Lisa Ranford-Cartwright

Dr. Lisa Ranford-Cartwright is a Professor and Research Group leader at the University of Glasgow's Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, within the College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences. Her work focuses on understanding genetic variation in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, particularly in transmission biology, mosquito interactions, and disease severity prediction. She has led research groups since 2000, collaborating globally to study parasite drug resistance and vector behavior.

• Affiliations: Guest Professor at Stockholm University (2015–2016), IAEA malaria advisor, and member of the NHS/HPS Scottish Malaria Advisory Group.
• Education: BA (Cambridge, 1988), PhD (Edinburgh, 1991), postdoctoral research at the University of Edinburgh (1991–2000).

Her research integrates lab experiments with field studies in malaria-endemic regions, emphasizing parasite-vector dynamics and molecular diagnostics. She has trained over 15 PhD students and contributed to international malaria control initiatives, including the EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and UN IAEA programs.

Key Research Themes:

• Genetic basis of parasite phenotypic variation
• Development of diagnostic tools for transmission-stage parasites
• Impact of host blood composition on mosquito fitness

Her publications span molecular mechanisms of drug resistance, vector competence, and innovative detection methods using spectroscopy and machine learning.

Grants & Awards: Leadership roles in EU grant panels and contributions to global malaria policy. No explicit scientific awards listed, but recognized for sustained international collaboration.

Labs/Teams: Maintains parasite culture collections and mosquito colonies, with interdisciplinary collaborations in engineering and bioinformatics for diagnostic development.