Infection Medicine

Dr Kim Picozzi

Kim Picozzi's staff profile, teaching and research information.

Dr Kim Picozzi

Postgraduate Director of Teaching/Programme Director for MSc Global Health and Infectious Diseases

  • 1 George Square
  • Edinburgh
  • EH8 9LD

Contact details

Personal Profile 

Positions held at the University of Edinburgh: Medical School, Deanery of Biomedical Science.

  • Lecturer in Global Health and Infectious Diseases from 2009 to 2014
  • Senior Post Doctoral Fellow, 2008 to 2009

Positions held at the University of Edinburgh: Veterinary School [R(D)SVS], Center of Tropical Veterinary Medicine.

  • Senior Post Doctoral Fellow, 2006 to 2008
  • Post Doctoral Research Fellow 2000 to 2006
  • Post Doctoral Research Assistant 1998 to 2000

International Livestock Research Institute – Nairobi, Kenya

Visiting International Scientist Status 2001 - 2003

Teaching

I am involved with a number of different modalities of teaching. I am the Director for the online postgraduate programmes in 'Global Health and Infectious Diseases' and' Global Health Studies'.

In addition to our taught postgraduate programmes, I am also the Programme Director for the MSc by Research that focusses upon Infectious Diseases. This research degree involves a 9 month placement within one of the research groups from 'Edinburgh Infectious Diseases'.

I also hold the responsibility of Deputy to the Programme Director for our undergraduate degree in Infectious Diseases, and run the 20 Credit, SCQF 10, course on Global Health and Infectious Diseases.

My involvement in the student experience culminated the award of the Kendall Award for Teaching in Medicine by EUSA in 2018.

Research

The development of new molecular methodologies and diagnostic techniques which contribute to the intellectual understanding of the molecular epidemiology of trypanosomiasis and blood borne pathogens.

Managing the Neglected Zoonoses (NZD) is critical for developing world health and increasing so within the emerging One Health Agenda of the Tripartite. Methods applied for the monitoring and evaluation of large scale endemic disease programmes are essential for government and other donors to provide the evidence base for investment in health. The NZDs affect the rural poor, causing morbidity and mortality and reducing productivity of their animals.

My work on improved diagnostics have identified key entry points for targeted control of parasitic disease at community level that offer new solutions e.g. the role of domestic animals as a reservoir, the implication of acquired immunity in carnivores and the impact of large scale intervention programmes on the natural balance of these parasites within their vertebrate hosts. This knowledge now empowers us to look at new and effective means of controlling the spread of these parasites.

I have published widely in this area, with 51 peer-reviewed publications [listed within the NCBI PubMed data base] and seven book chapters. 

Research Themes

Recent Publications

Lorusso V., Wijnveld M., Latrofa M.S., Fajinmi A., Majekodunmi A.O., Dogo A.G., Igweh A.C., Otranto D., Jongejan F., Welburn S.C., Picozzi K. 2016 Canine and ovine tick-borne pathogens in camels, Nigeria.  Veterinary Parasitology (228): 90-92. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.08.014]

Mableson H.E., Okello A., Picozzi K. and Welburn S.C. 2014  Neglected zoonotic diseases – the long and winding road to advocacy. PLoS NTD 8(6): e2800. [DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002800]

Majekodunmi A.O., Fajinmi A., Dongkum C., Picozzi K., Thrusfield M.V. and Welburn S.C. 2013 A longitudinal survey of African animal trypanosomiasis in domestic cattle on the Jos Plateau, Nigeria: prevalence, distribution and risk factors. Parasites and Vectors 6(1): 239. [DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-239].

Ahmed, H.A., MacLeod, E.T., Hide, G., Welburn, S.C. and Picozzi, K. 2011  The best practice for preparation borne infections using African trypanosomes as a model system. Parasites and Vectors. 4;68. [DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-4-68].

Wastling, S.L., Picozzi, K., Wamboga, C., Wissmann, B., Amongi-Acup, C., Wardrop, N.A., Stobard, J.R., Kakembo, A. and Welburn, S.C. 2011  Latent Trypanosoma brucei gambiense foci in Uganda: a silent epidemic in children and adults? Parasitology 138(12): 1480-87. [DOI: 10.1017/S0031182011000230]

Wastling, S., Picozzi, K., Kakembo, A.S. and Welburn, S.C.  2010 LAMP for human African trypanosomiasis: a Comparative Study of Detection Formats. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 4(11):e865. [DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0000865]

Picozzi, K., Carrington, M. and S.C. Welburn.  2008  A multiplex PCR that discriminates between Trypanosoma brucei brucei and T. b. rhodesiense  Experimental Parasitology, 118(1), pp 41-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2007.05.014]

Picozzi, K., Fèvre, E.M., Oditt, M., Carrington, M., Eisler, M., Maudlin, I. and S.C.  Welburn. 2005  Sleeping sickness in Uganda: a thin line between two fatal diseases.  British Medical Journal, 331: 1238-1241. [DOI: 10.1136/bmj.331.7527.1238]

Picozzi K., Tilly A., Fèvre, E.M., and Welburn S.C. (2002)  The diagnosis of trypanosome infections: Applications of novel technology for reducing disease risk.  African Journal of Biotechnology 1(2).  [DOI: 10.5897/AJB2002.000-007]

Welburn, S.C., Picozzi, K., Fevre, E.M., Coleman P.G., Odiit M., Carrington, M. and Maudlin I. 2001 Identification of human-infective trypanosomes in animal reservoir of sleeping sickness in Uganda by means of serum-resistance-associated (SRA) gene. The Lancet 358: 2017 – 2019.