The PhD in Immunity and Infection at CITIID is a 4-year programme, offering students a unique opportunity to harness our excellent mix of capabilities in fundamental basic research and clinical facilities to tackle some of the biggest global health challenges.
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2025 intake
Matthew Bagley
Lab: Rhin-Wilson Lab, ImID/CITIID Research keywords: immunity, molecular virology, zoonosis
What were you doing before joining Cambridge? Before joining the Department of Medicine, I studied an undergraduate degree and integrated Master’s in the University of Cambridge Natural sciences course; specialising in Genetics in my third year and Biochemistry in my fourth. I gained an interest in immunity studying the response of the Drosophila melanogaster innate immune system to parasitoid wasp infection and move into virology for my Master’s project where I was studying the role of host proteins in HIV-1 replication. I left the university as the first Covid lockdown hit in spring 2020 and worked in a few different locations since then, most significantly at the UK Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) where I studied coronaviruses in UK wildlife as part of the viral zoonosis team there. What brought you to Cambridge? A desire to return to the academic research environment, gain more independence in my research and move back towards the study of immunity and molecular virology. What are your research interests? I am currently performing rotations to start my PhD and will choose a research focus once they are completed. What do you hope to do after completing your PhD? I am currently unsure and will choose between further academic research, work in industry or a return to government employment as I get closer to graduation. How has Cambridge supported your research journey? The projects and lectures I received in my undergraduate and Master's degree have given me a broad base of skills and knowledge to work with and hope the PhD I am embarking on now will allow me to develop these skills further to contribute to novel research both throughout my PhD program and into my later career. |
2023 intake
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Omar Shabana
Lab: Pedicord Lab, ImID/CITIID Rotation journey: I rotated at the Timms Lab, followed by a co-supervision by Professor Gupta and Dr Pedicord. In the end, the microbiome and its effects on host immunology/physiology is what attracted me, and I now do my PhD in the Pedicord Lab. Research keywords: immunology, microbiome, cancer
What were you doing before joining Cambridge? Originally, my intention was to do a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry. However, an immunology course stole my heart, and I've pursued it for my Honours at the University of Edinburgh. I graduated with a thesis on non-canonical VDJ recombination events. This was followed by taking up a visiting researcher role at the University of Oxford (Midwood Lab), where I looked at the proteomics of pancreatic cancer patients, and a similar wet-lab role at UCL (Quezada Lab) where I focused on the immune landscapes in bladder cancer patients. Following this enriching year, I embarked on an MPhil at the University of Cambridge (Liston Lab), where I focused on Treg retention in skin and melanoma. What brought you to Cambridge? Incredible groups and cutting-edge research. What are your research interests? My main interest is on how microbial metabolites in our gut affect our risk of colorectal cancer development and progression. In particular, I look at the relationship between microbial metabolites and the MHC antigen presentation pathway on intestinal epithelial cells. What do you hope to do after completing your PhD? I'm enamoured by science and discovery, so it will have to be broadly centred around that. In terms of what career specifically, it's difficult to say with such a swiftly changing political, and world, climate. In general, it will have to be where there is good, stable, funding for scientific research as well as those who do it. |
Grace West
Lab: Rihn Lab, ImID/CITIID Research keywords: molecular virology, zoonosis, coronaviruses, innate immunity
What were you doing before joining Cambridge? I studied Medical Sciences at the University of Exeter. I first became excited about virology during my final year when I wrote my dissertation on the link between viral infection and Type 1 Diabetes. I continued in the same lab as a summer student where my supervisor encouraged me to be ‘in it to win it’ and apply to do a PhD. What are your research interests? I study the zoonotic potential of coronaviruses, focusing on how bat and rodent viruses adapt - or fail to adapt - to infect humans. My research examines innate immune defences, particularly interferon-stimulated genes, that act as barriers to viral spillover. By investigating molecular traits that shape cross-species transmission, I aim to identify factors that influence the emergence of new viruses with pandemic potential. What do you hope to do after completing your PhD? I would love to continue researching zoonosis! How has Cambridge supported your research journey? I have collaborated with Rebecca Morse in the Gupta lab on a study looking at whether vaccines can cross-protect against other coronaviruses. I have also enjoyed several workshops on bioinformatics to complement my research. |
2021 intake
Jack Smith
Lab: Matheson Lab, ImID/CITIID Research keywords: HIV, Virology, Host-Virus interaction, Post-Translational Modification
What were you doing before joining Cambridge? Before joining Cambridge in 2021, I completed an integrated Master’s in Biology (MBiol, BSc Hons) at the University of Leeds, graduating in 2020. My two-year research project investigated how Toxoplasma gondii infection alters host neurotransmitter regulation, where I developed a bespoke plasmid reporter system and gained extensive experience in molecular biology, pathology, and immunology. After graduating, I joined Covance (now Labcorp) as an Analyst in Molecular Virology (2020–2021) during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading a small team to support analytical testing of cell and gene therapy products and vaccines under GMP and BSL-3 conditions. Working with viral systems and molecular assays deepened my appreciation for virological methods, biosafety, and translational research. These experiences inspired me to pursue PhD research in virology and host–pathogen interactions at Cambridge. What brought you to Cambridge? The Infection and Immunity programme had a wealth of interesting projects! What are your research interests? My research focuses on how the HIV protein Vif manipulates host cell machinery to enhance infection. I study Vif’s antagonism of the phosphatase PP2A in primary human macrophages, a conserved function that promotes viral spread. Using high-throughput imaging, I examine how this drives macrophage remodeling, including syncytia formation and actin-rich projections that aid virus dissemination. What do you hope to do after completing your PhD? After completing my PhD, I hope to take a position where I can translate insights from virus–host interactions into strategies for preventing or treating viral infections. I aim to leverage my expertise in immune cell biology and viral manipulation to develop therapies that directly impact patient outcomes. |
