Infectious Disease Threats

This Theme’s Focus

COVID-19 vaccine responses in high-risk populations
Detection of new viral and bacterial threats and clinical risk factors
Characterisation of resistant bacterial and virus variants to inform treatment and vaccine design

Cambridge has a strong track record in microbiology and infectious disease research and is internationally renowned for genomic medicine. This theme aims to combine these two areas of expertise to improve detection, prevention and treatment of existing infectious diseases and help to better prepare for future pandemics.

Translating our research discoveries to the clinic or public health is at the centre of our ethos and our investigators have contributed broadly in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This pandemic has highlighted the need for new approaches to understand new and existing infection threats and provide a rapid pathway for new solutions.

For example, we have pioneered the use of genomics to trace outbreaks of COVID in hospitals and now are the centre of COG-UK and SARS-CoV-2 sequencing, allowing our investigators to discover how new variants emerge and their biological properties.

Our research will focus on three key areas, developing new vaccines and treatment strategies for pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2, improving the response of older people to vaccines and bolstering our response to drug-resistant bacteria.

Our approach will involve using genomic surveillance to detect and identify the viruses and other pathogens representing the biggest threats. We will be developing a data and sample repository to help us better understand the epidemiological and clinical nature of infections, and creating a resource for researchers to develop the next generation of solutions.

Theme Leads

Professor Ravindra K Gupta

Professor of Clinical Microbiology at Cambridge University
Email: rkg20@cam.ac.uk

Dr Theodore Gouliouris

Consultant in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Email: tg208@cam.ac.uk

Meet our researchers

Here are some of the areas we are researching:

Experimental medicine for COVID-19

New vaccines and treatments for COVID-19 are emerging but a major concern is the rapid emergence of highly-resistant virus strains that could compromise global COVID-19 efforts.

It is important to understand how virus variants emerge so that we can develop strategies to mitigate against new variants and keep vulnerable immunosuppressed patients safe.

We are leading a national trial, PROTECT-V, testing the antibody sotrovimab as a prophylaxis (something which prevents the spread of disease) in more than 1,000 immune-suppressed individuals.

At the same time we are working with people living with immunosuppression across our region, to understand the challenges they and their families face regarding infectious diseases like COVID-19, and involve them in developing study protocols and patient information materials.

Evaluating and boosting COVID-19 vaccine responses in the elderly

The elderly have been largely excluded from major vaccine trials, and existing population-based studies lack age-specific detail – yet this is the group most at risk from COVID-19 and at higher risk of severe disease or death despite vaccination.

To ensure inclusion of appropriate groups, our researchers are undertaking public engagement activities in care homes and day-care centres region-wide, particularly in the more deprived areas such as Corby, where COVID-19 transmission is high, and coastal towns such as Kings Lynn which have high densities of elderly residents.

Alongside this programme, we will take the chance to explore vaccine hesitancy in the families and carers of the elderly,
and in the Traveller communities of Fenland.

Community surveillance for multi-resistant bacteria and viruses

It’s essential to track serious infections if we are to understand how they are spreading and how they might be controlled to avoid illness and death.

Through genomic surveillance (where we look at routinely collected microbiological samples, linked to hospital electronic health records) we can detect new variants and increase our understanding of how they evolve and spread.

We are working closely with hospital laboratories and NIHR BioResource to set up a system to routinely access clinical samples and organisms, on which we can perform genomic surveillance and microbiome analysis to identify key emerging bacterial and viral pathogens.

This will help us develop new therapeutic approaches for emerging pathogens including MDR (multi-drug resistant) bacteria.

Latest News

image with two people - a male and a female

Cambridge researchers honoured at Microbiology Society Annual Awards

April 19, 2023

Sneezing - Image from Mojpe from Pixabay

Gone fishing: highly accurate test for common respiratory viruses uses DNA as ‘bait’

January 17, 2023

Coronavirus. Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.

Blood thinning drug to treat recovery from severe Covid is not effective

November 30, 2022

Square image with 4 males, 2 above and 2 below

Cambridge researchers listed among world’s most influential researchers

November 21, 2022

Patient having their blood test taken at NIHR Cambridge CRF - NIHR BRC: Cambridge image

High blood pressure is directly linked to severe COVID-19

November 14, 2022

Referrals to long COVID clinic fell by 79% following roll-out of the vaccine

October 7, 2022

Cambridge researchers awarded Fellow status

May 11, 2022

An airfilter machine and Dr Vilas Navapurkar who led the study

Using air filters on hospital wards remove almost all airborne Covid virus

November 17, 2021

Previous Next

Infectious Disease Threats Case Studies

Patient Having Consultation With Female Doctor In Office

Prioritise vaccine boosters for those with weakened immune systems to prevent emergence of new Covid variants say Cambridge scientists

February 13, 2025

Microscope with samples - NIHR BRC: Cambridge image

Could diphtheria become a ‘major global threat’ again as it evolves?

