What is your role at LSHTM?
I am an MRC Career Development Fellow and I manage a research group studying malaria transmission and cell biology in the laboratory.
Could you share some insights into your current project?
My lab focuses on the gametocyte stage of the parasite life cycle which is responsible for transmission from humans to mosquitoes. I’m fascinated by how gametocytes can be dormant in a human waiting for a mosquito to come along and bite, and then sense the change in environment and rapidly transform within minutes to infect the mosquito. We use multiple different approaches to study the cell biology of this in detail, and high throughput screening techniques to identify new molecules to interrupt transmission.
How did you initially embark on your journey in malaria research?
By accident! My PhD had nothing to do with malaria and focused on Molecular Neurobiology. Whilst writing up my thesis I took a part-time technician job in Bob Sinden’s lab at Imperial who at the time was well known for studying malaria transmission. I was very lucky that when I finished my PhD, Bob kept me on as a postdoc and I was very fortunate to work on a very successful project funded by the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) tasked with studying every antimalarial under development for their ability to block transmission. I now manage this project and it is entering its 15th year.
Could you describe the work environment at the Malaria Centre?
My group are lab-based researchers and can be found mainly in the CL3 malaria culture suite on the 3rd Floor of Keppel Street Building. Culturing Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes is quite a laborious process and takes 14 days before they are infectious to mosquitoes. This means we have to be onsite to look after them 7 days a week. Luckily we now have a critical mass of transmission researchers at LSHTM to share duties which has allowed us to perform much more ambitious experiments. We also work closely with the LSHTM Human Malaria Transmission Facility to help other researchers incorporate malaria transmission into their own research projects.
Where is your hometown?
An outer London suburb called New Malden which is only famous because it has the largest population of Koreans (South and North) in Europe.
What were your childhood aspirations?
I always wanted to be a scientist or a millionaire. Unfortunately, I’m now not entirely sure that you can be both.
What's the most enjoyable aspect of working with your team?
My group is small, but we have a diverse mix of nationalities, backgrounds and cultures which I enjoy, growing up in a town with a very multicultural population. We are also very lucky to share lab space with other fantastic malaria research groups who are always ready to help and collaborate.
Beyond work, what are your hobbies and interests?
I love reading, cooking, travelling to new places and gardening.
What do you find yourself doing when you're not working?
I have three children so most of my spare time involves keeping them alive and driving them to clubs! When I do get the time, going to nice restaurants with my wife, cooking for friends and walking in the countryside are my ways of relaxing.
Is there a personal mantra or philosophy that guides your life?
Although I’m far from perfect, I hope that my Christian faith guides all that I say and do.
Any words of wisdom or inspiration for your fellow Centre members?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions and ask for help.