My main research interest is in the area of Clostridium difficile infection and specifically the study of this pathogenic organism in vitro with regard to its pathogenesis.  The research areas I have experience in with this pathogen include:

• Susceptibility testing and resistance development evaluations for novel antimicrobial agents
• In vitro assays to assess antimicrobial activity of antibiotics and disinfectants against spores
• Evaluation of novel therapeutics and their effect on the microbial ecology of the gut and C. difficile using complex in vitro models of the human colon
• Studies of C. difficile epidemiology (human and animal/veterinary) in the United Kingdom

I also have experience of working with other pathogenic bacteria in vitro such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and multi-drug resistant Gram-negative bacteria.  My research with these organisms has centred around:

• determining antimicrobial activity (MIC, MBC, kill curves)
• bacteriophage isolation, purification and efficacy testing
• biofilm studies

Education:

PhD Medical Microbiology (2002-2006) -  University of Leeds

BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences (class 1) (1998-2002) University of West of England