Chair: Pete Kaiser

Pete Kaiser has been appointed Chair of Animal Infectious Diseases.

He will join the Roslin Institute of the University of Edinburgh in April.

He leaves his post as Head of Avian Infectious Diseases Programme at the Institute for Animal Health at the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

After gaining a BSc in Genetics and Microbiology at the University of Leeds, he undertook a PhD at UMIST.

Post-doctoral qualifications at the Institut Pasteur in Paris followed.

Professor Kaiser has worked at the Institute for Animal Health for nearly 18 years, where his roles have included Head of Division and Head of Programme.

His research is focused on devising new strategies to combat avian infectious diseases using both genetic and immunological approaches.

His team aims to utilise and exploit avian genetics and genomics to improve understanding of host/pathogen interactions and disease resistance mechanisms across a range of viral, bacterial, protozoan and ascarid worm pathogens.

A particular focus is on cytokine responses and interactions of pathogens with the innate immune system.

His team has published more than 90 primary research papers in this field.

Their research is currently supported by grants from the BBSRC, DEFRA and the EU, with industrial support.