The development of new molecular methodologies and diagnostic techniques which contribute to the intellectual understanding of the molecular epidemiology of trypanosomiasis and blood borne pathogens.

Managing the Neglected Zoonoses (NZD) is critical for developing world health and increasing so within the emerging One Health Agenda of the Tripartite. Methods applied for the monitoring and evaluation of large scale endemic disease programmes are essential for government and other donors to provide the evidence base for investment in health. The NZDs affect the rural poor, causing morbidity and mortality and reducing productivity of their animals.

My work on improved diagnostics have identified key entry points for targeted control of parasitic disease at community level that offer new solutions e.g. the role of domestic animals as a reservoir, the implication of acquired immunity in carnivores and the impact of large scale intervention programmes on the natural balance of these parasites within their vertebrate hosts. This knowledge now empowers us to look at new and effective means of controlling the spread of these parasites.

To date I have been directly involved in the supervision of 24 postgraduate research students and >50 final year online MSc dissertations. I find my involvement in these online dissertations very rewarding and have used these opportunities to expand my interests into a variety of different topics including the risks posed by tick borne infections, in terms of both the animal and avian reservoir, in Africa and Europe.

I am involved with a number of different modalities of teaching. I am the Director for the online postgraduate programmes in 'Global Health and Infectious Diseases' and' Global Health Studies'.

In addition to taught our taught postgraduate programmes, I am also the Programme Director for the MSc by Research that focusses upon Infectious Diseases. This research degree involves a 9 month placement within one of the research groups from 'Edinburgh Infectious Diseases'.

I also hold the responsibility of Deputy to the Programme Director for our undergraduate degree in Infectious Diseases,  and run the 20 Credit, SCQF 10, course on Global Health and Infectious Diseases.