Rachel Simmonds

Professor Rachel Simmonds is a faculty member in the School of Biosciences at the University of Surrey, holding the academic rank of Professor of Immunopathogenesis. She earned her B.Sc. from the University of Manchester and a PhD from Imperial College London. Her primary research focuses on understanding the mechanism of action of mycolactone, the virulence factor of Mycobacterium ulcerans, which causes Buruli ulcer—a neglected tropical disease. She leads a research group investigating how mycolactone inhibits protein translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum, linking this mechanism to disordered blood clotting and disease pathogenesis. She currently holds a Wellcome Trust Investigator Award to advance this research.

Professor Simmonds is the Director of Postgraduate Research for the Department of Microbial Sciences, overseeing graduate training and research supervision. She collaborates with Phil Biggin (University of Oxford) on molecular dynamics simulations of mycolactone interactions. Her teaching includes courses on immunology and molecular biology at the undergraduate level. She actively supervises postgraduate researchers like Aloysius Loglo (KCCR, Ghana) and Katherine Corfield (University of Surrey), focusing on topics such as diet's role in Buruli ulcer pathogenesis and mycolactone evolution.

Her work bridges basic cell biology and clinical applications, with recent studies exploring dietary deficiencies' impact on Buruli ulcer severity and the use of medical illustrations to improve disease detection. Awards include the Wellcome Trust Investigator Award, recognizing her contributions to understanding neglected tropical diseases. Her research also extends to vaccine development and the molecular mechanisms of mycolactone's effects on vascular integrity and inflammation.

Publications highlight her multidisciplinary approach, integrating cell biology, immunology, and public health. Key findings include the role of mycolactone in endothelial glycocalyx degradation and its implications for tissue necrosis. She advocates for improved global health strategies through better disease visualization tools and nutritional interventions, addressing the needs of communities affected by Buruli ulcer.