Grace Frankland Lecture - Pathogen sequencing: time to shoot for the stars?

This event is open to University of Birmingham staff and students only.

The 2022 Grace Frankland Lecture, titled 'Pathogen sequencing: time to shoot for the stars?' will be delivered by Professor Sharon Peacock CBE FMedSci, University of Cambridge.

This annual lecture celebrates the memory of the pioneering microbiologist Grace Frankland (1858–1946), who worked at the University of Birmingham between 1894 and 1918. Grace Frankland was an advocate for equality in science and authored multiple studies on the link between bacteria and public health. She also published the book ‘Bacteria in Daily Life’ (1903), which is arguably one of the earliest examples of science outreach in the field of microbiology.

The Grace Frankland Lecture recognises an outstanding contribution to expanding the reach of microbiology to society. Previous speakers were Professor Ada Yonath (Weizmann Institute of Science, 2019) and Professor Lalita Ramakrishnan (University of Cambridge, 2021).

Professor Sharon Peacock is a Professor of Public Health and Microbiology in the Department of Medicine at the University of Cambridge. Professor Peacock is also Executive Director and Chair of the COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) consortium. She is a world authority on pathogen genomics, antibiotic resistance and a range of specific infectious pathogens. Her lab works to translate pathogen sequencing into improved disease control through infection control intervention and therapeutics. Her research and accomplishments in policy (including during the COVID-19 pandemic) are of exceptional quality and societal relevance.