Knowledge Mobilisation and Public & Community Involvement

Mosquito-borne viruses and tick-borne pathogens are the most important vector-borne disease agents threatening the health of people in Europe, including the UK. Endemic mosquito-borne diseases have not been a significant problem in the UK since the disappearance of malaria several decades ago, but emerging mosquito-borne viral diseases in Europe are an ever-growing threat.  Certain tick-borne viral diseases are also emerging in Europe and potentially threaten the UK; and tick-borne borreliosis is already a public health issue here, and is increasing in incidence. The Vector Biology Theme will focus, over the initial five years, on mosquito- and tick-borne viral threats to the UK, and tick-borne borreliosis.

 The long-term objectives are to:

1. Become a centre of excellence for the testing of indigenous mosquitoes and ticks (and other arthropods) for vector competence for pathogens that require high containment.
2. Assess the current risk presented by dengue, chikungunya and tick-borne pathogens to England.
3. Develop forecasting systems for Ixodes ricinus and Lyme borreliosis risk in England.
4. Model how the risk presented by such pathogens will change in future under scenarios of climate, environmental and demographic change.

 Theme Leaders:

Professor Matthew Baylis Department of Epidemiology and Population Health Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool

Dr Jolyon Medlock Head of Medical Entomology Public Health England

Professor Stephen Torr Professor of Neglected Tropical Diseases (joint appointment LSTM and the University of Warwick)

 Researchers:

Dr Marcus Blagrove Postdoctoral Researcher University of Liverpool

Dr Cyril Caminade Tenure Track Fellow University of Liverpool

PhD Students:

Aislinn Currie-Jordan	Maya Holding
Liz McGinley	Soeren Metelmann