Yamni Nigam

Professor Yamni Nigam is a distinguished academic at Swansea University's School of Health and Social Care, Department of Healthcare Science. She serves as a Professor in Biomedical Sciences with a specialization in maggot therapy and wound healing research. Her work bridges clinical practice, scientific research, and public engagement, making significant contributions to the understanding of medicinal maggots and their therapeutic applications.

Professor Nigam received her undergraduate degree from King's College, London, followed by a Master's in Applied Parasitology and Medical Entomology from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. She completed her doctorate at Swansea University and held a post-doctoral position at Fundaco Oswaldo Cruz in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Professor Nigam's research primarily focuses on maggot therapy, wound healing, entomology, and microbiology. She founded the Swansea University Maggot Research Group, which has made groundbreaking discoveries about the antimicrobial properties of Lucilia sericata secretions, including the identification of Seraticin®, a potent antimicrobial factor. Her work explores the biochemical mechanisms behind maggot debridement therapy and its clinical applications for chronic wound management.

Her extensive publication record demonstrates consistent research activity in maggot therapy, wound healing, and related biomedical fields. Recent publications show a strong focus on clinical applications, public perception studies, and expanding the scientific evidence base for maggot therapy. Her work bridges basic science with clinical practice, addressing both the molecular mechanisms and practical implementation challenges of this unconventional treatment.

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Elected Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society
• Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology
• Welsh Crucible Programme participant
• Athena Swan Champion
• Diabetes Community Champion

Professor Nigam actively supervises postgraduate research students working on topics related to wound care, maggot therapy, and antimicrobial research. She has led numerous research projects investigating the clinical applications of maggot therapy and public perception of this treatment. Her 'Love a maggot!' campaign represents a significant public engagement effort to change perceptions about maggot therapy, featuring numerous media appearances including BBC programs like Casualty and Countryfile.

Professor Nigam established the Swansea University Maggot Research Group, which has become a leading center for research on medicinal maggots. Her team collaborates with clinical practitioners, wound care specialists, and media organizations to advance understanding and acceptance of maggot therapy. The group's work spans basic science, clinical research, and public engagement initiatives, making significant contributions to both scientific knowledge and practical healthcare applications.