معرفی
Professor Stuart Blacksell is Professor of Tropical Microbiology at the University of Oxford and has been based at the Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) in Thailand since 2001. He holds additional appointments as Visiting Professor at the Open University (UK) and Mahidol University, and as Honorary Professor at the University of Sydney. At MORU, he serves as Biorisk and Zoonosis group leader, Head of Safety for MORU MIP, Head of Microbiology Diagnostics, and Chair of the MORU Postgraduate Student Committee.
Blacksell's research focuses on One Health and high-consequence veterinary pathogens across Southeast Asia, with particular emphasis on developing and validating improved diagnostics for tropical pathogens including rickettsial diseases, dengue, and leptospirosis. His work bridges laboratory biosafety, pathogen surveillance, and clinical diagnostics in resource-limited settings. He has been instrumental in implementing and enforcing the University of Oxford's health and safety and biosafety regulations across the MORU network while building sustainable biosafety systems and training staff.
His publication record shows a strong focus on tropical infectious diseases, particularly rickettsial diseases like scrub typhus, as well as biosafety protocols for high-consequence pathogens. Recent work spans diagnostic development, disease modeling, seroepidemiology, and laboratory safety systems across Southeast Asia. His research often addresses the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health through a One Health lens.
- Registered Biosafety Professional with the American Biological Safety Association since 2009
- Member of WHO Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO)
- Deputy Chair of WHO Technical Advisory Group for Biosafety and Biosecurity (TAG-B)
- Member of WHO Technical Advisory Group on the Responsible Use of Life Sciences and Dual-use Research (TAG-RUL-DUR)
- Section Editor (Bacteria) for PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Professor Blacksell has advised numerous international organizations including WHO, FAO, and WOAH on biosafety and One Health programs. His team recently completed the design and construction of the BSL-3 Regional Reference Laboratory for Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Pak Chong, Thailand. He has served on editorial committees for key WHO publications including the 4th edition of the Laboratory Biosafety Manual and the 2nd edition of the Laboratory Biosecurity Guidance. His work with the Biosafety Research Roadmap identifies critical gaps in biosafety evidence globally.
