Dr Simon Goodman
BSc, Sheffield, PhD, Cambridge
Lecturer
Institute of Integrative and Comparative Biology
Background: 2000-2004 Research Fellow, Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London
1996-2000 Post-doc, Institute of Cell, Animal and Population Biology, University of Edinburgh
1995-1996 Research Assistant, Dept. Genetics, University of Cambridge
1991-1995 PhD, Dept. Genetics, University of Cambridge
1988-1991 Honours degree, Dept. Genetics, University of Sheffield
Office: Miall 8.05
Phone: +44(0) 113 34 32561
Email:
Publications
List Dr Goodman's Publications
Research Interests
Population and conservation genetics, molecular ecology, disease ecology
My research focuses on investigating how patterns of genetic variation relate to disease susceptibility, and the mechanisms by which disease acts as major conservation threat. Pathogens are a major driving force in evolution and are intimately linked with much of the biological diversity we see around us. However, disease is now also a major global conservation threat, comparable in importance to other major factors such as habitat destruction, climate change, over exploitation and invasive species. Work in my group deals with investigating both the underlying evolutionary genetic interactions between hosts and pathogens, and developing ways to manage real world conservation disease threats.
We use a combination of theoretical and empirical approaches in our research, for example by using theoretical models to test hypotheses about the evolution of disease resistance, and comparative genomic techniques to examine genetic variation in host candidate genes in relation to specific wildlife diseases, e.g. Phocine distemper virus in seals, or links between the population genetics of vector populations and their ability to act as vectors for different diseases (e.g. mosquitoes in Galapagos). In recent work we showed that evolutionary feedback due to acquired immunity and stochasticity in epidemic intervals can impede the evolution of disease resistance, a finding that may have important implications for epidemiological models of human, agricultural and wildlife diseases (Harding et al. 2005).
In other work, together with Ecuadorian partners we recently established the first ever molecular genetic and pathology laboratory in the Galapagos islands (see http://www.galapagoslab.org). Galapagos is one of the most iconic places in the world for evolution and biodiversity, but many of the endemic species in the archipelago are now vulnerable to introduced diseases, or changes to the ecology of native diseases. We are using a range of genetic and pathology methods to determine what the current and future disease threats are, and to develop disease mitigation strategies for the Galapagos National Park Service. Our research here has already guided plans to reduce the risk of introduction of West Nile Virus to the archipelago (Kilpatrick et al. 2006).
We are also working with Institutions in the 5 Caspian states to develop solutions for conservation of the Caspian seal, which we recently demonstrated to have declined by more than 90% since the start of the 20th century.
Current funding for these projects comes from the Darwin Initiative (Galapagos disease threats, grant no: 162-12-17), The Caspian Environment Programme and Agip KCO (Caspian seal conservation), BBSRC and Marie Curie PhD studentships.