The UKRI awarded Ian this funding as part of its Future Leaders Fellowship scheme.  The Fellowships aim to support talented people in universities, businesses and other research and innovation environments, with the hope of developing the next generation of world-class researchers.

Ian’s research project aims to unravel the complex biological processes that enable anaplasma, a tick-borne bacterium, to thrive within host cells. Anaplasma species are responsible for anaplasmosis, a disease that affects both humans and animals, leading to significant health concerns and economic impacts worldwide.  Ian’s research will focus on identifying the molecular strategies used by these bacteria to evade the host immune system and persist within cells.

Bristol Veterinary School spoke with Ian who gave his thoughts on being awarded one of the Future Leaders Fellowships:

“It is a real privilege to receive this funding from the UKRI.  This generous support will enable me to delve deeper into the survival strategies of anaplasma, shedding light on fundamental biological processes that could lead to breakthroughs in combating tick-borne diseases.  I am truly excited about the potential impact of my findings on improving public health and developing innovative therapeutic approaches.”

Bristol Veterinary School would like to congratulate Ian on this outstanding achievement and look forward to seeing all that he achieves with the grant.