Professor Ben Makepeace, BSc (Hons) MSc PhD
Professor of Vector-Borne Diseases
Academic Lead
Ben obtained a BSc in Biology with Oceanography from the University of Southampton, an MSc in Applied Parasitology & Medical Entomology from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), and a PhD in Molecular Microbiology from the University of Southampton.
He returned to LSTM as a postdoctoral scientist in the research group of Prof. Alexander (Sandy) Trees, where he studied the immunology and chemotherapy of onchocerciasis (river blindness) in Cameroon using a cattle model; research that he has continued since attaining a full academic post in 2014. Ben transferred from LSTM to the University of Liverpool in 2008 and has held the position of Chair in Vector-Borne Diseases in the Department of Infection Biology & Microbiomes since 2022.
He leads a research group dedicated to the genomics, molecular epidemiology, and control of vector-borne diseases of humans and other animals, including scrub typhus and tick-borne bacteria in addition to onchocerciasis and other vector-borne helminths. He has interests in exotic parasites in the UK while maintaining a breadth of international collaborations on vector-borne and other emerging zoonoses in South-East Asia, South America, and Africa.
Paul Gilmore, BSc (Hons)
Research Technical Professional
Senior Diagnostic Technician
Paul Gilmore has a Medical Microbiology degree from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. Following a spell of work in the private sector, he was appointed as a diagnostic technician in Veterinary Parasitology at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and subsequently the School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool. He was trained by expert veterinary parasitologists Dr John McGarry, Professor Diana Williams and Professor Alexander (Sandy) Trees.
Paul went on to become a Research Technical Professional in the Institute of Infection Veterinary and Ecological Sciences (IVES), University of Liverpool in 2023 and gained Associate Fellowship of HE Advance (AFHEA) in 2024. He has a particular interest in emerging veterinary parasitic diseases across the species range.
Paul has many years’ experience in diagnostic veterinary parasitology, and is responsible for the day-to-day running of the service.
Dr John Graham-Brown BVSc, MSc, PhD, MRCVS
Lecturer
Clinical Advisor and Veterinary Associate
John is a vet and lecturer in Livestock and One Health at the University of Liverpool's School of Veterinary Science with an MSc and PhD in veterinary parasitology. He has a specific clinical and research interest in diagnostic parasitology, works predominantly with livestock but is also involved in companion animal and wildlife cases.
Baron Trees, Professor Alexander 'Sandy' Trees, BVM&S, PhD
Emeritus Professor of Veterinary Parasitology
Founder and former Academic Lead, now retired
Sandy qualified from Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in 1969 and has a PhD on bovine babesiosis. In 1980 he was appointed Lecturer in Veterinary Parasitology at the University of Liverpool and became Head of the Parasite and Vector Biology Division at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in 1994. He was Dean of Veterinary Science at the University from 2001 to 2008 and President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) from 2009 to 2010, before retiring in 2011.
In 2012 Sandy became only the second ever veterinary surgeon to be appointed a life crossbench peer in the House of Lords. He was then elected an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2016, and in 2019 was awarded the Queen’s Medal by the RCVS. Sandy is also a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and RCVS, and in 2023, he was awarded an honorary doctorate in Veterinary Science by the University of Liverpool.
Sandy is a world expert in Veterinary Parasitology. In a distinguished career, funded by over £15 million of external grants, he has produced 140 scientific papers and made major contributions to human and animal health through his research into a variety of parasitic diseases in temperate and tropical areas.
Professor Nicholas Evans BSc (Hons), PhD, FHEA
Professor of Veterinary Infection Biology
Consultant
Nick gained a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry and briefly worked for a diagnostics company (Provalis) before completing a University of Manchester CASE PhD in 2004, which largely focused on Microbial Genetics/Molecular Biology/Biochemistry and included industrial placements at the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control.
Next, he joined the University of Liverpool as a Postdoctoral Researcher where he developed a keen interest in veterinary microbiology. He then gained a BBSRC ‘Postdoctoral Researcher Co-Investigator’ post at the School of Veterinary Science investigating host-pathogen interactions. Nick went on to be appointed as Lecturer in the University of Liverpool Department of Infection Biology in 2011 and gained a personnel chair in 2023. He leads a research group investigating spirochetal diseases.
During his PDRA posts Nick provided support for the Vetnostics service. He currently acts as a consultant for the LVPD Borrelia burgdorferi and Bartonella henselae tests, previously offered by Vetnostics.
Dr Alison Howell BVSc, PhD, MRCVS
Postdoctoral researcher
Clinical Advisor and Veterinary Associate
Alison qualified from the University of Liverpool Faculty of Veterinary Science and spent 5 years in private practice before returning to Liverpool in 2012 to do a PhD on the epidemiology of Fasciola hepatica (liver fluke). She currently works on projects aiming to improve the control of liver fluke and other parasitic and vector-borne diseases of livestock and horses.
Professor Jane Hodgkinson, BSc (Hons), PhD
Professor of Veterinary Parasitology
Supporting Scientist
Jane obtained a BSc (Hons) in Cell Biology from the University of Manchester and a PhD in Developmental Biology from King’s College, London, before joining the equine parasitology group at the University of Liverpool in 1999. She was appointed Professor of Veterinary Parasitology in 2016.
Jane leads a large research programme which focuses on anthelmintic resistance and sustainable parasite control in horses, sheep and cattle. She works closely with many stakeholders within the equine sector to provide practical best practice control guidelines for horses.