Gurdyal Besra

Professor Gurdyal Besra is the Bardrick Professor of Microbial Physiology and Chemistry at the University of Birmingham's School of Biosciences. He leads a world-leading team investigating the microbial physiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell walls and CD1d therapeutics. His work includes drug target identification, vaccine development, and antibiotic resistance mechanisms.

• Affiliations: University of Birmingham, School of Biosciences.
• Roles: Bardrick Research Chair, multidisciplinary team leader.

Professor Besra has secured over £35 million in research grants from institutions like the Wellcome Trust and MRC, publishing over 480 articles with an H-index of 106. His research focuses on tuberculosis pathogenesis, cell wall biosynthesis, and immune mechanisms.

Education: BSc (Hons) Chemistry and PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Newcastle. Postdoctoral training at Colorado State University under Professor Patrick Brennan.

Research Interests

His work spans microbial physiology, tuberculosis drug development, and CD1 antigen presentation pathways. Key areas include:

• Biosynthesis and molecular basis of mycolic acids.
• Cell wall mutants and their role in virulence.
• Mechanisms of antibiotic resistance.
• CD1-mediated T-cell antigen recognition.

Scientific Awards

• W.H. Pierce Memorial Prize (Society for Applied Microbiology).
• Carbohydrate Chemistry Award (Royal Society of Chemistry).
• Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award.
• Biochemical Society Award.

Grants & Advising

He has managed over 50 grants and mentored numerous students and researchers. His lab collaborates internationally, focusing on translational research for tuberculosis therapies.

Labs & Teams

Leads the Bardrick Research Group, a multidisciplinary team advancing tuberculosis research through molecular biology, biochemistry, and immunology.