Derrick Crook

Professor Derrick Crook is a leading academic in medical microbiology at the Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, while also serving as an Infectious Diseases Physician at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust. He combines clinical practice with cutting-edge research on pathogen genomics and antimicrobial resistance.

• Education: Medicine (University of Witwatersrand); Diploma of Tropical Medicine (London); Internal Medicine Specialization (University of Virginia); Infectious Diseases Fellowship (Tufts New England Medical Center)

His research focuses on translating whole pathogen sequencing into clinical practice, studying Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Escherichia coli, and Clostridium difficile. Key projects include the CRyPTIC program (20-country tuberculosis resistance analysis) and development of AI-powered rapid diagnostics.

Recent publications demonstrate his team's leadership in using genomic data to predict drug resistance and analyze disease trends through electronic health records. The research emphasizes practical applications for infection control and antibiotic stewardship.

• Scientific Contributions:
  • NIHR Health Protection Research Unit
  • Global Pathogen Analysis System (GPAS)
  • Mykrobe Predictor software development

As co-director of Oxford Biomedical Research Infection Theme, he leads a multidisciplinary team working to modernize infection diagnostics and treatment approaches.