The Team

Want to see your photo on this list?:

Professor Floto is keen to welcome new ideas and competences in the lab!

Prof. Andres Floto

Principal Investigator.

Andres Floto is Professor of Respiratory Biology at the University of Cambridge, a Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator, and Research Director of the Cambridge Centre for Lung Infection at Papworth Hospital, Cambridge.

His research is focused on understanding how immune cells interact with bacteria, how intracellular killing and inflammation are regulated and sometimes subverted during infection, how population-level whole genome sequencing can be used to reveal biology of bacterial infection, and how therapeutic enhancement of cell-autonomous immunity may provide novel strategies to treat multi drug resistant pathogens.

Clinically, he specialises in the treatment of patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), non-CF bronchiectasis, and infections with Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM). He is co-chair of the British Thoracic Society NTM guidelines committee, the joint US CF Foundation-European CF Society (ECFS) NTM Guidelines Group and the ECFS working group on NTM.

Dr. Anja Hagting

Lab Manager.

After being a postdoc for more than two decades in the cell cycle field I joined the Floto lab in February 2019 for a new role and new research topic. While learning all the ins and outs of innate immunity, I will try to keep the lab running as smoothly as possible. When I’m not in the lab, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, going for hikes and playing badminton.

Karen Brown

Research Fellow, NHS.

For the past 7 years I have been part of the research team of Professor Floto. Previous to this I was a clinical scientist in molecular haemostasis at Addenbrookes Hospital.
I divide my time between Papworth Hospital in the Cambridge Centre for Lung Infection where I undertake patient related duties, and the MRC LMB where I undertake academic research. I thoroughly enjoy the two very different aspects of my work. The main focus of my research interests is centred around the problematic mycobacterial infection systems which occur within the Cystic Fibrosis patient population.

Louise Ellison

Research Assistant PhD Student.

I am a microbiologist with strong interests in the study of bacterial pathogens and the ways in which they interact and cause disease within their hosts, as well as the development of drugs and vaccines against infection.

Outside of work, I enjoy keeping active with belly dancing and Bouncefit, and spending quality time with my family.

Judy Younts-Ryan

BSc, Project Manager Cystic Fibrosis Innovation Hub, CF Trust.

I previously worked as a nurse for over 30+ years in the NHS and the last 15 years within Research managing the Cambridge Centre for Lung Infections Research Team at Royal Papworth Hospital. I have project managed numerous clinical trials within Bronchiectasis and Cystic Fibrosis.

My current role as project manager of the CF Innovation Hub is to oversee the collaboration of world-class researchers throughout the UK and beyond, working towards improving lung health for individuals with CF. To help create an exceptional CF Research Facility, centred in Cambridge whilst networking with collaborating centres across the UK, delivering transformational treatments for bacterial infections, chronic inflammation and lung repair for people with CF. We aim to create national networks in key arears to foster and help identify the synergies across the UK in key areas such as stem cells.

Dr. Divya Arora

Post-Doctoral Research Associate.

I am a Postdoctoral Associate new to this wonderful Place Cambridge I am a microbiologist and have done my PhD in mycobacterial cell wall biosynthetic proteins from the National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India. I am interested in understanding the highly dynamic host pathogen interactions-the key to understand pathogenesis. This interaction triggers complex pathways in both pathogen and the host. With my role I will be working towards developing the methods for precise understanding of these pathways at single cell level.
Beyond Science, I love travelling, dancing and cooking.

Dr. Josephine Bryant

Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Wellcome Trust.

I am a Henry Wellcome postdoctoral fellow working between the Floto group and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. My research uses whole genome sequencing to understand the evolution of pathogens. During my fellowship I will be focusing on understanding the within host evolution of cystic fibrosis pathogens and how this relates to clinical outcome.

Dr. Sophie Burbaud

Post-Doctoral Research Associate.

For a long time now, I have always wished to implicate myself in the fight against infectious diseases. Curious, eager to learn and to solve problems, it appeared obvious to me to direct myself toward the field of Research.
What better way than to do so in the fast moving and resourceful environment of Cambridge? Just arriving from France, I can also mix my vocation for science with my passion for travelling and discovering new cultures.

Dr. Adam Dinan

Post-Doctoral Research Associate.

Dr. Sina Krokowski

Post-Doctoral Research Associate.

I’m a microscopist interested in host-pathogen interactions, specifically cell-autonomous immunity against bacteria. I’ve recently completed my PhD in the Mostowy group where I studied the cytoskeleton during bacterial infection. Now in the Floto group, I’m investigating host factors restricting intracellular bacteria and I’m excited to learn techniques beyond microscopy. Outside the lab I love CCC (cooking, climbing and computer games).

Dr. Vitor Mendes

Senior Research Associate.

I’m a structural biologist and biochemist focused on structure and biophysics-guided drug discovery in the context of mycobacterial diseases, exploring novel targets with the potential for delivering new therapeutic approaches, while also establishing rules for small molecule permeation and stability in these pathogens.

Dr. Charlotte Passemar

Post-Doctoral Research Associate, MRC-DBT Fellowship.

I did my PhD in Toulouse, France, working on the role of Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell wall components in the modulation of innate immune response. I am now pursuing on mycobacterial infections research focusing on the role of autophagy in Mycobacterium tuberculosis clearance. I started this postdoc in Septembre 2015 and I really enjoy my time in this new lab, as well as my new life in Cambridge, even though I am missing the "South of France Sunny days" from time to time!

Dr. Chris Ruis

Post-Doctoral Research Associate.

In my research I use genetic sequences to understand the evolutionary dynamics of pathogens and the factors that influence pathogen transmission and spread. By combining pathogen genome sequences with evolutionary methods, I aim to understand pathogen evolution at all scales, from infections of individual patients through to large outbreaks. I’m currently working to understand when, where and why Mycobacterium abscessusemerged to become a highly prevalent cause of morbidity in patients with Cystic Fibrosis. This work will inform efforts to prevent patients becoming infected in the future. I’m also working to develop new methods to understand evolution of the bacterial pangenome. Historically, I’m a virologist, and maintain an interest in virus evolution and spread, in particular norovirus, the leading cause of gastroenteritis worldwide.

Dr. Aaron Weimann

Post-Doctoral Research Associate.

I am a research associate in pathogen bioinformatics co-supervised by Prof. Floto at the LMB and Prof. Parkhill in the Pathogen Genomics group at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. My postdoc project is on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is a prevalent hospital-acquired pathogen and frequently associated with infections in cystic fibrosis patients. I am working on establishing a genomic model of P. aeruginosa by relating high-throughput phenotype data – particularly virulence related phenotypes – and single-cell transcriptome sequencing data with the ultimate goal of gaining a better understanding of pathogenicity using methods from machine learning, genome wide association studies, image processing, etc..

Outside of academia I like to sing and I am currently looking for a new choir in Cambridge. The lab is really international and it’s always fun to learn about the various cultural backgrounds represented in our group.