Developing Partnership with Public Health England

A team led by Dr Brian Jones, Reader in Medical and Molecular Microbiology, and Deputy Head of the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences has been working with the infection control service at PHE, on a project focused on biofilm control in Klebsiella pneumonia infection and biofilm formation funded by the Medical Research Council.

Colleagues at PHE initially recognised that getting involved in research investigations from the outset would open up greater opportunities for improved insight and understanding which could be applied in its work.

Furthermore, they expressed a desire to strengthen the link between the two organisations, and develop mechanisms to combine skills and improve the quality of work and outcomes for both parties.

Dr Patel said:

“There is real potential to create partnerships between other departments at PHE and expertise within the university. And our resources can be of benefit; for instance, our genomics facility offers access to particular techniques that are not currently available to PHE.

So far, three key things have happened as a result of working in partnership with PHE:

• Firstly, the partnership with PHE helps us to be more competitive in securing funding, especially on projects where a non-HEI partner is needed.

• The second is it allows PHE, as a strategic partner, to translate our scientific discoveries into the commercial arena for the benefit of healthcare trusts - PHE has been endorsed to do this in their role as an executive agency, sponsored by the Department of Health. This provides the university with a clear route to achieving impact. 

• Finally, there’s an opportunity for PHE to inform our curriculum and teaching. In the first instance PHE plan to advise on some of our courses and help to run modules on anti-microbial resistance, but in future they may also look at developing student placements and outreach activities.