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Chris is Professor of Microbiology at Manchester Metropolitan. He is also an Honorary Consultant Microbiologist within the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust. Since completing his DPhil at the University of Oxford, he has built a successful career in Environmental Microbiology. Wherein he worked in partnership with SMEs and multinationals (incl. BP, Shell, and Ford Motor Company). He was also cofounder of the NERC spinout company, Microbial Solutions Ltd, that used proprietary microbial consortia, which he invented, to biologically treat industrial wastewaters.
Wanting new challenges, and through a combination of curiosity and serendipity, he realised the urge to refresh and redirect his research towards the roles of human microbiota in health and disease at Manchester Metropolitan, where he is now Head of Microbiology. Chris’ research is predominantly on the role of lung and gut microbiota in chronic diseases, including cystic fibrosis, non-CF bronchiectasis, COPD, and asthma. In order to unravel the complexity of human microbiota, he exploits and adapts models, theories, and principles from traditional ecology, coupled with big data from ever improving developments in high-throughput sequencing technologies, applied to cross-sectional and longitudinal patient population studies.
In his relatively short time at Manchester, he has built strategic partnerships and collaborations within Greater Manchester with clinicians within the Northern Care Alliance NHS group and Manchester Foundation Trust, as well as with clinicians nationally and internationally. During the pandemic he was appointed as a government scientific adviser for the Joint Biosecurity Centre led Environmental Monitoring for Health Programme. The programme provided early warning of COVID-19 outbreaks by monitoring sewage and sharing data with NHS Test and Trace and local public health stakeholders. It was also used to direct surge testing and surge vaccinations to combat variants of concern. Within the national programme, Chris had specific responsibility for both Greater Manchester and the Tees Valley Combined Authority area.
1997 – 2001, D.Phil., University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science (University College),
‘The microbial dynamics of metalworking fluids’. BBSRC Industrial CASE studentship with BP Castrol. Supervisors: Prof Ian Thompson, Prof Christopher Knowles, and Dr Michael Wright.
1993 – 1997, B.Sc. (Hons) 2.1 in Process Biotechnology, University of Teesside. Honours Project
with Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI).
1992 – 1993 Diploma in Engineering Science, University of Teesside.
2015 – 2017: Professor & Principal Investigator in Microbial Ecology, NERC Centre for
Ecology & Hydrology (Wallingford)
2007 – 2016: Cofounder of Microbial Solutions Limited (Oxford).
2005 – 2015: Principal Investigator and Senior Scientific Officer in Microbial Ecology, NERC Centre for
Ecology & Hydrology (Oxford and Wallingford)
2000 – 2005: Higher Scientific Officer in Environmental Biotechnology, NERC Institute of
Virology Environmental Microbiology (IVEM, Oxford)
Head of Microbiology
Why study and research microbial ecology? Microorganisms are the most abundant and diverse forms of life on Earth. They possess enormous metabolic and physiological versatility and are essential in global ecosystem processes. Their phylogenetic and physiological diversity is considerably greater than that of animals and plants. Their interactions with other life forms, including the human microbiome, are correspondingly more complex.
Understanding microbial ecology is arguably one of the most compelling intellectual challenges facing contemporary ecology. Further, it is now widely accepted that our understanding of the ecology of microorganisms, and the potential for developing an inclusive ecology, could be accelerated if principles, models, and theories from traditional ecology can be adopted and adapted in microbial ecology.
Setting microbial research within an ecological framework, coupled with ever improving high-throughput sequencing technologies, has the real promise of allowing us to better understand and predict changes in the natural environment, allow improved manipulation of agricultural and industrial processes and provide improved protection of human health.
In the Department of Life Sciences, I tutor L4/L5 students and supervise UG final year project students from the B.Sc. (Hons) Biomedical Science degree course. I lecture in the B.Sc. Biomedical Science 2nd year Techniques and Applications unit (6H5Z1036) and final year Microbiology & Health (6H6Z1007) Units.
In the Department of Natural Sciences, I lecture on 1st and 2nd year UG units on the B.Sc. Microbiology and Molecular Biology degree (6F421108 and 6F5Z1113)
Provide teaching support on the Recent Advances in Biomedical Research M.Sc. Unit (6ABM7135). I lecture in the ‘Human Infectious Disease’ (6ABM7139) and ‘Management & Control of Infectious Disease’ (6ABM7140) M.Sc. Units.
