Jody Phelan, Assistant Professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), has won an award for excellence in early-career research in the field of mycobacteriology.
The Gertrud Meissner Award is given annually by the European Society of Mycobacteriology to a scientist under the age of 40 who has demonstrated exceptional research in mycobacteriology, encompassing areas such as diagnostics, resistance mechanisms, molecular epidemiology, population genetics, and host-pathogen interaction.
His research focuses on the application of genomic technologies to better understand the evolution and spread of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Recent work, including the widely cited study “Genome-wide host-pathogen analyses reveal genetic interaction points in tuberculosis disease” published in Nature Communications, highlights the importance of specific host genetic mutations associated with different TB strains. This study provides crucial insights into how resistant strains evolve and spread, informing strategies for TB surveillance, diagnostics, and treatment.
Jody Phelan said: “I really appreciate receiving the award and hope it will support my aspirations to become a leading researcher in the field of mycobacterial genomics.”
Taane Clark, Professor of Genomics and Global Health at LSHTM, said: “Congratulations to Jody on receiving this prestigious emerging researcher award for his pioneering work in mycobacteriology genomics.
“This well-deserved recognition reflects his impactful contributions to understanding Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain diversity and drug resistance, strengthening bioinformatics capacity, and advancing innovative informatics approaches to combat TB.”
The award is named after Professor Gertrud Meissner, a pioneer in medical microbiology and tuberculosis research. As the first head of the Department of Medical Microbiology at the Research Center Borstel, Meissner laid the groundwork for modern drug susceptibility testing and contributed key findings on the relationship between antibiotic resistance and virulence in TB. She played a crucial role in building the European mycobacteriology community and chaired the inaugural ESM congress in 1980.
If you enjoyed this article and would like to build a career in global health, we offer a range of MSc programmes covering health and data, infectious and tropical diseases, population health, and public health and policy.
Available on campus or online, including flexible study that works around your work and home life, be part of a global community at the UK's no.1 public health university.