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Manon Pritchard

Dr Manon Pritchard

Research Associate

School of Dentistry

cymraeg
Welsh speaking

Overview

My research has been focused on elucidating the mode of action of antibiofilm polymer therapies for the treatment of multi-drug resistant bacteria. I currently work on conventional microbiological assays, imaging and modelling (including drug screening, atomic force-, confocal and scanning electron microscopy), but also work “across the conventional boundary” of the biological and engineering sciences.  In this I work with engineers and bio-informatics to utilise technologies to study the interaction of polymer therapies with bacterial surfaces and biopolymers to study how we might perturb and treat biofilm infections.  This includes dynamic-light scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, small angle neutron scattering and rheology.  I have gained an understanding of translational research leading to a series of successful publications. Currently, I examine both undergraduate and postgraduate dental students, providing seminars and lectures on microbiology.

Publication

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2014

2013

2012

Articles

Thesis

Research

Research funding

  • Venture Life Group plc. Co-I.Measurement of mouthwash anti-viral activity against COVID-19 (MOMA), £73,501 (08/07/2020-08/02/2021)
  • GW4 Seed corn funding. Co-I.Precision maggot therapy against key cystic fibrosis pathogens, £4,793.97 (01/09/2020-31/03/2021)
  • Sêr Cymru Infrastructure accelerator award. Co-IGel documentation or gel imaging system for multidisciplinary users across the Oral and Biomedical Science Theme, School of Dentistry, Cardiff University. iBright Imaging system CL1500 – ThermoFisher Scientific, £16,712.48 (01/06/2020-28/02/2023)
  • European Social Fund, KESS2 PhD. Co-I. Developing novel technologies to model the effects of therapies on bacterial biofilms, £88,634 (01/10/2019 to 31/09/2022)
  • Sêr Cymru II Fellowship, PI. The development of in vitro models of respiratory biofilm assembly to develop novel antimicrobial therapies, £165,000 (01/06/18 to 31/05/21)
  • Industrial collaborative project, Qbiotics, Co-I. Novel therapeutics for the treatment of multi-drug resistant wound infections, £281,715 (01/10/2016 to 31/12/2018)
  • Industrial collaborative project, Qbiotics, Co-I. Screening of EBC-46 analogues using in-vitro biofilm models, £3,000 (18/05/2015 to 01/09/2015)
  • Travel grant, European Cystic Fibrosis Society, PI. Fluorescent conjugation for localisation in a mucoid pseudomonal biofilm, £300 (10/06/15 to 13/06/15)
  • Small Angle Neutron Scattering experiments, ILL, Grenoble, Co-I. Investigating the solution conformation and mechanism of action of alginate oligosaccharides, £19,699 (20/11/2012 to 23/11/2012)
  • European Social Fund, KESS PhD Scholarship. A study of the ability of OligoG alginate nanomedicines to disrupt bacterial biofilms, £91,000 (01/10/2011 to 31/09/2014)

Teaching

Teaching commitments

PhD student: "Developing novel technologies to model the effects of therapies on bacterial biofilms" Jennifer Adams                                         (European Social Fund, KESS2)

MD student: The paediatric cystic fibrosis lung: understanding the evolving microbiome, antimicrobial resistance and novel approaches to treatment

MSc  Implantology 2011-present: Lecturing, examining and marking on the cellular and molecular biology module

MSc  Implantology 2015-present: Supervision of dissertation projects (5 students to date)

Dental undergraduates: Seminar teaching in oral microbiology, exam marking and viva examiner

Teaching courses

2014: Advanced Teaching Skills: Stimulating, Lively and High Yield Learning through the. Use of Interactive and Innovative Teaching Approaches: Harvard University, USA

Biography

Career overview

  • 2018-present: Sêr Cymru II Research Fellow
  • 2014-2018: Post-doctoral research associate with an honorary clinical contract
  • 2011- 2014: EU-funded KESS PhD student, Cardiff School of Dentistry, Wales (GDP 0.2 fte)
  • 2010-2011: Dental Foundation Year 2:
    - SHO Maxillofacial Surgery on-call (Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales)
    - SHO Paediatric Dentistry (Cardiff School of Dentistry, Wales)
  • 2009-2010: Dental Foundation Year 1 (General Dental Practitioner, 29 Park Crescent, Barry, Wales)

Education and qualification

  • 2011-2014: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Cardiff School of Dentistry, Wales
    "OligoG alginate nanomedicine mediated disruption of mucin barriers and microbial biofilms"
  • 2013: Member of the Faculty of Dental Surgeons (MFDS), Royal College of Edinburgh
  • 2004-2009: First Class Honours, Bachelor of Dental surgery (BDS), Cardiff School of Dentistry, Wales

Honours and awards

2017    Medical Impact and Innovation award, Cardiff University (Research Group award)

2015 Poster prize: Cardiff and Vale UHB Research and Development Conference. Cardiff, UK (1st prize awarded).

2013 Poster Prize: European Tissue Repair Society. Reims, France (1st prize awarded).

2012 Poster prize: Welsh Microbiology & Infection Translational Research Group (2nd prize awarded).

2012 Oral Presentation: Cardiff University 27th Annual Life Sciences Postgraduate Research Day. Cardiff, UK (1st prize awarded).

2012 Cesare Romano Award for Cystic Fibrosis Research (New Therapies): 35th European Cystic Fibrosis Conference. Dublin, Ireland.

2006 Freda Berg Prize in Oral Biology: School of Dentistry, Cardiff, UK.

2006 Undergraduate Scholarship for ‘Best performance in first year’: Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.

2005 Louis Cohen Prize for Anatomy: School of Dentistry, Cardiff, UK.

Professional memberships

  • General Dental Council (GDC)
  • Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh
  • Cardiff Institute for Tissue Engineering & Repair
  • European Tissue Repair Society (ETRS) 

Committe membership

  • Review Editor on the Editorial Board of the ‘Oral Surgery' Section of Frontiers in Oral Health.
  • Research Committee, Cardiff School of Dentistry.
  • European Tissue Repair Society
  • Welsh Dental Committee