Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences

Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions

Our research explores how the changing relationships between our microorganisms and our cells affect our health.

Millions of microorganisms live in and on our bodies forming microbiomes on different surfaces. Researchers in the Centre for Host Microbiome Interactions study our relationship with these bacteria and fungi in health or in oral and systemic diseases such as periodontitis, candidiasis, oral cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.

Our academic researchers have come together from different disciplines including microbiology, immunology, data science and epidemiology. They examine the mechanisms of diseases caused by specific microorganisms or linked with an altered microbiome composition and the burden of disease in human populations.

Our research can have far-reaching impact, identifying potential new ways in which to treat a range of diseases and uncover preventative measures that keep us and our microbiomes healthy.

Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions news

15 September 2023

Head of Centre: Professor Luigi Nibali

"There aren’t any other dental faculties, or many other places, which have a combination of microbiologists and data scientists who can actually investigate the microbiome like we do."

Principal Investigators of the Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions

Dr David Burke

Lecturer in Bioinformatics & Computational Biology
Professor Guy Carpenter

Professor of Oral Biology
Professor Stephen Challacombe

Martin Rushton Professor of Oral Medicine
Professor Mike Curtis

Professor of Microbiology
Professor Michael Escudier

Executive Dean, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences
Dr Magdalena Flak

Lecturer in Mucosal Immunology
Professor Jenny Gallagher

Ambassador, International, Engagement & Service King’s College London
Dr James Garnett

Reader in Microbial Structural Biology
Dr Mandeep Ghuman

Senior Lecturer / Honorary Consultant in Periodontology
Professor Francis Hughes

Emeritus Professor of Periodontology
Professor Mark Ide

Joint Associate Dean for Postgraduate Taught Education
Professor Newell Johnson

Visiting Emeritus Professor of Oral Health Sciences
Professor Thomas Lehner

Professor of Basic and Applied Immunology
Dr Emily Lu

Clinical Lecturer / Honorary Consultant in Periodontology
Professor Adil Mardinoglu

Professor of Systems Biology
Dr David Moyes

Senior Lecturer in Host-Microbiome Interactions
Professor Julian Naglik

Professor in Fungal Pathogenesis & Immunology
Dr Vitor Neves

Academic Clinical Lecturer and Periodontology Registrar
Dr Joana Neves

Senior Lecturer in Mucosal Immunology and Group Leader
Professor Luigi Nibali

Head of the Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions
Professor Gordon Proctor

Professor of Salivary Biology
Dr Jonathan Richardson

Lecturer in Host Fungal Interactions
Dr Wael Sabbah

Senior Lecturer in Dental Public Health
Dr Sasha Scambler

Reader in Medical Sociology
Professor Jane Setterfield

Professor of Oral and Dermatological Medicine
Dr Saeed Shoaie

Senior Lecturer in Systems & Synthetic Biology
Professor Mahvash Tavassoli

Professor of Molecular Oncology
Dr Svetislav Zaric

NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer and Specialist Registrar in Periodontology

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