Thushan de Silva

About

I am an Infectious Diseases Clinician Scientist with a programme of research centred around clinical discovery science in the UK and Africa. Our group applies a broad range of methods including human immunology, epidemiology, molecular diagnostics and genomics, to establish how pathogens interact with human hosts at population and individual levels. We work primarily on respiratory viruses such as influenza and SARS-CoV-2, and Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococcus), investigating the natural history of infection and immunity to inform the design of diagnostic tools, vaccines, and other preventative measures. A specific area of interest is also how immunocompromising conditions such as HIV and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation impact the clinical risk and vaccine-induced immunity to respiratory viruses.

I am part of the Clinical Infection Research Group (CIRG) in the Medical School at the University of Sheffield and am an Honorary Consultant Physician in Infectious Diseases in the South Yorkshire Regional Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine in Sheffield. I am co-director of the Florey Institute of Infection and lead the host-pathogen interactions theme. I am also a Principal Investigator in the Vaccines and Immunity Theme at the Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

I completed my undergraduate medical training at the University of Bristol in 2000. Following postgraduate clinical training in General Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases and HIV in Oxford and London, I moved to Sheffield for higher specialist training in Infectious Diseases & Microbiology in 2004. After relocating to The MRC Unit The Gambia in 2007, I was awarded a British Infection Society Research Fellowship (2007-8), followed by a MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowship and PhD (2008 – 11) under the supervision of Professor Sarah Rowland-Jones and Professor Robin Weiss, to study the pathogenesis of HIV-2 infection and the molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 and HIV-2 in West Africa.

I joined the University of Sheffield in 2013 as an NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer in Infectious Diseases & Microbiology. I was awarded a Wellcome Trust Intermediate Clinical Fellowship (2016 -2021), based between Imperial College London and the MRC Unit The Gambia, to study the immunogenicity of intranasal Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine in children and bidirectional interactions with nasopharyngeal microbiota. I returned to the University of Sheffield as a Senior Clinical Lecturer in 2020 and led a programme of SARS-CoV-2 research through the COVID-19 pandemic, including roles as lead PI in Sheffield for the COG-UK consortium and the PITCH study.

I was awarded an MBE in 2021 for services to COVID-19 research.

Research interests:

Our work involves molecular epidemiology and immuno-epidemiology to gain insights into population- and individual-level patterns of infections and immunity the following areas:

Host immunity and prevention of respiratory infections: We investigate the mechanisms, durability and determinants of immune protection against respiratory pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, influenza and RSV, with a particular focus on mucosal and systemic immunity, inflammatory memory, and correlates of protection. This work spans natural infection, vaccination and immunocompromised populations, including people living with HIV and recipients of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We also develop and evaluate novel host-directed approaches to enhance respiratory epithelial defences and reduce susceptibility to infection.

Epidemiology, transmission and surveillance of infectious diseases: We apply molecular epidemiology, genomics and large-scale population health data to understand patterns of infectious disease transmission, susceptibility and outcomes. Current work includes household transmission studies of respiratory pathogens, the evaluation and implementation of novel diagnostic and sequencing approaches for surveillance, and the use of electronic health records and linked datasets to identify risk factors for severe disease and improve strategies for prevention in vulnerable populations.

Streptococcus pyogenes epidemiology and immunity: We seek to define the determinants of transmission, natural immunity and immune protection against S. pyogenes, particularly in settings with a high burden of disease. Through observational studies, human challenge models and international collaborative networks, our work aims to identify correlates of protection and generate evidence to support vaccine development.

Employment

• MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM Clinical Associate Professor
  2023 - Present
• The University of Sheffield Professor of Infectious Diseases
  2023 - Present
• Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Honorary Consultant in Infectious Diseases
  2016 - Present

Education

Education history is unavailable.

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications

Publications are unavailable.