Unilever Colworth Prize Winner 2022: Professor Paul Griffiths

Posted on May 24, 2022   by Microbiology Society

The Unilver Colworth Prize Lecture is awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to translational microbiology. This year’s winner was Professor Paul Griffiths from University College London.

In his lecture titled ‘Cytomegalovirus: direct and indirect clinical effects and prospects for control by immunisation’, Prof. Griffiths shared his work investigating Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a herpesvirus that infects a significant proportion of the population. Prof. Griffiths explains that whilst CMV often causes no overt symptoms it can have serious direct and indirect effects in certain populations. Direct effects in populations such as the immunocompromised may include damage to the lungs, gut or eyes, whilst indirectly increasing the risk of presentation of conditions such as graft rejection.

In his lecture, Prof. Griffiths delves into the complexities of universal immunisation of CMV which, as a herpesvirus, establishes latency and remains with an individual for life, ready to reactivate. Prof. Griffiths takes the audience through the significant immune evasion techniques that CMV utilises, before discussing two approaches with which CMV immunisation attempts are being made.

An interview with Prof. Griffiths where he discusses his career progression and his thoughts on the importance of transparent communication of scientific methods is available to watch online.

Prof. Griffiths’ Prize Lecture is available to watch on our YouTube channel.