Forensic Science

I trained initially as a Licenciado en Química (~ BSc in Chemistry), at the Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas, Venezuela in 1970. I found my passion was really Biochemistry and studied it through an MSc from University College London in 1979, and a PhD project in 1982 on eukaryotic gene expression using a cloned human ß-globin gene model at St Mary's Hospital Medical School, (now part of Imperial College of Science, Technology & Medicine). I applied my molecular biology training to the investigation of insect-vector borne diseases of public health interest in endemic countries. Between 1983 and 1986, I lectured Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at the Biology Department, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas, and established the molecular biology infrastructure required to isolate the tubulin genes of Trypanosoma cruzi, cause of Chagas' disease in Latin America. Between 1986 and 1994, I worked as a Wolfson Lecturer in Molecular Genetics at the Medical Entomology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, extending T. cruzi work to the related Leishmania parasite, responsible for the leishmaniases in tropical and Mediterranean regions. I joined Keele in 1994, as a Lecturer in Molecular Genetics, and as a molecular entomologist/parasitologist at the Research Centre for Applied Entomology and Parasitology (CAEP).

My research interests are in molecular parasitology and entomology, specifically on genetic determinants involved in tipping asymptomatic infection into symptomatic disease. Research emphasis continues to be on leishmaniasis since this is a neglected disease affecting the poor worldwide (500 million at risk), it is a serious opportunistic infection in the increasing HIV co-infected population, and its sandfly vector is becoming urbanised. Main studies in progress are on the role played by sandfly & Leishmania genetic determinants of vectorial capacity, Leishmania/sandfly co-evolution and of the initial successful establishment of Leishmania in the vertebrate host.

Further details

Year 1

Biochemistry/Biomedical Sciences

• LSC-10012 Experimental Methods in Molecular Bioscience

• LSC-10024 Ethical Issues in the Biosciences (Module Manager)

• LSC-10038 Information and inheritance (Module Manager)

Forensic Sciences

• CHE-10028 Molecular Genetics for Forensic Science

Medicine

• Microbiology teaching and SSC supervisor

Year 2

Biomedical Sciences/Biochemistry/Forensic Science

• LSC-20003 Gene & Protein Engineering

Year 3

Biochemistry/Biomedical Sciences

• LSC-30018 Biochemistry & therapy of Disease

• LSC-30008 Research Project I

• LSC-30012 Research Project II

• LSC-30014 Biochemistry research Project (Non-experimental)

• LSC-30015 Biology of Disease

• LSC-30010 Acquisition & Analysis of Information

Biology

• LSC-30007 Dissertation for Biology

Year 4

Medicine

• 4th Year UG Project Supervisor

• MSc in Molecular Parasitology and Analytical Parasitology (run jointly with Salford and Manachester Universities)

• Molecular Parasitology

• Analytical Parasitology (Module Manager)

Administration

• My administrative duties include subject coordination for Keele students, (Biology, Biochemistry and Studies on Biomedical Sciences), studying abroad for a semester, and for International students at the School, and Second Year Tutor for the Biochemistry and Single Honours accredited Biomedical Sciences Principal Programmes.