In progress only:
At MMU:
Ryan Marsh, Ph.D. (CF Trust funded) ‘Organization and function of the gut microbiota in cystic fibrosis’ with Prof Alan Smyth, Dr Giles Major (both Queen’s Medical Centre / Nottingham University), Dr Damian Rivett (MMU). 2019-present. PI/Director of studies (DoS)
Michelle Hardman, Ph.D. (CF Trust funded) ‘Non-tuberculosis mycobacteria infection and the wider lung microbiota in cystic fibrosis’ with Dr Thomas Daniels (Southampton CF centre), Dr Damian Rivett (MMU), Dr Leah Cuthbertson (Imperial College London). 2019-present. DoS
Helen Gavillet, Ph.D. (MMU funded) ‘Role of airway microbiota in CF bronchiectasis chronic lung disease’ with Dr Damian Rivett (MMU), Dr Nina Dempsey-Hibbert (MMU), Dr Anna Oliver (NERC-CEH), Dr Mary Carroll (Southampton CF centre). 2017 – present. DoS
Lauren Hatfield, Ph.D. (CF Trust funded) ‘Detection of CF lung pathogens using engineered bacteriophages’ with Dr Damian Rivett (MMU), Dr Antonia Sagona (Warwick) and Dr Mary Carroll (Southampton CF centre). 2017 – present. DoS
Jodie Barber, Ph.D. (World Animal Protection) ‘Zoonotic pathogen risks for wildlife markets’ with Dr Dave Megson (MMU), Dr Jenny Rowntree (MMU), and Neil D’Cruze (WAP). 2018 – present.
Outside MMU:
Katy Faulkner, Ph.D. (NERC CENTA DTP) ‘Resistance and resilience of forest soil microbial communities to climate change-driven extreme weather’ with Prof Gary Bending (University of Warwick) and Dr Niall McNamara (NERC-CEH). 2018 – present.
Emma Johnstone, Ph.D. (NERC CENTA DTP), ‘Resilience of microbial communities to extreme
weather’ with Prof Gary Bending (Warwick) and Dr Niall McNamara (NERC-CEH). 2016 – present
2010 – present: Ph.D. and D.Phil. viva voce external examiner, including, University of Oxford (4 candidates), Bangor University (1), University of Essex (1), King’s College London (2), Sheffield Hallam University (1), Queen’s University Belfast (2), Teesside University (1), and Warwick University (2).
2010 – present: M.Sc. viva voce external examiner, University of Oxford (2).
Chris is Professor of Microbiology at Manchester Metropolitan. He is also an Honorary Consultant Microbiologist within the Northern Care Alliance NHS Group. Since completing his DPhil at the University of Oxford, he has built a successful career in Environmental Microbiology. Wherein he worked in partnership with SMEs and multinationals (incl. BP, Shell, and Ford Motor Company). He was also cofounder of the NERC spin-out company, Microbial Solutions Ltd, which used proprietary microbial consortia, that he invented, to biologically treat industrial wastewaters.
Wanting new challenges, and through a combination of curiosity and serendipity, he recently realised the urge to refresh and redirect his research towards the roles of human microbiota in health and disease at Manchester Metropolitan, where he is now Head of Microbiology. Chris’ research is now predominantly focused on the role of microbiota in chronic lung diseases, including cystic fibrosis, non-CF bronchiectasis, COPD, and asthma. In order to unravel the complexity of human microbiota, he exploits and adapts models, theories, and principles from traditional ecology, coupled with big data from ever improving developments in high-throughput sequencing technologies, applied to cross-sectional and longitudinal patient population studies.
In his short time at Manchester, he has built strategic partnerships and collaborations within Greater Manchester with Health Innovation Manchester and clinicians at the Northern Care Alliance and Manchester Foundation Trust, as well as with clinicians nationally and internationally. He has recently been appointed as a government scientific adviser for a new national coronavirus (COVID-19) early warning system. This new government-led programme is providing an early warning of COVID-19 outbreaks by monitoring sewage and sharing data with NHS Test and Trace system and local public health stakeholders. Within the national programme, Chris has specific responsibility for both Greater Manchester and the Tees Valley Combined Authority area.
