebuilding, and the ICC, in particular in Uganda, as well as on popular protest and social movements.

Position & Affiliation:
Professor of Public Health Medicine, Dept of Public Health and Primary Care, and Director of the Institute of Public Health
www.phpc.cam.ac.uk/people/brayne.htm

Research Interests:

Ageing and health, dementia, mental health, healthy life expectancy.

Current African links: Thirty two African MPhil students who have completed their degrees in the Institute over the years. Personal link with Tanzania.

Publications:
(1) Ngondi J et al. *Effect of 3 years of SAFE (surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness and environmental change) strategy for trachoma control in southern Sudan: a cross-sectional study. The Lancet 2006, vol 368, 589-95. (*accompanying editorial).

(2) Brayne C. Incidence of Dementia in England and Wales. MRC Cognitive Function and Ageing Study. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 2006, 20 Supl2 S47-51.

(3) Jagger C et al. The burden of diseases on disability-free life expectancy in later life. Journal of Geronotology A Biol Sci Med Sci 2007, 62(4), 408-14.

Position & Affiliation:
Professor of Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, Dept of Biochemistry, and Senior Group Leader, CRUK Cambridge Research Institute
science.cancerresearchuk.org/research/loc/cambridg…

Research Interests:

Patients with similar tumour types can show markedly different responses to the same therapy. We have been developing novel, clinically applicable, imaging methods that can be used to detect early tumour responses to treatment. These could be used in early stage clinical trials of new drugs to get an indication of efficacy and subsequently, in the clinic, to guide therapy in individual patients.

Publications:
(1) Brindle K. New approaches for imaging tumour responses to treatment. Nature Rev Cancer 2008; 8: 1-14.

(2) Gallagher FA et al. Magnetic resonance imaging of pH in vivo using hyperpolarized 13C-labeled bicarbonate. Nature 2008; 453: 940-3.

(3) Day SE et al. Detecting tumor response to treatment using hyperpolarized 13C magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy. Nature Med 2007; 13: 1382-7.

Position & Affiliation:
Professor, Dept of Veterinary Medicine
www.queens.cam.ac.uk/Users/ceb27/CEB5.html

Research Interests:

We use multidisciplinary approaches to understand how bacteria are detected by the host (through Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs)), but we are also studying how PRR recognition of allergen proteins or toxic proteins produced by patients link to chronic inflammatory diseases such as allergies and Alzheimer’s disease. 

For more information see https://www.immunology.cam.ac.uk/Networkdirectory/ceb27@cam.ac.uk

Publications:
https://www.immunology.cam.ac.uk/Networkdirectory/ceb27@cam.ac.uk

Position & Affiliation:
Professor of Reproductive Biology; Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience
www.trophoblast.cam.ac.uk/people/pi.shtml

Research Interests:

The principal focus of my research is human placental development and function, with a view to understanding the pathophysiology of complications of pregnancy, including pre-eclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction and miscarriage. We are interested in how the placenta responds to adverse conditions, such as hypoxia, undernutrition and infection, and how this impacts on maternal wellbeing and fetal development.

Possible project topics: I would be interested in developing projects investigating the role of the placenta in the causation of pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction.

Publications:
(1) Burton GJ et al. (2010). The influence of the intrauterine environment on human placental development. International Journal of Developmental Biology, 54, 303-312.

(2) Burton GJ et al. (2009). Placental endoplasmic reticulum stress and oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of unexplained intrauterine growth restriction and early-onset preeclampsia. Placenta, 30 Suppl. A, S43-S48.

(3) Fowden AL et al. (2008). The placenta and intrauterine programming. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 20, 439-450.

Position & Affiliation:
Theoretical & Applied Linguistics, Computer Laboratory
www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~pjb48

Research Interests:

Computational Linguistics, Natural Language Processing, Corpus Linguistics, First and Second Language Learning, Automated Language Teaching and Assessment

Publications:
Hawkins, J. and Filipovic, L. with Buttery, P., Capel, A., Hawkey, R., Salamoura, A., Saville, N., and Trim, J. Criterial features in L2 English: specifying the reference levels of the Common European Framework.

Buttery, P. and Caines, A. Normalising Frequency Counts to Account for `opportunity of use' in Learner Corpora. In: Tono, Y., Kawaguchi, Y., and Minegishi, M. (eds.), Developmental and Crosslinguistic Perspectives in Learner Corpus Research. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. p187---204

Rice, A., Buttery, P., Rai, I., and Beresford, A. Language learning on a next-generation service platform for Africa. Africa Perspective on the Role of Mobile Technologies in Fostering Social and Economic Development, W3C Workshop. Maputo, Mozambique.