October 16, 2024

Research scientist in lab: This image was purchased from Abobe Stock with a lifetime usage.

A DNA test that can identify secondary infections in COVID-19 patients

October 16, 2024

How DNA technologies are helping pneumonia patients fight back

October 16, 2024

Tablets - Image from Cambridge University Health Partners

Using whole genome sequencing to fight common bugs

October 16, 2024

Previous Next

Infectious Disease Threats Publications

Resistance mechanisms and population structure of highly drug resistant Klebsiella in Pakistan during the introduction of the carbapenemase NDM-1.

February 20, 2019

Emergence of dominant multidrug-resistant bacterial clades: Lessons from history and whole-genome sequencing.

December 18, 2018

The phylogeography and incidence of multi-drug resistant typhoid fever in sub-Saharan Africa

November 30, 2018

Genome-Wide Epigenetic and Transcriptomic Characterization of Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Intestinal Epithelial Organoids

October 23, 2018

A systematic review of antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, the etiological agent of typhoid.

October 11, 2018

The NIHR BRC: Cambridge is part of the NIHR and hosted by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with the University of Cambridge. We are at the heart of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Europe’s largest health research area.

Contact Us

NIHR Biomedical Research Centre: Cambridge
Box 277
Hills Road
Cambridge
CB2 0QQ

Tel: 01223 348490

NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre

@cambridgebrc ·

25 Aug

Congrats to @NIHR20 Research Leaders Prizewinners @CambridgeCRF Operations Director Caroline Saunders & @Cambridge_Uni & @CUH_NHS Neurosurgeon Benjamin Davies, who've both won awards for their leadership skills & commitment to patient-centred research: https://bit.ly/4y0HVFx

Reply on Twitter 2092249059863970201 Retweet on Twitter 2092249059863970201 Like on Twitter 2092249059863970201 4 Twitter 2092249059863970201

Retweet on Twitter NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre Retweeted

National Institute for Health and Care Research

Verified account @nihrresearch ·

21 Aug

Are you looking for guidance on setting up a clinical trial? Look no further!

The #CTToolkit is an interactive colour-coded routemap that provides guidance on legal and best practice requirements. Bursting with advice, it's a must-see for any aspiring researcher ➡️

Reply on Twitter 2090755707314245944 Retweet on Twitter 2090755707314245944 6 Like on Twitter 2090755707314245944 9 Twitter 2090755707314245944

Retweet on Twitter NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre Retweeted

Medicine at Cambridge

@medcambridge ·

20 Aug

The Lung Immune Challenge Study, led by @Akhilesh_Jha (@HLRI_Cambridge), has reached a milestone with the final participant completing the first phase designed to investigate how immune systems respond to viral lung infections.

➡️ https://buff.ly/tXrD5v8

@The_MRC @CambridgeBRC

Reply on Twitter 2090394450971238494 Retweet on Twitter 2090394450971238494 3 Like on Twitter 2090394450971238494 6 Twitter 2090394450971238494

Retweet on Twitter NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre Retweeted

National Institute for Health and Care Research

Verified account @nihrresearch ·

18 Aug

Learn about two upcoming career development awards that can support you in undertaking short placements in another part of NIHR or a local authority to enhance your research training experience and academic career development.

📅 Join our webinar from 12-1pm on 3 September to

Reply on Twitter 2089610127737327888 Retweet on Twitter 2089610127737327888 5 Like on Twitter 2089610127737327888 8 Twitter 2089610127737327888

NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre

@cambridgebrc ·

12 Aug

📣 Only 20 places left for each session❗️

Whether you’re new to PPI, want to improve your knowledge & skills we’ve got the session for you!

These FREE events are only available to East Anglia researchers - tickets for other regions are now fully booked! http://bit.ly/Trg4PPI

Reply on Twitter 2087509212653822457 Retweet on Twitter 2087509212653822457 Like on Twitter 2087509212653822457 1 Twitter 2087509212653822457

NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre

@cambridgebrc ·

10 Aug

📣 Full day of Patient & Public Involvement (PPI) training available❗️

👩‍🔬👨‍🔬 Are you a health researcher❓
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 New PPI❓
📍 Located in #EastAnglia❓
👍 We’ve got the training day for you!

Join us on 2 Sept 9.30am-4pm, West Hub, Cambridge.
Book https://bit.ly/4yUOx9L

Reply on Twitter 2086731822499602435 Retweet on Twitter 2086731822499602435 Like on Twitter 2086731822499602435 1 Twitter 2086731822499602435

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.

Infectious Disease Threats

This Theme’s Focus

Theme Leads

Professor Ravindra K Gupta

Dr Theodore Gouliouris

Here are some of the areas we are researching:

Experimental medicine for COVID-19

Evaluating and boosting COVID-19 vaccine responses in the elderly

Community surveillance for multi-resistant bacteria and viruses

Latest News

Infectious Disease Threats Case Studies

Infectious Disease Threats Publications

Contact Us

Useful Links