I am currently working as a lecturer in Microbiology at Edinburgh Napier University. My research focusses upon bacterial pathogens associated with reproductive complications in both humans and livestock species. This work covers a number of pathogenic bacteria, including, Brucella sp. and Coxiella burnetii, Listeria monocytogenes. However, it is in the field of Chlamydia research, that I am most widely recognised. In this area, I am currently involved in applied projects looking at improved diagnostic protocols in reproductive clinics, but I also have a number of ongoing mechanistic studies investigating fundamental host-pathogen interactions. Beyond my work on Chlamydia, I am involved with epidemiological projects in Africa investigating the effects of reproductive disease in livestock and the transmission and molecular diagnosis of zoonotic infections to pregnant women.