Trevor Lawley

Dr. Trevor Lawley is a Group Leader at the Wellcome Sanger Institute within the Parasites and Microbes programme, where he leads the Host-Microbiota Interactions Lab (HMIL). With over 15 years of experience, he has established himself as a leading researcher in microbiome science, focusing on the complex relationships between humans and their microbial communities.

Dr. Lawley's research centers on host-microbiota interactions, particularly how microorganisms on mucosal surfaces (gut, nasopharynx, urogenital tract) interact with their host during health and disease. His lab investigates microbiome assembly in early life, pathogen colonization resistance, symbiosis and bacterial interactions, immune and metabolic development, and the virome and resistome. He employs high-throughput genome sequencing, anaerobic microbiology, and experimental models to identify beneficial microbes and functions that can optimize growth, development, and disease resistance in children from both Westernized and Low- and Middle-Income countries.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on neonatal microbiome development, cancer immunotherapy applications, climate change solutions through microbial technologies, and pathogen resistance mechanisms. The research reveals consistent themes of microbial community dynamics, host-pathogen interactions, and translational applications for human health.

• Canadian Society for Microbiology PhD Student of the Year (Gold Award)
• Peggy Lillis Innovator Award

Dr. Lawley's lab includes numerous postdoctoral fellows, research associates, and students working on various aspects of microbiome research. His work is supported by significant funding from the Medical Research Council and collaborations with major organizations including the Wellcome Trust, Gates Foundation, and multiple international academic institutions. The HMIL generates large-scale publicly available genomic resources and bacterial culture collections while innovating metagenomic technologies and microbiological methods.

The Host-Microbiota Interactions Lab maintains strong collaborative relationships with external partners including the Baby Biome Study, James Berkley at the University of Oxford, Judd Walson at the University of Washington, the CHAIN network, and researchers at the Kenya Medical Research Institute. These collaborations extend the lab's impact across global health initiatives, particularly in understanding microbiome development in diverse populations.