Prof. Dr. Eric Morgan

Professor Eric R Morgan MA VetMB PhD DipEVPC MRCVS

 

School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, 19, Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5DL

Phone: +44 28 9097 2288; E-mail: eric.morgan@qub.ac.uk;

Web: https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/eric-morgan

 

CAREER PROFILE:

• Professor, Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast (2017-present)
• Lecturer-Senior Lecturer-Reader, Veterinary Parasitology, Bristol University, UK (2002-17)
• Diplomate of the European Veterinary Parasitology College, 2005
• Veterinary Officer, UK Ministry of Agriculture, 2001
• Research Assistant, University College Dublin, 1998
• Veterinary Assistant, Bush House Veterinary Group, UK, 1997-98
• Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, UK, 1997

 

EDUCATION:

• D. in Parasite Epidemiology, Warwick University, UK (2003)
• M.B. Veterinary Science, Cambridge University, (1997)
• A. Veterinary Science and Zoology, Cambridge University, Double 1^st Class Honours (1994)

 

RESEARCH IN RELATION TO PROPOSAL:

A veterinary scientist whose research focuses on the epidemiology of parasite infections in animals, especially helminths of ruminants in grazing systems. This involves a combination of methods, including experimental and epidemiological studies and computer modelling. The main goals of this research are to (1) determine how the dynamics of infection are affected by climate, including climate change; (2) devise, develop and evaluate intervention strategies that are effective in the face of developing drug resistance, and (3) translate these strategies into practical tools for parasite control, in support of sustainable livestock production.

RESEARCH FUNDING AND CO-ORDINATION:

Secured in excess of £13M in research funding since 2006 as part of multi-investigator teams, including £2.5M since 2017 as principal investigator (PI), of which 75% from UKRI. Prior to this, participated as institution lead in three EU project grants, building strong international networks.

Recently completed grants are listed below and support the current application. Current support is limited to partnering awards and supporting co-investigator roles:

• 2022-25, NERC Canada-UK Arctic programme (CINUK) NE/X002616/1. Emerging zoonoses in wildlife: understanding the ecology, transmission and impacts of Brucella and Erysipelothrix for conservation and food security £543,918, COI (PI Taya Forde, Glasgow)
• 2021-22. BBSRC rapid response Molecules to Landscapes call. BB/X005518/1. Improved understanding of species diversity through molecular ecology, provides better management strategies for UK agriculture and helminth diseases £158,168, COI (PI Geoff Gobert, QUB)
• 2022-25. USDA NIFA Geo-information technology and artificial intelligence application based animal health management decision support system development to support small-holding farmers. COI (PI Tom Terrill, Fort Valley State University, Georgia, USA.
• 2020-24. BBSRC Canada partnering award BB/T020059/1. Combining new epidemiological and molecular tools to manage nematode infections of grazing ruminants under climate change. £30,000

Research grants in the past five years:

• 2019-22. UK Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Veterinary Medicines Directorate (Lot 1-23900; VM0543). Anthelmintic resistance in ruminants. £298,000. PI.
• 2020-21. BBSRC-NERC GCRF Translation Award, BB/T01248X/1). GOAT-SAT: Earth observation for weather-smart worm control. £250,045. PI.
• 2019-21. BBSRC GCRF Award (BB/S014748/1). Plant-based solutions to integrate livestock disease control, nutrition and environmental sustainability in Africa. £1,110,434. PI.
• 2018-21. BBSRC Agriculture highlight call (BB/R010250/1). Integrating ecology and animal science to manage anthelmintic resistance in cattle under climate change. £401,026. PI.
• 2015-20. BBSRC sLoLa (BB/M003949/1). The BUG consortium (Building Upon the Genome: using Haemonchus contortus genomic resources to develop novel interventions to control endemic GI parasites). £290,655 of £3,156,966. CoI.
• 2018-19. EU H2020. Paragone: Demonstration budget award: Modelling the epidemiological impact of pre-commercial anti-nematode vaccines. £49,225 of £183,314, Co-I.

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL BOARDS AND COMMITTEES:

• EU COST Action 16230 COMBAR: Combating anthelmintic resistance in livestock. Core group member and leader of working group on integrated control. 2016-22.
• Star-IDAZ international research consortium: one of 15 global experts on helminths and leader of nematode and fluke control roadmaps. 2018-present.
• Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS), UK, scientific advisory group 2015-present.
• Control of Worms Sustainably (COWS), UK, guideline revision group. 2019.

 

PUBLICATIONS: Total 157; h-index = 43 (Scopus) ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5999-7728