I am an immunologist / microbiologist based in Surrey. I completed a DipHE in Biomedical Science at the University of Wolverhampton in 2003 and attained my MSc (Merit) in Medical Microbiology at the University of Surrey in 2008 with a research project entitled “Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Screening across the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex” working under the guidance and supervision of Prof Steve Gordon and Dr Graham Stewart.

I work in the lab of Prof Martin Vordermeier at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, studying the immunology of bovine tuberculosis (bTB). Our work is varied and highly multidisciplinary but mainly focuses on:

  •The development of new and improved diagnostic tests and vaccines

  •Increasing our understanding of the pathogenesis and transmission of TB

  •Identification of risk factors for bovine tuberculosis

  •Providing surveillance information about the occurrence of TB in cattle and other species

I am also reading for my PhD in collaboration with Prof Gurdyal Besra at the University of Birmingham. My doctorate involves studying the innate and acquired immune response to mycobacterial lipids

I also maintain memberships of the British Society for Immunology  and the Institute of Biomedical Science.

I hold specific security clearances, Criminal Records Bureau certificate and other professional qulifications. For more details please contact me.

In my spare time I am a keen amateur photographer. I also hold a full motorcycle license, a sports diver qualification from the British Sub - Aqua Club and enjoiy playing both the guitar and piano.

All content on this site is © Chris Pirson 2007 - 2010