Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Programme

Researcher

Dr. Jen Cornick

Dr Cornick is a Post-Doctoral scientist with UoL based full time in Malawi, at MLW and employed by the Pneumococcal African Genomics Consortium (PAGe). She has a strong interest in the molecular-mechanisms and evolution of bacterial pathogenesis. She is particularly interested in employing new technologies to define the complex molecular pathways to antimicrobial resistance in bacteria. Her main research interest is the PAGe project which focuses on the genomics of serotype 1 Streptococcus pneumoniae, a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

They are currently analysing 900+ serotype 1 genomes to gain a better understanding of this distinct, region specific clone. This cutting edge research will inform the development of clinical interventions, particularly vaccines. She is a pivotal member of the consortium, responsible for the co-ordination of research activities at the five main study sites in Africa and the UK. She also has a number of other research interests with national and international public health importance which include:
• The evolution of antimicrobial resistance in S. pneumoniae in vivo
• Assessing the impact of HIV on pneumococcal antigen diversity
• Defining the core genome of S. pneumoniae causing meningitis
• The origins and evolutionary genomics of H1N1 in East Africa