25 group leaders sit within the Section of Virology, most of whom have their laboratory and/or clinical base at the St Mary’s Campus. Their research areas stretch from understanding the molecular details of how viruses manipulate the host cell machinery and subvert immune responses, to optimizing strategies to deliver novel therapies to patients.
The viruses studied within the Section range from the small RNA viruses that cause respiratory infection to the large complex DNA viruses that lead to persistent infections and cancer. There is a strong focus on retrovirology, including strategies for HIV cure, and the early detection and treatment of diseases caused by the human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) -1. Another major focus is to understand the evolution of the influenza virus to improve therapies and vaccines for seasonal influenza and to better predict pandemic emergence. The section has a strong track record in the response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic from the development of diagnostics, through determining the impact of viral evolution on the host response to clinical trials. Clinical research spans diagnosis, natural history and pathogenesis studies through early phase clinical trials to international interventions across a range of infections.
To hear more from the virology group follow the @ImperialInfect account.
Research groups and centre leadership
Research groups
- Interactions between influenza virus and different host species
- Monitoring changes in SARS-CoV-2 and the host response
- Mechanisms and consequence of HTLV-1 integration
- Pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of HTLV-associated diseases
- Herpes virus manipulation of the infected cell
- Epstein Barr virus oncogenesis
- Innate responses and therapeutic strategies against Hepatitis viruses
- The Circadian Clock and its impact of virus infections
- HIV cure
- Molecular and Cellular Biophysics
- Endogenous retroviruses
- Genetics of infection
- Clinical trials in HIV infection
Section leadership
Professor Graham Taylor
Section Head, Virology
Professor Graham Taylor leads the HTLV and the HIV in pregnancy research groups, heads HTLV diagnostics within the Molecular Diagnostic Unit and is a Consultant in the National Centre for Human Retrovirology, the national service for persons infected with HTLVs.
Further information on Professor Taylor
Research leads
Professor Wendy Barclay
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Professor Wendy Barclay
Action Medical Research Chair in Virology
Dr Marta Boffito
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Dr Marta Boffito
Professor of Practice
Professor Peter Cherepanov
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Professor Peter Cherepanov
Professor of Molecular Virology
Professor Graham Cooke
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Professor Graham Cooke
Professor of Infectious Diseases
Dr Rachel Edgar
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Dr Rachel Edgar
Senior Research Fellow
Professor Paul Farrell
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Professor Paul Farrell
Emeritus Professor of Tumour Virology
Professor Sarah Fidler
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Professor Sarah Fidler
Professor of HIV and Communicable Diseases
Dr Malick Gibani
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Dr Malick Gibani
NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer
Professor Georgios Kassiotis
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Professor Georgios Kassiotis
Professor of Retrovirology
Professor Goedele Maertens
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Professor Goedele Maertens
Professor in Virology
Dr Laura Martin-Sancho
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Dr Laura Martin-Sancho
Lecturer in Molecular Virology
Dr Michael McGarvey
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Dr Michael McGarvey
Emeritus Reader in Molecular Virology
Professor Peter O'Hare
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Professor Peter O'Hare
Chair in Virology
Professor Paivi Ojala
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Professor Paivi Ojala
Visiting Professor
Dr Aileen Rowan
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Dr Aileen Rowan
Lecturer in Molecular Virology
Professor David Rueda
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Professor David Rueda
Chair of Molecular and Cellular Medicine
Dr Vanessa Sancho-Shimizu
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Dr Vanessa Sancho-Shimizu
Reader/UKRI Future Leaders Fellow
Dr Charlotte-Eve Short
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Dr Charlotte-Eve Short
NIHR Academic Clinical Senior Lecturer
Professor Mike Skinner
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Professor Mike Skinner
Emeritus Professor in Virology
Professor Jonathan Stoye
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Professor Jonathan Stoye
Professor of Endogenous Retroviruses
Professor Graham Taylor
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Professor Graham Taylor
Professor of Human Retrovirology
Dr Lucy Thorne
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Dr Lucy Thorne
Lecturer in Molecular Virology
Professor Michael Way
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Professor Michael Way
Professor of Virology
Professor Jonathan Weber
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Professor Jonathan Weber
Jefferiss Professor of Communicable Diseases and GU Medicine
Dr Rob White
![](https://pxl-imperialacuk.terminalfour.net/fit-in/428x572/filters:upscale()/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-medicine/portrait;jsessionid=GCmFdGVJWlX7RFyLd179KrsD2zBPgJPrsGT7CQMd1bhQBN0p3xL8!-1009974838--tojpeg_1564759639110_x4.jpg)
Dr Rob White
Senior Lecturer
Professor Alan Winston
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Professor Alan Winston
Professor of Genito-Urinary Medicine
Professor Xiao-Ning Xu
![](https://pxl-imperialacuk.terminalfour.net/fit-in/428x572/filters:upscale()/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-medicine/portrait;jsessionid=ZwQwd7FPryTWnZBNtRyRXkJynzyhd4C2qN6P0JG7QJ9Shy9GR1xl!960277661--tojpeg_1568392705627_x4.jpg)
Professor Xiao-Ning Xu
Chair in Human Immunology
General enquiries
Section Manager (Molecluar)
Brett Onslow
+44 (0)20 7594 3871
Section Manager (Clinical)
Sonia Vidal
+44 (0)7795 313 673
Laboratory Manager
Lesley Rawlinson
lesley.rawlinson@imperial.ac.uk
+44 (0)20 7594 5401
Administrator
Yasmin Mallu
+44 (0)20 7594 3972