Stephen R Doyle

UKRI Future Leaders Fellow, Group Leader @ Wellcome Sanger Institute

Overview

I am a molecular and computational biologist focused on understanding the evolutionary biology of parasitic worms that infect humans and animals. I lead a multidisciplinary research group where we use population-wide to single-cell resolution genomic approaches to understand the genetic mechanisms and phenotypic traits underpinning parasite adaptation and persistence. Using a combination of in vivo models and parasites sampled from endemic countries around the world, we measure and analyse helminth diversity across space and time, build genomic resources to support global parasitology communities, and develop genetic approaches to diagnose and surveil helminths, with the ultimate aim to inform the sustainable and effective control of helminths to improve human and animal health.

Employment

2020 - now Group Leader, UKRI Future Leaders Fellow / Career Development Fellow
Wellcome Sanger Institute, UK
Project: “The generation and maintenance of genetic novelty in parasitic helminths”

2015 - 2020 Postdoctoral Fellow
Parasite Genomics Group, Wellcome Sanger Institute, UK
Project: “Building Upon the Genome: using Haemonchus contortus genomic resources to develop novel interventions to control endemic GI parasites”

2012 - 2015 Early Career Development Fellow
Department of Genetics / Dept. Animal, Plant, and Soil Sciences, La Trobe University, Australia
Project: “Population genomics of ivermectin drug response in the human parasitic nematode, Onchocerca volvulus

2011 Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Genetics, La Trobe University, Australia
Project: “Development of markers for ivermectin resistance monitoring in Onchocerca volvulus

Education

2006 - 2010 PhD
Department of Genetics, La Trobe University, Australia
Thesis title: “Development of genetic strategies for the investigation and treatment of mitochondrial DNA disorders”
Advisors: Dr Chee Kai Chan / Assoc. Prof. Warwick Grant

2005 Honours
Department of Genetics, La Trobe University, Australia
Thesis title: “Targeted non-viral gene delivery: Intracellular trafficking of polyethylenimine-peptide bio-conjugates”; First class honours awarded Advisor: Dr Chee Kai Chan

2001 - 2004 Bachelor of Medical Science
La Trobe University, Australia

Publications

Total: 66 publications; 14 first author; 7 senior author
Since 2019 (last 5 yrs): 33 publications; 3 first author; 6 senior author

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2013

2011

2008

2007

Research Support

Total: ~£5.5 M GBP

2023

2020

2014

2013

2012

2011

Mentorship (current lab, direct/indirect mentorship)

Current lab

Postdoctoral Research Associates
Sarah Buddenborg (2022-current)
Mona Suleiman (2023-current) (Sanger Excellence Fellow)
Javier Gandasegui (2024-current)

PhD candidates - direct supervision/mentorship
Marina Papaiakovou, Univerisity of Cambridge (co-supervisor with Cinzia Cantacessi) - (2022-2025)
Benedict Karani, University of Glasgow (co-supervisor with James Cotton, Roz Laing, Jennifer McIntyre, Fiona Kenyon) - (2023-2027)

Other - indirect supervision/mentorship
Jennifer McIntyre (Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Glasgow) (2020-ongoing)
Shannan Summers (PhD candidate, London School of Hygeine and Tropical Medicine / Natural History Museum, London) - (2023-ongoing)
Rose Powers (PhD candidate, University of Sydney, Australia) (2023-ongoing)

Previous mentorship

PhD candidates - indirect supervision
Duncan Berger (Wellcome Sanger Institute)
Julia Rivero (Universidad de Sevilla, Spain) (2022) - 3 month stay at Sanger
Kirsty McCann (La Trobe Univerisity, Australia) (2015-2021)
Neha Sirwani (La Trobe University) (2013-2020)
Sam Armoo (La Trobe University, Australia) (2012-2017)

Masters candidates
Javier Gandasegui (Cardiff Univerity) (2021) - Master’s thesis summer project

Presentations

Departmental/Invited Talks

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2012

2011

Conference talks / posters

2024

2023

2022

2021

2019

2018

2017

2016

2014

2012

2009

2008

Outreach / media

2024

2022

2021

2020

Professional Associations and Contributions

Associate Editor

2023 - ongoing

2021 - 2023

Review Editor

2021 - ongoing

Journal Referee

Bioinformatics, Bioinformatics Advances, BMC Biotechnology, Frontiers Tropical Diseases, Genes, Genome Biology and Evolution, Genomics, GigaScience, International Journal of Parasitology, International Journal of Parasitology Drugs and Drug Resistance, Mitochondrial DNA Part B: Resources, Molecular Ecology Resources, Nature Communications, Nucleic Acid Research, Parasitology International, Parasites & Vectors, Parasitology Research, Pathogens, PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, PLoS One, PLoS Pathogens, Scientific Reports, Trends in Parasitology.

Grant Referee

Isaac Newton Trust, ZonMw (The Netherlands organisation for health research and development), BBSRC, NERC, MRC, UKRI

PhD thesis Referee

2023

Teaching Experience

Undergraduate

Practical Demonstrator: supervising groups of 16-25 students, direct face-to-face contact

Head Practical Demonstrator: delivery of pre-lab lectures and tutorials, supervision of 80-150 students and management of sessional demonstrators

Practical design/writing: development of new, and, updating of existing practical material, redevelopment of practical manuals and assessment guidelines.

3rd year Genetics Practical Unit Coordination: administration the 3rd year practical course, supervising up to 80 students, delivery of practical material including lectures and tutorials.

Postgraduate

Course Lead Instructor, High-Resolution Melt Genotyping and Populations Genetics for NTDs, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Accra, Ghana (2014)

Course Instructor, Working with Pathogen Genomes, Wellcome Trust Advanced Courses: Hinxton (Jan 2016), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (November 2017), Cape Town, South Africa (2018), Montevideo, Uruguay (2018; lead instructor), Hinxton, UK (2019), Asia (online 2021), Latin America (online 2022).

Course Instructor, Helminth Bioinformatics, Wellcome Trust Advanced Courses: Accra, Ghana (2019), Asia (online 2021; lead instructor), Thailand (2023; lead instructor)

Course Instructor, Pathogen Genomics MSc, The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK: April/May 2018, 2019, April 2020, 2021 (remote online teaching), April 2022, 2023.