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Dr Thomas Edwards

Post Doctoral Research Assistant

The focus of my research is the development and evaluation of molecular diagnostic tests, for a range of tropical diseases. 

I hold a BSc in Biomedical Science from the University of Sheffield, and an MSc in Industrial biotechnology from Liverpool John Moores University. 

My PhD, completed at LJMU in 2014 in collaboration with Public Health England and MAST diagnostics, involved the development of the sample preparation process for a fully integrated molecular diagnostics platform for detection of a range of STIs. Other projects undertaken in parallel to this work included the design of LAMP and qPCR assays for STI detection. 

In 2015 I joined the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine as a post-doctoral research associate in the Research Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics. I am currently focused on the development and implementation of highly multiplexed assays for the detection of arboviral infections, such as Zika and dengue fever. We are interested in the use of these assays to guide patient management, and also improve surveillance, in Guatemala and Brazil. I am additionally involved in the development of molecular tests to detect drug resistance in Gram negative bacteria, and also the evaluation of a number of commercial tests, notably for tuberculosis. 

I have also worked for the Foundation of Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) as a training consultant, for upcoming molecular diagnostic evaluations.

Recent publications: 

    Selected publications

    • Edwards, T. Signor, L.D. Williams, C., Larcher, C., Espinel, M., Theaker, J. Donis, E., Cuevas, L.E., Adams, E.R. (2016). Analytical and Clinical Performance of a Chikungunya qRT-PCR for Central and South America. Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Submitted. 

      Murphy, M.F., Edwards, T.,Hobbs, G., Shepherd, J., Bezombes, F. (2016). Acoustic vibration can enhance bacterial biofilm formation. Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering. 20. [Epub ahead of print]

      Saull, J., Duggan, C., Hobbs, G., Edwards, T. (2015). The detection of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) using loop mediated isothermal amplification in conjunction with a simplified DNA extraction process Food Control. 59: 306-313

      Edwards, T. Burke, P.A., Smalley, H.B., Gillies, L., Longhurst, D., Vipond, B. Hobbs., G. (2015). Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) for the Rapid Detection of Mycoplasma genitalium. Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. May, May 27 [Epub ahead of print].

      Edwards, T. Burke, P.A., Smalley, H.B., Hobbs, G. (2014). Trichomonas vaginalis; clinical relevance, pathogenicity and diagnosis. Critical Reviews in Microbiology. Nov 10: 1-10 [Epub ahead of print].

      Edwards, T. Burke, P.A., Smalley, H.B., Gillies, L., Hobbs, G. (2014). Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) test for the detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in urine samples and tolerance of the assay to the presence of urea. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 52:6.