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  3. Dr Monique Andersson

Dr Monique Andersson

Stipendiary Lecturer in Clinical Medicine, Associate Professor in Medical Virology

I completed my medical training in London (Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School), and specialist training in virology in both Bristol and London. My interest in HIV and hepatitis B led me back to my home country, South Africa, where I spent five years working at the University of Stellenbosch. I am currently a Consultant at the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and I continue to pursue my research interests in infectious diseases. I serve as a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Validation Advisory Committee for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus, HIV, and syphilis. Additionally, I am a member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) Influenza Sub-Committee, and the Hepatitis B Technical Working Group of the South African National Advisory Group on Immunisation.

Research

My research is primarily focussed on strategies to control the transmission of hepatitis B, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, particularly amongst pregnant women. In collaboration with colleagues from the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Oxford, we are developing point-of-care molecular diagnostic platforms, intended for deployment in resource-limited settings. Our clinical studies also include the application of Raman spectroscopy for the rapid diagnosis of infections.

More recently, I have developed an interest in occult hepatitis B infection (OBI). Employing single-cell and spatial transcriptomic technologies, we aim to elucidate the interactions between host genetics, immune responses, and HBV virology in individuals with chronic HBV infection compared to those with OBI. A more comprehensive understanding of these biological pathways may inform the identification of high-risk blood donors to prevent onward transmission and potential therapeutic targets for hepatitis B cure.

Teaching

I am a Stipendiary Lecturer in Clinical Medicine at Merton College. I deliver bedside clinical teaching, employing patient-centred case discussions to develop students’ knowledge, clinical skills, and professionalism. I also teach postgraduate resident doctors and medical students on a range of infection-related topics. My principal areas of interest include infections during pregnancy, infections in immunocompromised individuals, and blood-borne viral infections. 

Publications

 

Dr Monique Andersson