Meet Infection Science Awardee: Dr Neil Cunningham
Posted on April 17, 2024 by Microbiology Society
The Microbiology Society Infection Science Award aims to support the exchange of ideas and the career development of promising early career and trainee researchers, helping to translate microbiological research to the clinic. The scheme facilitates selected presenters from the Federation of Infection Society (FIS) conference to present their work at Annual Conference.
In this blog, meet one of this year’s awardees, Dr Neil Cunningham (Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust), who presented in the Infection Forum session at Annual Conference 2024 last week.
What are your current research interests?
I am currently working full time as a clinician on a junior doctor rota and undertaking MRCP exams which means I don’t have as much time for research as I would like. I am very interested in OneHealth and have been continuing work on a project considering the role of weather events and climate change on food-borne pathogen outbreaks.
I am very interested in OneHealth and have been continuing work on a project with the UK Health Security Agency, considering the role of weather events and climate change on food-borne pathogen outbreaks.
What is the theme of your talk?
The theme of my talk is “One Health”, the interconnectivity of human health, animal health and the environment, and how this can impact infectious disease outbreaks.
How would you explain your research to a GCSE student?
The health of people is closely connected to the health of animals and our shared environment. This idea is called “One Health” and is becoming more important as many factors are changing the interactions between people, animals, plants, and our environment.
In my research, I have been looking at extreme weather events associated with climate change. These extreme weather events (such as heavy rainfall and flooding) can provide new opportunities for diseases to pass from animals to humans.
We found that heavy rainfall and flooding can help transport bugs (Shiga toxin-producing E.Coli) which are normally found in sheep and cows to fields of crops and cause contamination of the crops. Once these contaminated crops are eaten by people, they can cause illnesses like diarrhoea and vomiting.
By understanding this transmission pathway from animals, to the environment, to people, we can start to move upstream to predict and prevent infectious disease outbreaks. We can also put in public health strategies to help reduce the risk of people getting infected.
If you could do any other job, what would it be?
I always loved the idea of working in Air Traffic Control, or in a control room for the London Underground - very different!
Dr Neil Cunningham
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
