Dr James Logan BSc PhD FRES

- 443
- LSHTM
- Keppel Street
- London
- WC1E 7HT
- T: +44 (0)207 927 2883
- F: +44 (0)207 927 2918
James gained a first class BSc honours degree in Zoology from the University of Aberdeen in 2001 and an award-winning PhD. He worked at Rothamsted Research as a Senior Postdoctoral Research Scientist, leading a group of researchers within the Chemical Ecology Programme and joined the Department of Disease Control at LSHTM in 2010 where he now a Senior Lecturer and runs his own research group as well as the LSHTM Arthropod Control Product Test Centre (arctec).
He is currently the Research Degree Coordinator for the Department of Disease Control, a member of the LSHTM Repository Steering Committee and the Public Engagement Committee. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society.
James is an avid science communicator andis a Science Ambassador for the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics Network (STEMNET) which aims to inspire young people in science. He has appeared on TV shows including BBC’s The One Show and Bang Goes the Theory, The Discovery Channel’s Weird Connections and Squeamish. James is also a science TV presenter, currently working on exciting programmes with the BBC and Channel 4's Embarrassing Bodies. He also makes regular appearances on television, radio and in print media as a scientific expert.
Affiliation
Teaching
James is co-organiser of the Integrated Vector Management Module for the MSc course, Biology and Control of Disease Vectors. He also teaches on several other MSc courses including Medical Parasitology, Control of Infectious Diseases, Tropical Medicine and International Health, Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene and the Short Course on Travel Medicine.
James supervises several PhD projects and MSc summer projects. He is the Research Degree Coordinator for the Department of Disease Control.
Research
James runs his own research group in chemical ecology and concentrates on the development of novel methods to monitor and control medically and veterinary important arthropods. This involves understanding behaviour and olfaction in nuisance and vector arthropods through:
- understanding the interaction between insects and human hosts at the olfactory and behavioural level – particularly host and non-host interactions, how insects detect semiochemicals from human hosts and how semiochemicals are produced
- investigating other aspects of insect ecology including aggregation, mating and oviposition in a variety of insects
- elucidating the mode of action of new (and current) monitoring and control techniques
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evaluating and exploiting the above for the development of new or improved control technologies
The research group uses various in-house techniques, including field and laboratory-based behavioural experiments, coupled gas chromatography-electroantennograms (GC-EAG), coupled GC-single-cell (GC-SCR) and analytical chemistry (including GC). This integrated approach gives a better understanding of how insects use semiochemicals naturally and how they can be exploit them to develop control strategies through behavioural manipulation. Ultimately, the aim is to attain effective control using semiochemicals that will allow more targeting use of control agents such as insecticides.
Current research projects:
- Olfactory mechanisms underlying behavioural manipulation of mosquitoes by malaria parasites (BBSRC funded)
- Chemical signalling of malaria parasites: call for transmission? (ZonMw funded)
- Monitoring and Intervention Strategies for BT Virus Epidemics in Rural India (BBSRC-DfID funded)
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Innovative tools and strategies for the surveillance and control of dengue (EU FP7 funded)
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Is attractiveness to biting insects inherited? (Sir Halley Stewart Trust funded)
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Identification and development of novel repellents from human odours
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Development of novel control methods for bed bugs and identification of bed bug aggregation pheromones
Current PhD studentships:
- Investigating mosquito-host contact on UK farms with relevance to potential arboviral transmission (Victor Brugman, BBSRC-funded, collaborative project with the Pirbright Institute)
- Flies and Eyes: developing traps for sampling the trachoma vector, Musca sorbens (Julie Bristow, BBSRC/MRC-funded, collaborative with the University of Durham)
- Defining the role of semiochemicals in host location and selection by UK Culicoides spp. biting midges (James Cook; BBSRC-funded, collaborative project with the Pirbright Institute)
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European and UK ticks and tick-borne viruses (Stacey Leech; collaborative project with the Health Protection Agency)
Arthropod Control Product Test Centre (arctec)
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine has an outstanding reputation as a world leading authority on vector and disease control and has provided a testing service for arthropod control materials for over 20 years.
The testing facility was rebranded as arctec in 2010 after significant investment from LSHTM. This has allowed us to expand our range and scope of services and activities. Visit our website at http://www.arctec.lshtm.ac.uk
The facility is now operated by an experienced team led by Dr James Logan who has over 10 years experience in insect control. Our unique in-house expertise and rigorous protocols ensure that we remain one of the most reputable and competitive institutions for the testing of arthropod control products in the world.
Our aim is to maintain this level of excellence and to continue to provide rapid and extensive services, from product development in the laboratory, to testing in semi-field and field conditions. arctec is an integral part of the Department of Disease Control at LSHTM and through using our services our clients gain unique access to the expertise and experience of our world-renowned team and facilities.
Research areas
- Clinical trials
- Insects
- Parasites
- Public health
- Vector control
Disciplines
- Biochemistry
- Molecular biology
- Parasitology
- Vector biology
Disease and Health Conditions
- Bluetongue virus
- Dengue
- Malaria
- Trachoma
Countries
- Brazil
- Colombia
- France
- Gambia, The
- Germany
- India
- Thailand
- United Kingdom
- United States
Other interests
- Chemical Ecology
- Mosquitoes
- after-bite treatment
- medical and veterinary entomology
- repellents
- travel health
