University of Leicester (UL), United Kingdom

The Department of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation at the University of Leicester was formed in August 2003 by over 60 members of staff drawn from many different specialities. It has an international reputation for the quality of research undertaken in the field of microbial pathogenesis and is one of the leading UK universities in this respect (http://www.le.ac.uk/iii/research.html). The Department is very well equipped to conduct high-level research and has further benefited from over £1 million of infrastructure funding in the past 12 months. Besides the basic core facilities, it has an advanced microscopy unit, an animal house and a containment level 3 laboratory for safe manipulation of hazardous pathogens.

Dr Simon Kilvington is a Research Fellow in the Department of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation at the University of Leicester. Although he has worked in medical bacteriology, virology and mycology, his research now focuses on pathogenic protozoa with special emphasis on free-living amoebae. However, he retains a research interest in all aspects of medical microbiology and pathogens transmitted through water. He has an international reputation for his work on pathogenic free-living amoebae and collaborates widely in this area. He currently supervises 4 PhD students and has hosted numerous overseas students in his laboratory. Receiving Editor for FEMS Microbiology Letters (2000 - 2004); Advisor to the WHO on pathogenic protozoa in recreational bathing waters; Advisor to the Drinking Water Inspectorate.