‘Lung function and microbiota diversity in CF’ 6th Manchester CF & Microbiology symposium, 2019
‘Cystic fibrosis lung microbiome’ British Society for Microbial Technology (BSMT) conference in London, 2019
‘Living in a microbial world’ Public Lecture at the School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, 2018
‘Microbiomics to define cystic fibrosis management’ Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Regional Paediatric Cystic Fibrosis Training Day, Manchester, 2018
‘Lung infection microbiota in cystic fibrosis’British Society for Microbial Technology (BSMT) conference in Liverpool, 2018
‘Patterns and processes underpinning the commonness & rarity of microbial taxa’ University of Liverpool Behaviour, Evolution, Ecology and Microbiology Seminar Series, 2018
‘The microbiota in mother and child’ Division of Child Health, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Nottingham, 2018
‘What have we learnt from molecular techniques, and what have we not?’ Manchester 2nd International CF conference, Manchester, 2018
‘CF lung infection microbiota: a need to reconsider Koch’s postulates’ Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth
College, NH, USA, 2018
‘Infection microbiota and emblematic pathogen dynamics from adolescence onwards’ Dartmouth College CF Retreat Conference, Dartmouth College, NH, USA, 2018
‘Lung Infection Microbiota in Cystic Fibrosis’ Manchester Bacteriology Discussion Group, Manchester,
2018
‘Unravelling the complexity of chronic lung infection microbiota’ School of Science, Engineering & Design,
Teesside University, 2017
‘The cystic fibrosis lung microbiome: future directions for PCD’ Cystic Fibrosis Centre, Southampton University Hospitals Trust, Southampton, 2017
‘Culture-independent bacteriological analysis of cystic fibrosis respiratory specimens’ plenary speaker at European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, Vienna, Austria, 2017
‘Ecology of cystic fibrosis lung infections’ plenary speaker at European Cystic Fibrosis Society Symposium, Basel, Switzerland, 2016
‘Helminth infection associated alterations in wild host gastrointestinal microbiota’ School of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, 2016
‘Helminth burden associated alterations in wild host gut microbiota’ School of Healthcare Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, 2016
‘Ecology of chronic lung infections’ Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai,
China, 2016
H. Gavillet, L. Hatfield, D. Rivett, A. Jones, A. Maitra, et al. A. Horsley, C. van der Gast. (2022). Bacterial Culture Underestimates Lung Pathogen Detection and Infection Status in Cystic Fibrosis. Microbiol Spectr. 10(5),
DTJ. Broderick, DW. Waite, RL. Marsh, CA. Camargo, P. Cardenas, et al. AB. Chang, WOC. Cookson, L. Cuthbertson, W. Dai, ML. Everard, A. Gervaix, JK. Harris, K. Hasegawa, LR. Hoffman, SJ. Hong, L. Josset, MS. Kelly, BS. Kim, Y. Kong, SC. Li, JM. Mansbach, A. Mejias, GA. O’Toole, L. Paalanen, M. Pérez-Losada, MM. Pettigrew, M. Pichon, O. Ramilo, L. Ruokolainen, O. Sakwinska, PC. Seed, CJ. van der Gast, BD. Wagner, H. Yi, ET. Zemanick, Y. Zheng, N. Pillarisetti, MW. Taylor. (2021). Bacterial Signatures of Paediatric Respiratory Disease: An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Microbiology. 12,
GA. O’Toole, A. Crabbé, R. Kümmerli, JJ. LiPuma, JM. Bomberger, et al. JC. Davies, D. Limoli, VV. Phelan, JB. Bliska, WH. DePas, LE. Dietrich, TH. Hampton, R. Hunter, CM. Khursigara, A. Price-Whelan, A. Ashare, RA. Cramer, JB. Goldberg, F. Harrison, DA. Hogan, MA. Henson, DR. Madden, JR. Mayers, C. Nadell, D. Newman, A. Prince, DW. Rivett, JD. Schwartzman, D. Schultz, DC. Sheppard, AR. Smyth, MA. Spero, BA. Stanton, PE. Turner, C. van der Gast, FJ. Whelan, R. Whitaker, K. Whiteson. (2021). Model Systems to Study the Chronic, Polymicrobial Infections in Cystic Fibrosis: Current Approaches and Exploring Future Directions. mBio. 12(5),
DW. Rivett, SB. Mombrikotb, HS. Gweon, T. Bell, C. van der Gast (2021). Bacterial communities in larger islands have reduced temporal turnover. The ISME Journal: multidisciplinary journal of microbial ecology. 15(10), pp.2947-2955.
