معرفی
Dr. Helen Groves is a Clinical Lecturer in Paediatric Infectious Diseases at Queen’s University Belfast’s School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, based at the Wellcome Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine. She completed postgraduate training in the UK Clinical Academic Training Program, including an Academic Clinical Lectureship at Queen’s University Belfast and a Wellcome Trust-funded PhD on early immune responses to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Her clinical training included a subspecialty program in the UK and a Clinical Fellowship at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto (2019–2021).
Education: Helen Groves earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in 2018 from Queen’s University Belfast, supervised by Dr. U. F. Power and Dr. M. Shields. Her thesis, titled Elucidation of the roles of PTN and ISG15 in RSV cytopathogenesis: possible biomarkers of severe disease, explored RSV-driven immune mechanisms. She holds qualifications from the UK’s postgraduate Clinical Academic Training Program and subspecialty Paediatric Infectious Diseases training.
Research Interests: Her work focuses on early-life respiratory viral infections, particularly RSV, aiming to understand immune responses and develop treatments. Key projects include leading the INHALER study (examining pandemic impacts on asthma/viral-wheeze development) and co-leading the PRECISE study (evaluating point-of-care testing for corticosteroid guidance in preschool wheeze). She is also a co-investigator in the pan-European CAR-CF trial, analyzing antibody responses in cystic fibrosis patients.
Scientific Awards: Notable recognitions include:
- Clinical Academics in Training Annual Conference 2024 runner-up for post-doctoral plenary presentation
- Colonel Davis Research Scholarship (2017)
- First prize for oral presentations at the Annual Postgraduate Research Symposium (2017 and 2016)
- First prize at the BPAIIG Winter Meeting 2018
Advising & Grants: Helen has secured Wellcome Trust PhD funding and currently oversees major collaborative studies. Her work involves peer-review roles, including for the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, and editorial activities with the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases. She actively participates in conferences and workshops, such as the Clinical Academics in Training Annual Conference 2024 and Health Data Research UK events.
Labs & Teams: Based at Queen’s University Belfast’s Wellcome Wolfson Institute, she collaborates internationally in studies like the CAR-CF trial and INHALER/PRECISE cohort projects. Her network includes institutions in Canada, the US, and Europe, emphasizing global pediatric health research.
