Organisation profile
Organisation profile
The Department of Tropical Disease Biology (TDB) is a leading national and international research and teaching centre with a focus on translational research of tropical infectious diseases. Its focus is on developing innovative, equitable solutions to global health challenges, especially in resource-poor settings.
TDB’s research philosophy spans the full translational continuum (from basic science to population health impact) and promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, where community observations inform laboratory research and vice versa.
The department’s research focus is to carry out world-leading research across all of the major human infections to address unmet Global Health challenges. These include emerging diseases (e.g. Zica, SARS-Cov-2), multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria (e.g., MDR M. tuberculosis and WHO-identified priority antimicrobial resistant (AMR) pathogens), malaria, and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) such as intestinal nematodes or soil-transmitted helminths, schistosomes, filarial worms, and snake bite.
Partnerships are fundamental to our success, involving collaborations with global academic, governmental, NGO, product development partners (PDPs) and industry partners.
TDB predominantly resides within the Centre for Tropical Infectious Diseases (CTID) building which has more than 25 Containment Level 3 laboratories (the highest density of such labs in one location in UK academia) and a Containment Level-3 insectary.
TDB actively engages in undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes as well as providing specialist training in translational and global health research.
Our priority is to drive innovative research to tackle major global health threats, in close collaboration with our research partners.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Our work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 1 No Poverty -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 5 Gender Equality -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions -
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Profiles
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Dr Gavin Ackers-Johnson
- Tropical Disease Biology - Post-Doctoral Research Associate
Person: Research only
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Dr Laura-Oana Albulescu
- Tropical Disease Biology - Senior Research Associate
- Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions
Person: Research only
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13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine-induced B cells produce serotype 6B but not serotype 3 capsule-specific IgG antibodies in young Malawian adults
Tembo, G., Hoving, D., de Kroon, A. C., Chimgoneko, L., Nthandira, T., Galafa, B., Thole, F., Nsomba, E., Dula, D., Ngoliwa, C., Toto, N., Makhaza, L., Muyaya, A., Kudowa, E., Chirwa, A. E., Henrion, M. Y. R., Chikaonda, T., Urban, B. C., Ferreira, D. M. & Jambo, K. C. & 2 others, , 22 Jan 2026, In: Vaccine. 75, 128269.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Advances and Translational Challenges in Toxoplasma gondii Vaccine Development: From Antigen Discovery to mRNA and OneHealth Strategies
Qadeer, A., Tharwat, M., Zahoor Khan, M., Juhasz, A. & Alshanbari , F. A., 30 Apr 2026, In: MDPI.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Antigenicity of key hepatitis C virus E1E2 glycoprotein neutralizing sites is genotype independent
Mimms, J. L., Sinnis-Bourozikas, A., Felbinger, N. R., Frumento, N., Paul, H. T., Patel, A. H., Keck, Z., Foung, S. K. H., Law, M., Urbanowicz, R. A., Tarr, A. W., Ball, J. K., Pierce, B. G. & Bailey, J. R., 13 Jan 2026, In: Journal of General Virology. 107, 1, 002201.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile
Datasets
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Dataset for 'The RNA interference response to alphanodavirus replication in Phlebotomus papatasi sand fly cells'
Kohl, A. (Creator), tbc, 12 Sept 2022
Dataset
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Dataset for the article: Revisiting the origins of the Sobemovirus genus: A case for ancient origins of plant viruses
Ball, J. (Creator), tbc, 1 Sept 2023
Dataset
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Dataset for the article: Different PfEMP1-expressing Plasmodium falciparum variants induce divergent endothelial transcriptional responses during co-culture
Othman, B. (Creator), Zeef, L. (Creator), Szestak, T. (Creator), Rchiad, Z. (Creator), Storm, J. (Creator), Askonas, C. (Creator), Satyam, R. (Creator), Madkhali, A. (Creator), Haley, M. (Creator), Wagstaff, S. (Creator), Pain, A. (Creator) & Craig, A. (Creator), tbc, 20 Sept 2023
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Student theses
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An analysis of the application of community-based approached in prevention and control of neglected tropical diseases – a case study of schistosomiasis control in Malawi
Makaula, P. (Author), Stothard, R. (Supervisor), Musaya, J. (Supervisor), LaCourse, J. (Supervisor) & Kayuni, S. (Supervisor), 28 Apr 2026Student thesis: Doctoral thesis
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Characterisation of venom-induced dermonecrosis, inflammatory responses and identification of causal toxins in three medically relevant African snake venoms
Bartlett, K. (Author), Casewell, N. (Supervisor) & Ainsworth, S. (Supervisor), 2024Student thesis: Doctoral thesis
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Computer modelling approaches for improving analysis of 1 anti-malarial clinical trials
Jones, S. (Author), Hastings, I. (Supervisor) & Hodel, E. (Supervisor), 2019Student thesis: Doctoral thesis
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