Bacterial and Viral Infection

Dr Kaforou will study the pattern of genes that are ‘switched on and off’ in patients with fever, to find the best gene combination that distinguishes between a range of infectious and inflammatory conditions. This approach will identify patients who genuinely need antibiotic treatment, limiting antibiotic misuse and further development of antimicrobial resistance.

On being awarded first place, Dr Kaforou said:

“I am delighted to receive this prize. It will allow me to acquire gene expression data from a large cohort of patients with a range of diseases, which will enhance our data-driven approach and assist our efforts in identifying the best gene markers to inform the development of diagnostic tests. Not only will this be transformative for my research, but it will also increase my visibility and support me to achieve my long-term aim of using cutting-edge technology to benefit patient care.”