Dr Denise Marston

After graduating from the University of Leicester, UK in 1994 with a BSC (Hons) in Microbiology I began my scientific career at the Institute for Animal Health (Compton, UK). Whist at Compton, I was involved in elucidating the genetic factors responsible for resistance to Marek’s Disease in chickens and was seconded to the Pirbright Institute to assist in Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in 2001.

In 2004, I joined the Virology Department at APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) in Weybridge, embarking on a research and diagnostic career focussing on viral zoonoses including rabies. During this time, I completed a PhD investigating the viral genetic elements responsible for host species transmission in lyssaviruses, achieving a prize for the best PhD thesis in 2017 by ‘La Foundation Méditerranée Infection’. As part of my studies, I pioneered the utilisation of Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) to investigate the global diversity of lyssaviruses and was fortunate to discover and characterise two novel lyssaviruses.

I have harboured a passion for teaching others and valued the opportunity to provide in situ training of viral diagnostic techniques, including PCR and sequencing in countries such as Azerbaijan and Tajikistan. In 2020, I became the project manager for a cross-agency project to implement WGS to investigate the spread of bovine TB in cattle throughout GB.

2021 is a significant year for me beginning a new journey at the Vet School here at Surrey University. I am excited to bring the experience and knowledge I have and focus on teaching the next generation of Vets.