Microbiome and infection | Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

Microbiome and infection

Our Microbiome and infection research theme recognises that evidence-based development of new ways to tackle infection requires understanding of how the infectious agent and host interact, and that our microbiome plays a key role in health and our response to disease. The theme’s multi-faceted research programme spans disease surveillance through to vaccine development.

Key aims

Pandemic preparedness

Our work on pandemic preparedness builds on the University's outstanding record in emerging infections, including Ebola, Zika and COVID-19. In support of the G7's 100 days mission, we're working to have diagnostic tests, drug treatments and vaccines available within 100 days of a new disease emergence.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

Our approach to AMR is to create and implement a future for antimicrobial therapy that is precise, pre-emptive, predictive and participatory (4Ps). We aim to discover and develop new antimicrobial assets, such as antimicrobial agents, diagnostics and data, alongside new implementation strategies. We're developing AI tools to deliver precision care, optimise workflow and enable outbreak prediction.

Vaccine development

Our aim is to maximise the global benefits of vaccination and reduce the global burden of vaccine-preventable infections in both humans and animals. We're integrating world-leading multi-disciplinary research and training in laboratory science, clinical trials and epidemiology to deliver the next generation of vaccines.

Centres of Excellence

Microbiome Innovation Centre

Working in collaboration with industry, clinical and academic partners to accelerate microbiome research and generate impact from discovery science.

Centre of Excellence for Long-acting Therapeutics (CELT)

Broadening our understanding of long-acting medicines to better understand how they can be of most benefit.

Research centres

The Pandemic Institute

Leading the world's understanding and ability to manage pandemics, through an end-to-end approach to pandemic research.

NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections (HPRU EZI)

Supporting and strengthening Public Health England in its role of protecting England from emerging and zoonotic infections.

Centres for Antimicrobial Optimisation Network (CAMO-Net)

A global collaborative research network focused on antimicrobial optimisation for use in humans, underpinned by the values of equity, local leadership, co-production of activities, knowledge mobilisation, mutual cross-regional learning, training, capacity and capabilities strengthening, and output sharing.

Case studies

Reducing infant deaths from rotavirus

Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe gastroenteritis, responsible for 250,000 annual childhood deaths in Africa prior to introduction of rotavirus vaccine. A University of Liverpool-led clinical trial of rotavirus vaccine in Malawi informed a WHO recommendation in 2009 that children in low income, high mortality countries should receive the vaccine.

Improving the management of brain infections

The devastating impact of brain infections can be markedly reduced through prompt recognition, diagnosis and treatment. Research at the University of Liverpool has improved surveillance, diagnosis and management leading to new UK guidelines, with global impact.

AGILE Clinical Trial Platform

Developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the AGILE platform is a new type of clinical trial platform designed to be fast, flexible and fit for purpose. A world first for infectious diseases, the consortium is led by the University of Liverpool.

Podcast: A cross-disciplinary approach to combatting antimicrobial resistance

As worrying levels of resistance to antibiotic drugs develop across the world, a cross-disciplinary team at the University of Liverpool is leading cutting-edge multidisciplinary research to tackle this global challenge.