I’ve been fascinated by parasites ever since I was introduced to them during my BSc in Physiology at the University of Manchester. There’s something about them: their ickiness, their devious ability to thrive at their host’s expense, but most especially, their capacity to tinker with host immune systems in exceptionally clever ways. This early captivation pushed me towards an MSc at the University of Oxford, followed by a PhD split between the University of Manchester and Leiden University, where I spent several years untangling helminth–host interactions in the context of intestinal schistosomiasis.

 

Now, as a post doc in the Quintana lab, I’m delving into the immunopathology of African sleeping sickness, with a focus on meningeal B cell responses. I’m excited to learn how these parasites rewire our immune system and see how we can translate this knowledge to other diseases, including sleep disorders. Regulatory B cells are also my favourite cell type, so I’m enjoying a focus on them.

 

 

Outside of the lab, when not chasing my 2 springer spaniels, you can find me crocheting, running, playing board games, or baking.