TH. Hampton, D. Thomas, C. van der Gast, GA. O’Toole, BA. Stanton (2021). Mild Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease Is Associated with Bacterial Community Stability. Microbiology Spectrum. 9(1),
S. Hilton, E. Picot, S. Schreiter, D. Bass, K. Norman, et al. AE. Oliver, JD. Moore, TH. Mauchline, PR. Mills, GR. Teakle, IM. Clark, PR. Hirsch, CJ. van der Gast, GD. Bending. (2021). Identification of microbial signatures linked to oilseed rape yield decline at the landscape scale. Microbiome. 9,
GR. Young, CJ. Van Der Gast, DL. Smith, JE. Berrington, ND. Embleton, et al. C. Lanyon. (2020). Acquisition and Development of the Extremely Preterm Infant Microbiota Across Multiple Anatomical Sites. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 70(1), pp.12-19.
GR. Young, DL. Smith, ND. Embleton, JE. Berrington, EC. Schwalbe, et al. SP. Cummings, CJ. van der Gast, C. Lanyon. (2018). Response: Commentary: Reducing Viability Bias in Analysis of Gut Microbiota in Preterm Infants at Risk of NEC and Sepsis. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. 8, pp.374-374.
CJ. Barnes, CJ. van der Gast, NP. Mcnamara, R. Rowe, GD. Bending (2018). Extreme rainfall affects assembly of the root-associated fungal community. New Phytologist. 220(4), pp.1172-1184.
P. Gosling, C. Van Der Gast, GD. Bending (2017). Converting highly productive arable cropland in Europe to grassland: - A poor candidate for carbon sequestration. Scientific Reports. 7,
CR. Hedin, CJ. van der Gast, AJ. Stagg, JO. Lindsay, K. Whelan (2017). The gut microbiota of siblings offers insights into microbial pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. Gut Microbes. 8(4), pp.359-365.
LK. Newbold, SJ. Burthe, AE. Oliver, HS. Gweon, CJ. Barnes, et al. F. Daunt, CJ. Van Der Gast. (2016). Helminth burden and ecological factors associated with alterations in wild host gastrointestinal microbiota. ISME Journal. 11(3), pp.663-675.
A. Kowalczyk, OR. Price, CJ. van der Gast, CJ. Finnegan, RA. van Egmond, et al. H. Schäfer, GD. Bending. (2016). Spatial and temporal variability in the potential of river water biofilms to degrade p-nitrophenol. Chemosphere. 164, pp.355-362.
CJ. Barnes, CA. Burns, CJ. van der Gast, NP. McNamara, GD. Bending (2016). Spatio-temporal variation of core and satellite arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus communities in Miscanthus giganteus. Frontiers in Microbiology. 7,
C. Hedin, CJ. Van Der Gast, GB. Rogers, L. Cuthbertson, S. McCartney, et al. AJ. Stagg, JO. Lindsay, K. Whelan. (2016). Siblings of patients with Crohn's disease exhibit a biologically relevant dysbiosis in mucosal microbial metacommunities. Gut. 65(6), pp.944-953.
L. Cuthbertson, GB. Rogers, AW. Walker, A. Oliver, LE. Green, et al. TWV. Daniels, MP. Carroll, J. Parkhill, KD. Bruce, CJ. Van Der Gast. (2016). Respiratory microbiota resistance and resilience to pulmonary exacerbation and subsequent antimicrobial intervention. ISME Journal. 10(5), pp.1081-1091.
CJ. Barnes, CJ. Van der Gast, CA. Burns, NP. McNamara, GD. Bending (2016). Temporally variable geographical distance effects contribute to the assembly of root-associated fungal communities. Frontiers in Microbiology. 7,
LK. Newbold, AE. Oliver, L. Cuthbertson, SE. Walkington, HS. Gweon, et al. MS. Heard, CJ. Van der Gast. (2015). Rearing and foraging affects bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) gut microbiota. Environmental Microbiology Reports. 7(4), pp.634-641.
CJ. van der Gast (2015). Microbial biogeography: The end of the ubiquitous dispersal hypothesis?. Environmental Microbiology. 17(3), pp.544-546.
L. Cuthbertson, GB. Rogers, AW. Walker, A. Oliver, LR. Hoffman, et al. MP. Carroll, J. Parkhill, KD. Bruce, CJ. van der Gast. (2015). Implications of multiple freeze-thawing on respiratory samples for culture-independent analyses. Journal of Cystic Fibrosis. 14(4), pp.464-467.
GB. Rogers, CJ. Van Der Gast, DJ. Serisier (2014). Predominant pathogen competition and core microbiota divergence in chronic airway infection. ISME Journal. 9, pp.217-225.
