Richard Burchmore is Professor of Pathogen Phenomics at the University of Glasgow (Glasgow, UK). He obtained his PhD in Biochemistry from the University of London. Richard was an early adopter of mass spectrometry for proteomics and metabolomics and, over 20 years, has been instrumental in establishing both these research areas at the University of Glasgow. His research group was among the first to apply proteomic approaches to parasites and, with colleagues in Glasgow, pioneered the use of Orbitrap mass spectrometry for untargeted metabolomic analyses.
His current research employs -omic approaches to understand the molecular basis of pathogen phenotypes. His primary focus is on the protozoan parasite Leishmania, which can survive phagocytosis by macrophages to establish an intracellular niche. Leishmania multiple within macrophages, resulting in a spectrum of chronic pathologies in millions of infected individuals. Leishmaniasis, a disease associated with poverty, is poorly understood and difficult to diagnose and to treat. Richard has studied Leishmania throughout his research career, focusing on proteins at the surface of the parasite that mediate interaction with the host. He has developed and applied various approaches, such as proteomics, metabolomics and membrane transport assays, to understand the expression and function of surface proteins.
Richard has active collaborations with Leishmaniacs in Colombia, Brazil, Thailand, Saudi Arabia and Iran.
