Elmarie Myburgh is a Lecturer in Immunology and Infection and is based at the University of York. She is part of the York Biomedical Research Institute (YBRI) and the Experimental Medicine and Biomedicine (EMB) group at Hull York Medical School. Her role includes teaching and research related to host-pathogen interactions, immunoregulation and drug discovery.
She is the co-leader for the University of York Biomedical Sciences programme which is jointly owned between Hull York Medical School and the Department of Biology. She is also the Associate Head for the HYMS EMB group.
Elmarie contributes to the development, implementation and running of teaching and training activities within the Skin Research Centre.
Elmarie Myburgh is a Lecturer in Immunology and Infection at the University of York. She obtained a BSc (Biological Sciences) and an HonsBSc (Biochemistry) at the University of Stellenbosch. This was followed by a PhD in Infection Immunology in Prof Frank Brombacher’s laboratory at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. She then relocated to the UK to do postdoctoral research in host-pathogen interactions and parasite biology in Jeremy Mottram's group at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow. Elmarie joined the University of York in 2016 where she continues to work on macrophage biology and Leishmania-host interactions.
I am a member of the Experimental Medicine and Biomedicine research group and the York Biomedical Research Institute
My research focusses on the complex interplay between pathogens and their hosts, with a particular interest in the kinetoplastids Leishmania and African trypanosomes. I combine in vivo imaging approaches with genetic manipulation of host cells or pathogens to evaluate how pathogens establish infection to persist within the hostile host environment, but also how the mammalian host defends itself against acute and chronic infection. I apply these technologies for the identification of pathogen virulence factors, novel drug or immunotherapy targets and to support drug discovery programs.
Grants
Wellcome Trust Resource grant co-PI with J. Mottram (York), M. Barrett (University of Glasgow), S. Croft and J. Kelly (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine). “In vivo screening resource to support drug development in parasitic disease” 2014-2017
SULSA Leaders Award (Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance) “Imaging host-parasite interaction to accelerate drug development” 2015 - 2016
Wellcome Trust/ ISSF Catalyst grant (University of Glasgow) co-PI with J. Rodgers and N. Dickens (University of Glasgow) “Comparative transcriptomic analysis of central nervous system and bloodstream-resident trypanosomes in murine model of human African trypanosomiasis” 2015 - 2017
Gates Grand Challenges Award co-PI with E. Devaney (Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow “Illuminating the darkness: exploiting IVIS imaging technology” 2013 – 2015
My teaching in the Hull York Medical School and Department of Biology is linked to my research interests in host-pathogen interactions, immunoregulation and drug discovery.
Lectures
Stage 2 Pharmacology
Stage 2 Immunology and Infection
Stage 3 Mechanisms to Therapies
Tutorials
I provide small-group teaching to Hull York Medical School students in the Scholarship and Special Interest Programme(SSIP) and to Department of Biology students through tutorials.
Hull York Medical School Year 1 SSIP on “Targeting host-pathogen interaction to treat disease”
Department of Biology Stage 2 tutorial on “Therapies against parasitic disease”
Projects
I supervise research projects for undergraduate Stage 3 and Stage 4 (integrated Masters), intercalating and postgraduate (masters and PhD) students. Topics are related to my research interests and include mainly lab-based projects.
Visit Dr Elmarie Myburgh's profile on the York Research Database to see a full list of publications, browse activities and projects, explore connections, collaborations, related work and more.