David Clarke

Prof David Clarke is the Head of the School of Microbiology at University College Cork (UCC), Ireland. He holds a B.Sc. in Biotechnology from Dublin City University (1989) and a Ph.D. in Microbiology from NUI Maynooth (1993). His research focuses on understanding bacterial-host interactions, particularly in Photorhabdus symbiosis/pathogenesis, E. coli's role in Crohn's disease, and bioprospecting the human gut microbiome. Key achievements include a Wellcome Trust International Traveling Prize Fellowship (1993) and leadership in the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre (APC) for microbiome research.

Research Themes:

• Photorhabdus: Investigating molecular mechanisms of insect pathogenesis and nematode symbiosis, including regulation by primary metabolism and secondary metabolites.
• E. coli & IBD: Studying adherent-invasive E. coli (AIEC) mechanisms in Crohn's disease, targeting drug development.
• Gut Microbiome: Using functional metagenomics to discover novel bioactive molecules and metabolic functions in the human gut.

Collaborations involve APC Microbiome Ireland, focusing on translational microbiome research. Awards include Wellcome Trust funding. His lab integrates molecular genetics, biochemistry, and systems biology to address biomedical and environmental challenges.