Research output per year
Research output per year
Personal profile
Biography
Lucas Cunningham started his career in the biological sciences with a Zoology degree from University of Wales, Aberystwyth and followed this up with two years of volunteering and working in the parasitic worms department of the Natural History Museum. In 2012 he completed an MSc in Medical Parasitology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, with his thesis focusing on the urban and per-urban epidemiology of schistosomiasis in Wad Medni, North Sudan. Following his MSc Lucas began his PhD, (Detection and control of T. brucei s.l. in the Historic sleeping sickness foci of N.W. Uganda) at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) which he completed in 2017.
Prior to completing his PhD Lucas joined the Countdown consortium in 2015, and has since been involved in the TrypaNo-2 and TrypaNo-3 projects and is currently lead Postdoctoral Research Associate in molecular diagnostics for the Hybridisation in UroGenital Schistosomiasis study at LSTM under Professor J. Russell Stothard.
He will be continuing is work looking into the molecular epidemiology of schistosomiasis as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the upcoming Species Hybridisation and Interactions in Schistosomes in Cameroon study.
Research interests
Lucas has a number of current research projects. Detection and characterisation of anthroponotic and zoonotic schistosome species and hybrids from cattle, humans and snails in Southern Malawi as part of the HUGS study. Development and implementation of a mobile molecular laboratory for xenomintoring of African Trypanosomiasis in Uganda. Development of species-specific qPCR diagnostic for strongyloidiasis in collaboration with international partners. Improving Lyme disease diagnostics and surveillance based on alternative molecular methods. Surveillance of beta-tubulin markers for drug resistance in hookworms (Cambodia and Malawi) as part of a multi-disciplinary team based at LSTM.
Lucas took part in the World Health Organisation expert panel on Vector control and the elimination of gambiense human African trypanosomiasis in 2021. He has conducted multiple field trips to Ghana and Uganda as well as field work in Northern Sudan. In 2020 he was successful in securing a grant for a pilot study into the use of immuno-PCR for improved diagnosis of Lyme disease. He also leads the medical entomological identification group at LSTM and is a Specialist Editor for Frontiers in Parasite Diagnostics.
Teaching
Lucas is a laboratory demonstrator on MSc and Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene taught courses. He also lectures on these courses, specialising in gut protozoa, African trypanosomiasis and molecular methods.
He has led capacity building workshops in UK, Ghana and Uganda for the implementation of novel qPCR diagnostics for the detection of helminths and African trypanosomes.
He supervises, co-supervises, and mentors BSc, MSc, and PhD students.
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics where Lucas Cunningham is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
-
A first report of Biomphalaria pfeifferi in the Lower Shire Valley, Southern Malawi, a major intermediate snail host species for intestinal schistosomiasis
Nkolokosa, C., Mbewe, R., Chirombo, J., Stanton, M., Jones, C., Makaula, P., Namacha, G., Chiepa, B., Kalonde, P., Baluwa, C., Zembere, K., Kambewa, E., Kaonga, C. C., Archer, J., Juhasz, A., Cunningham, L., Tangena, J.-A. & Stothard, J. R., 15 Feb 2025, In: Scientific Reports. 15, 1, p. 5603 5603.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus) -
An investigation of female genital schistosomiasis and associated genital infections in southern Malawi
Kumwenda, D., Kayuni, S. A., Deles, G., Mainga, B., Ahmed, F., Cawley, A., Cunningham, L. J., Lally Jnr, D., Chammudzi, P., Kapira, D., Namacha, G., Chisale, A., Nchembe, T., Kinley, L., Chibwana, E., Chapweteka, G., Chibowa, H., Kumfunda, V., Juhasz, A. & Jones, S. & 11 others, , 1 Sept 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Parasitology.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
A pilot investigation of bovine schistosomiasis on Unguja Island, Zanzibar, raises a new concern for elimination of urogenital schistosomiasis
Ame, S., Juma, O., Juhasz, A., Ali, M., Suleiman, T. S., Gobert, G. N., Cunningham, L., Cawley, A., Atkins, L., Jones, S., LaCourse, E. J., Kabole, F. & Stothard, J. R., 5 Mar 2025, 1 ed., BioMed Central.Research output: Working paper
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus) -
A preliminary microscopic and molecular epidemiological survey of endoparasites within wild-caught and UK captive-bred reptiles: Assessing a potential parasitic disease public health risk?
Murray, S., Cunningham, L., Rowley, P., Crittenden, E., Casewell, N., LaCourse, J., Stothard, R. & Juhasz, A., 11 Jan 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife. 26, p. 101039 101039.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Citations (Scopus) -
Genetic diversity within Strongyloides fuelleborni: Mitochondrial genome analysis reveals a clear African and Asian division
Richins, T., Sapp, S. G. H., Juhasz, A., Cunningham, L. J., Lacourse, E. J., Stothard, J. R. & Barratt, J. L. N., 23 Jun 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Parasitology.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Citations (Scopus)
Profiles
-
Miss Isabel Saldanha
- Vector Biology - Research Associate
- Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases
Person: Research only, PhD