Professor Ian N Clarke BSc, PhD
Professor of Molecular Microbiology/Virology

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Ian Clarke was appointed to the Chair of Molecular Microbiology/Virology in 1998. He graduated in Microbiology from the University of Leeds in 1979 and completed his PhD in Molecular Virology at the University of Warwick in 1982 studying genomic variation in rotaviruses. Ian started his academic career as a ‘new blood lecturer’ in microbial pathogenesis at the University of Southampton in 1984.
Ian leads a research team that is interested in host-pathogen interactions with special emphasis on intracellular pathogens and diseases for which there are currently no effective vaccines. The Chlamydia research group researches focusses on basic science with expertise in chlamydial molecular biology, genetics, genomics and evolution. Ian collaborates with Prof. Bentley Fane for structural biology and phages (BIO5 Arizona, USA), Prof. Kyle Ramsey -Chlamydial pathogenesis (Midwestern, USA) and Prof. Nick Thomson genomics - (Sanger, Cambridge).
The team also have translational science interests and collaborate with Dr. Peter Marsh on diagnostics and epidemiology (PHE) and Dr. Suneeta Soni (BSMS).
Ian was president and co – organizer of the European Society for Chlamydia Research held in Oxford 2016. Together with Prof. Thomson Ian has established the first global biobank of C. trachomatis isolates with matched genome sequences.
Ian retains an interest in virology, here his specialism is enteric viruses. The ‘Southampton virus’ was the first norovirus to be characterised at the molecular level (published in Science). The group have subsequently developed the first reverse genetics system for noroviruses and the long term aim is to adapt human norovirus to growth in cell culture. Ian collaborates with Dr. Chris McCormick (Southampton) on DNA-based delivery of viral genomes, with Drs. Morgan Herod (Leeds) and Prof. Vernon Ward (Otago, NZ) on the properties of the non-structural proteins. Ian was chair of the ICTV Calicivirus study group (2009 – 2015). His research group is based within the Faculty of Medicine and comprises both clinical and non-clinical scientists with postgraduate students. Potential students, postdoctoral scientists or clinician scientists who are interested in joining his group are encouraged to contact Professor Clarke.
Qualifications
B. Sc. (Hons) Microbiology, University of Leeds, 1979
Ph.D. Molecular Virology, University of Warwick, 1982
Career History
Lecturer in Microbial Pathogenesis 1984 - 1989
Senior Lecturer 1989 – 1997
Reader 1997-1998
Professor/personal chair 1998 – present
1998- 01 Director, Division of Cell and Molecular Medicine
2001– 09 Director, sub-Division of Tissue, Infection and Repair
1999-2015 Head Molecular Microbiology Group