Irene R Grant

Professor Irene R. Grant is a leading academic at the Queen's University Belfast, affiliated with the School of Biological Sciences and the Institute for Global Food Security. Her career spans decades of research on foodborne pathogens, particularly Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) and Mycobacterium bovis, focusing on their detection, heat resistance, and zoonotic implications. She manages Containment Level 2 and 3 laboratories, advancing biosensor technologies for pathogen enumeration.

• University: Queen's University Belfast
• School: School of Biological Sciences
• Rank: Professor

Research Interests

Professor Grant specializes in:

• Development of novel pathogen-specific binders (antibodies, phage peptides) for magnetic separation and biosensor platforms
• Detection of Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter, and E. coli in food matrices
• Improving pasteurization and antimicrobial interventions in dairy products

PhD Students

• QiQi He: Assessing antimicrobial action of traditional Chinese herbs on foodborne bacteria
• Dr Lorna M. O’Brien: Post-doc at University College Dublin
• Dr Antonio C.G. Foddai: Post-doc at Queen's University Belfast