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Christopher Quince

Job Title
Associate Professor (Research Focussed)
Department
WMS - Biomedical Sciences
Phone
024 7652 2317
Research Interests

Metagenomics coupled to next generation sequencing has transformed our understanding of the microbial world. It has allowed us to directly determine community structure and function in situ from the DNA of the organisms present. This is revolutionising microbial ecology. My research consists of the development of improved statistical and bioinformatics tools for interpreting this sequence data. These tools exploit advanced methods from machine learning and Bayesian statistics. I work on both 16S rRNA gene amplicon data, having developed the AmpliconNoise algorithm for error removal from 454 pyrosequenced amplicons (http://code.google.com/p/ampliconnoise/) and shotgun metagenomics for example the CONCOCT algorithm for automated genome extraction from shotgun metagenome reads (https://github.com/BinPro/CONCOCT). In addition, I also develop Bayesian statistical models for interpreting microbial community structure addressing questions such as are enterotypes real features of the human gut microbiome and are microbial communities neutrally assembled? In collaboration with numerous groups around the world I apply these methods to both environmental and host-associated microbial communities. For instance, with Dr Konstantinos Gerasimidis (Nutrition Group - University of Glasgow -- http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/medicine/staff/konstantinosgerasimidis/) and Dr Nick Loman (University of Birmimgham - http://pathogenomics.bham.ac.uk/clinicogenomics/) I have resolved the changes in gut microbiota composition of children with Crohn's disease during treatment with exclusive enteral nutrition. This could potentially lead to improved therapeutic strategies. With Dr Gavin Collins (University of Galway - http://www.nuigalway.ie/microbiology/dr_gavin_collins.html) I study the structure of anaerobic digestion reactor communities. More efficient AD digesters will provide more effective biogas production from wastewater, reducing pollution and providing a renewable energy resource. I am currently employed as an MRC Principal Research Fellow as part of the Cloud Computing for Microbial Bioinformatics (CLIMB) consortium (http://www.climb.ac.uk/).

Biography

View Christopher's publications on Google Scholar.

Title Funder Award start Award end
NIHR HPRU in Gastrointestinal Infections National Institute for Health Research (DoH) 01 Apr 2020 31 Mar 2025
CLIMB 2 MRC 01 Apr 2020 31 Mar 2025
HPRU in Genomics and Enabling at University of Warwick National Institute for Health Research (DoH) 01 Apr 2020 31 Mar 2025
Resolving the fate and studying the impact of pharmaceutical wastes on the environment and local community of a pharmaceutical manufacturing hub NERC 01 Oct 2020 01 Apr 2024
Unravelling the diversity and function of the fine root endophyte NERC 02 Sep 2019 31 Dec 2023
Health Data Research UK Health Data Research UK 02 Apr 2018 01 Apr 2023
BBSRC BBR - EBI Metagenomics - enabling the reconstruction of microbial populations (Warwick Component) BBSRC 03 Sep 2018 02 Sep 2021
LinkPI: Linking Phenotype function with Identity: a novel integrated single-cell technology and metagenomics approach - Nerc Global Partnership seedcorn fund NERC 01 Nov 2018 31 Aug 2021
Wellcome Trust Investigator Award - Deep evolutionary history of bacterial pathogens Wellcome Trust 01 Sep 2016 31 Aug 2021
The clinical effectiveness of CD-TREAT and its microbial mechanisms of action in patients with active Crohns disease Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust 15 Mar 2019 14 May 2021
Strain resolved metagenomics for medical microbiology MRC 01 Oct 2019 15 Apr 2021
New approaches to resolving community metaproteomes: ComProt NERC 01 Jan 2019 31 Dec 2019
MRC-KHIDI UK-KOREA PARTNERING AWARDS -Exploring the relationship between antibiotic persistence and antibiotic resistance in exposed bacteria in environmental locations MRC 31 May 2018 30 Apr 2019
Programme Integration Group (PIG) - Using next generation sequencing to reveal human impact on aquatic reservoirs of antibiotic resistant bacteria at the catchment scale NERC 01 Jul 2017 31 Dec 2018
MRC AMR Development Grant application - AMREPAK: Novel inter-disciplinary approaches for identifying and tackling the spread of AntiMicrobial Resistance through Environmental pathways in PAKistan MRC 01 Oct 2017 31 Mar 2018
Predictive Temporal Analysis of Functional Microbiomes in UK's Anerobic Digestion Reactors BBSRC 01 Jul 2016 07 Mar 2018
Newton fund via FIOCRUZ, Brazil: Leishmaniasis in the Brazilian Amazon: the role of accessory microbiota in disease progression, pathobiology and immunity RCUK 01 Jan 2015 31 Mar 2017