The Rowett Institute
Foresterhill House
Ashgrove Rd W
Aberdeen
AB25 2ZD

Flows of antimicrobial resistance and pathogens through environment to food chain

This research aims to quantify the flow of antimicrobial resistance genes and pathogens from the environment to the food chain and directly to humans in the farm environment under different farming practices. This will be integrated with social science work on antimicrobial use. Both quantitative and qualitative data will be used to develop a risk assessment model based on a Bayesian Belief Network.

Identifying selective cofactors that contribute to the role of the intestinal microbiome as a reservoir of multiple resistance genes transmissible to pathogenic bacteria

It is vital to understand the contribution of resident intestinal bacteria to the environmental flow of antimicrobial resistance genes. We will isolate resistant commensal bacteria from diverse sources, assess the co-carriage of heavy metal resistance genes on mobile genetic elements, compare identical resistance genes between non-harmful and pathogenic bacteria, and investigate the impact selective pressure has on gene evolution and transfer.

Harnessing the gut microbiome to strengthen livestock resilience against carriage and infection by pathogens

Infectious diseases, particularly when caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens, are major problems in farmed animals. New treatments are urgently needed to reduce infections. We aim to address this by harnessing the animal intestinal microbiome to boost their defence. We will screen our diverse gut bacterial culture collections to identify health-associated microbes with potent activity against pathogens, including antibiotic resistant strains

Dr Benjamin McCormick

Ben's current research focuses on sustainability in the food system. With a background in the ecology of disease, and child growth and development, he is interested in the drivers of complex systems and the interplay between people and place. Current projects span the food system from consumer behaviour to agricultural production.

Using statistical analyses, he is examining how whole diets may change if people start to reduce meat consumption using both individual cross-sectional consumption data and longitudinal household purchase data.

Ben McCormick

The Rowett Institute
Foresterhill House
Ashgrove Rd W
Aberdeen
AB25 2ZD

Dr Wisdom Dogbe

Wisdom Dogbe is an applied agricultural economist. His research focuses on the evaluation of policies for the food sector. His main research interest are:

  • Evaluating the effectiveness of climate and health policies on consumer welfare
  • Analysing consumer behaviour and its influence on current trends in obesity
  • Analysing household purchase and consumption behaviour
  • Modelling land use changes to inform government policies

Wisdom Dogbe

The Rowett Institute
Foresterhill House
Ashgrove Rd W
Aberdeen
AB25 2ZD

Dr PatrĂ­cia Norwood

PatrĂ­cia works on projects associated with the Health Behaviours theme within the Health Economics Research Unit, University of Aberdeen. Her current research interests are focussed around the use of economics in health improvement and she undertakes microeconometric analysis of interventions to reduce health inequalities, particularly relating to the impact of individual lifestyle choices such as diet and physical activity on health outcomes. Recent studies within the Strategic Research Programme have looked at economic factors influencing food choice.

PatrĂ­cia Norwood

The Rowett Institute
Foresterhill House
Ashgrove Rd W
Aberdeen
AB25 2ZD

Dr John McKenzie

My research interests include understanding food practices, food insecurity, food enterprises and the social construction of alternative practices. I approach these from a sociological perspective and specialise in qualitative methodologies to explore lived experience from the perspective of the experiencer. Further details of current research and publications can be found on my staff profile page https://www.abdn.ac.uk/people/j.s.mckenzie/

John McKenzie

The Rowett Institute
Foresterhill House
Ashgrove Rd W
Aberdeen
AB25 2ZD

Dr Madalina Neacsu

Dr Madalina Neacsu is a research fellow at the Rowett Institute who trained as a biochemical engineer and did her PhD on Natural Products Chemistry. She now specialises in natural products food formulation and bioactivity and, in a previous role, worked commercially overseeing the development of several plant-based bioactive formulations for use in food ingredients that subsequently received EFSA approval.

Madi Neacsu

The Rowett Institute
Foresterhill House
Ashgrove Rd W
Aberdeen
AB25 2ZD

Dr Frank Thies

Frank Thies is a senior scientist whose research interests mainly relate to the influence of various dietary components on cardiovascular function and cardiovascular risk, with particular emphasis being placed on the role of inflammatory processes. He is particularly interested in the mechanisms by which dietary fibres and other dietary components such as lipids and carotenoids can modulate markers for cardiovascular risk such as blood pressure and cholesterol metabolism.

Frank Thies

The Rowett Institute
Foresterhill House
Ashgrove Rd W
Aberdeen
AB25 2ZD