Dr Clare Hamilton

I am a research scientist in the Protozoology group at Moredun Research Institute and my current research projects focus on zoonotic parasites, particularly Toxoplasma gondii and Cryptosporidium parvum. I received my undergraduate degree in Zoology from the University of Edinburgh before joining Moredun as a research assistant in the parasitology division. Whilst in that role, I completed a Masters by Research (University of Edinburgh) in the optimisation of detection methods for C. parvum in shellfish. I then went on to gain a PhD (Trinity College Dublin) in research on Toxocara canis before taking up a postdoc position (Dublin City University) working on liver fluke. Following this, I held a lecturing position at University College Dublin teaching parasitology and immunology to veterinary students. In my recent post at Moredun, I managed a collaborative research project between Moredun and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St. Kitts (West Indies) investigating the epidemiology and genetic diversity of T. gondii in the Caribbean.

Within EPIC, I will be looking at how molecular profiling of Cryptosporidium spp. can inform on potential transmission routes of the parasite at farm-level. I will also be investigating whether management practices and behaviours are associated with transmission patterns.

Publications

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in retail meat samples in Scotland. Jacqueline Plaza Filip Dámek Isabelle Villena Elisabeth A. Innes Frank Katzer Clare M.Hamilton