Virology

Entry requirements

Students will normally have a minimum of a 2:1 class honours degree in a relevant biological science subject, or an equivalent medical, veterinary or dental qualification. Applicants are selected on the basis of their curriculum vitae, qualifications and referees’ reports, together with their perceived ability to complete the programme successfully and on the value of the training offered to their subsequent career plans.

Months of entry

Anytime

Course content

Research in Virology is based in new laboratories in the Ronald Ross Building and ic2 Building on the main University city centre campus. Our research encompasses studies of the pathogenicity, diagnostics, identification, epidemiology and immune responses to a range of viral pathogens including: flaviviruses such as Japanese encephalitis virus and Zika virus; Ebola virus; Chikungunya virus; HIV; respiratory syncytial virus; cytomegalovirus and other herpesviruses. Techniques used include: diagnostic identification methods, flow cytometry, ELISA, epidemiology, transcriptomic and genomic technologies, proteomics and infection models.

The aims of the research are to investigate the transmission routes and behaviour of pathogens during infections and use this knowledge to design better therapeutic strategies or vaccines in order to improve the health of humans.

Our research in virology spans a wide range of different virus families, which are linked to a broad spectrum of clinical diseases. These include the following areas:

• Emerging and Zoonotic infections – Zika virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, Chikungunya virus, Ebola virus
• Gastrointestinal infections – Rotavirus, Noravirus
• Respiratory infections – Influenza virus, Respiratory syncytial virus
• Blood borne viruses – Human Immunodeficiency virus, Hepatitis C virus
• Neurological infections – Herpes Simplex virus, Japanese encephalitis virus