The foundation of Hilary's work is based upon culturing of the strict anaerobic bacteria that comprise the majority of the human gut microbiota. Isolation of these bacteria yields whole genome sequences which enhances genomic and metagenomic analyses and also facilitates phenotypic studies leading to functional insights and a move towards establishing causation in different disease states.
We have developed techniques to culture the majority of the intestinal microbiota. This provides a valuable resource to understand the underlying biology of these health-promoting bacteria and also to study their role in different diseases. In addition, these bacteria can be used to develop therapeutics to treat diseases associated with the intestinal microbiota.
Hilary is particularly interested in the role of spore-forming bacteria in the human intestinal microbiota, their ecology and evolution, how they differ functionally from non-spore-forming bacteria and how spore-formation promotes transmission of anaerobic bacteria between individuals.
My timeline
Garnham Award recipient from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine for outstanding research student completing a doctoral thesis in the area of basic or laboratory science
PhD London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Staff Scientist- Lawley Lab
Joined Lawley Lab as advanced research assistant
Joined Sanger Institute as Computational Biologist