معرفی
Dr. Donna MacCallum is a Reader and BSc Programme Lead at the University of Aberdeen, within the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition. She leads research in the Aberdeen Fungal Group in the Institute of Medical Sciences, focusing on fungal pathogenesis with particular emphasis on Candida species. Dr. MacCallum actively supervises PhD students and contributes significantly to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in microbiology and related fields.
Dr. MacCallum's educational background includes:
- BSc (Hons) Genetics (First Class, 1994) - University of Aberdeen
- PhD Microbiology (1999) - University of Aberdeen (thesis: "mRNA differential display to investigate yeast-hypha dimorphism in Candida albicans")
- PGCE Higher Education Teaching and Learning (2004) - University of Aberdeen
Her primary research interests center on fungal pathogenesis and virulence, with particular emphasis on the opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans and mouse models of infection. Dr. MacCallum's work addresses the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) of animals in research, working to refine infection models and develop new methods to monitor infection in animals. Her research has evolved from initially focusing on fungal perspective in pathogenesis to examining host immune responses during infection. She aims to understand factors leading to susceptibility to opportunistic fungal infections and identify crucial events during infection development that could inform novel clinical management or therapeutic strategies.
Dr. MacCallum's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on fungal pathogenesis, particularly Candida species (including C. albicans, C. auris, and C. parapsilosis), host-pathogen interactions, and the development of innovative models for studying fungal infections. Her work spans from basic molecular mechanisms of virulence to clinical aspects of fungal infections and public health implications. There is a clear progression toward more sophisticated models (ex vivo human skin models, gastrointestinal colonization models) and a growing interest in translational applications of her research.
Dr. MacCallum has received several prestigious awards and recognitions:
- Honorary membership of the British Society for Medical Mycology
- Principal's Prize for Public Engagement (Public Prize)
- Royal Society Partnership grant (2016)
- NC3Rs public engagement award (2016)
- Microbiology Society Microbiology in Society Awards (2016)
- Microbiology Society Public Engagement Award (2010)
As an academic supervisor, Dr. MacCallum currently mentors five PhD students: Helen Heaney, Dora Corzo Leon, Ambre Chapuis, Stylianos Simantirakis, and Dan Larcombe. She has successfully supervised numerous PhD students to completion, including Simon Vautier, Edina Szabo, Shane Smith, Chibuike Ibe, Prashant Sood, Ambre Chapuis, and Dora Corzo Leon. Her supervisory approach spans both fundamental research on fungal pathogenesis and applied studies with clinical relevance. Dr. MacCallum is also actively involved in educational development, having received recognition for her work on enhancing equity and quality in research-led teaching experiences.
Dr. MacCallum is a key member of the Aberdeen Fungal Group and the Infection and Immunology Research Programme within the Institute of Medical Sciences. Her laboratory employs a range of techniques including molecular microbiology, animal infection models, and advanced imaging to study host-fungal interactions. She collaborates extensively with researchers both within the University of Aberdeen and internationally, particularly with the University of Exeter. Dr. MacCallum is also deeply committed to public engagement, serving as a STEM ambassador since 2012 and developing numerous outreach activities for schools and the public.
