Biography
I have 30 years’ plus experience working as a microbiologist in the field of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). I was a clinical scientist/microbiologist in public health and medical microbiology laboratories for 21 years at the UK Health Security Agency national reference laboratory and the Scottish MRSA Reference Laboratory. My present post is as a lecturer in microbiology at Edinburgh Napier University, including teaching responsibilities in Hong Kong and Sri Lanka. My work on AMR has covered the three domains - human, animal and environment - of a One Health approach, publishing widely and involved in various national and international research projects. Projects have included collaboration with key stakeholders including Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Scottish Water, NovaBiotics Ltd, Schuelke & Mayr and the Forth Rivers Trust. I am involved in various research networks including the UKRI One Health AMR Transdisciplinary Network, EU NEREUS cost action network, JPIAMR global network, the Scotland-India Antimicrobial Resistance in the Environment Network (SIAMREN), Scottish Environmental AMR Group and the Edinburgh AMR Forum Working Group. I have provided expert advice to SEPA, the Scottish Government AMR group (AMR in the Environment in Scotland & Stakeholders) and contributed to two national AMR reports (SONAAR and the UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate 3rd UK One Health Report). I am an editor for JAC-AMR, a British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy journal, is regularly engaged in peer review of manuscripts and is a member of several microbiology societies (BSAC, SfAM and Microbiology society). In addition, I have reviewed research funding applications for the Scottish Government and the UK Medical Research Council.
Antibiotic resistant pathogens (ESBL and carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae, VRE and MRSA) both in the hospital, on farms and in the natural environment have formed the basis of my research activities. My recent research has focused on assessing the prevalence and distribution of antibiotic resistant pathogens in environment "hotspots" such as wastewater treatment plants and agricultural lands. In addition, I am investigating the contribution of rivers, coastal waters, food (meat, vegetables, fruit) and wild animals in the dissemination of these antimicrobial resistance pathogens from the environment to the human population.