CJ. Van Der Gast, L. Cuthbertson, GB. Rogers, C. Pope, RL. Marsh, et al. GJ. Redding, KD. Bruce, AB. Chang, LR. Hoffman. (2014). Three clinically distinct chronic pediatric airway infections share a common core microbiota. Annals of the American Thoracic Society. 11(7), pp.1039-1048.
AE. Oliver, LK. Newbold, AS. Whiteley, CJ. van der Gast (2014). Marine bacterial communities are resistant to elevated carbon dioxide levels. Environmental Microbiology Reports. 6(6), pp.574-582.
NA. Cutler, DL. Chaput, CJ. van der Gast (2014). Long-term changes in soil microbial communities during primary succession. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 69, pp.359-370.
L. Cuthbertson, GB. Rogers, AW. Walker, A. Oliver, T. Hafiz, et al. LR. Hoffman, MP. Carroll, J. Parkhill, KD. Bruce, CJ. Van Der Gast. (2014). Time between collection and storage significantly influences bacterial sequence composition in sputum samples from cystic fibrosis respiratory infections. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 52(8), pp.3011-3016.
GB. Rogers, CJ. van der Gast, KD. Bruce, P. Marsh, JE. Collins, et al. J. Sutton, M. Wright. (2013). Ascitic Microbiota Composition Is Correlated with Clinical Severity in Cirrhosis with Portal Hypertension. PLoS ONE. 8(9),
GB. Rogers, CJ. van der Gast, L. Cuthbertson, SK. Thomson, KD. Bruce, et al. ML. Martin, DJ. Serisier. (2013). Clinical measures of disease in adult non-CF bronchiectasis correlate with airway microbiota composition. Thorax. 68(8), pp.731-737.
C. Van Der Gast (2013). Microbial biogeography and what baas becking should have said. Microbiology Today. 40(3), pp.109-111.
GB. Rogers, L. Cuthbertson, LR. Hoffman, PAC. Wing, C. Pope, et al. DAP. Hooftman, AK. Lilley, A. Oliver, MP. Carroll, KD. Bruce, CJ. van der Gast. (2013). Reducing bias in bacterial community analysis of lower respiratory infections. ISME J. 7(4), pp.697-706.
C. Hazard, P. Gosling, CJ. van der Gast, DT. Mitchell, FM. Doohan, et al. GD. Bending. (2013). The role of local environment and geographical distance in determining community composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi at the landscape scale. ISME J. 7(3), pp.498-508.
TWV. Daniels, GB. Rogers, FA. Stressmann, CJ. van der Gast, KD. Bruce, et al. GR. Jones, GJ. Connett, JP. Legg, MP. Carroll. (2013). Impact of antibiotic treatment for pulmonary exacerbations on bacterial diversity in cystic fibrosis. J Cyst Fibros. 12(1), pp.22-28.
FA. Stressmann, GB. Rogers, CJ. van der Gast, P. Marsh, LS. Vermeer, et al. MP. Carroll, L. Hoffman, TWV. Daniels, N. Patel, B. Forbes, KD. Bruce. (2012). Long-term cultivation-independent microbial diversity analysis demonstrates that bacterial communities infecting the adult cystic fibrosis lung show stability and resilience. Thorax. 67(10), pp.867-873.
LK. Newbold, AE. Oliver, T. Booth, B. Tiwari, T. Desantis, et al. M. Maguire, G. Andersen, CJ. van der Gast, AS. Whiteley. (2012). The response of marine picoplankton to ocean acidification. Environ Microbiol. 14(9), pp.2293-2307.
Q. Yan, CJ. van der Gast, Y. Yu (2012). Bacterial community assembly and turnover within the intestines of developing zebrafish. PLoS ONE. 7(1),
J. Wang, D. Yang, Y. Zhang, J. Shen, C. van der Gast, et al. MW. Hahn, Q. Wu. (2011). Do Patterns of Bacterial Diversity along Salinity Gradients Differ from Those Observed for Macroorganisms?. PLoS ONE. 6(11),
CJ. Van Der Gast, AW. Walker, FA. Stressmann, GB. Rogers, P. Scott, et al. TW. Daniels, MP. Carroll, J. Parkhill, KD. Bruce. (2011). Partitioning core and satellite taxa from within cystic fibrosis lung bacterial communities. ISME Journal. 5, pp.780-791.
CJ. van der Gast, P. Gosling, B. Tiwari, GD. Bending (2011). Spatial scaling of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity is affected by farming practice. Environ Microbiol. 13(1), pp.241-249.
RJ. Barnes, CJ. van der Gast, O. Riba, LE. Lehtovirta, JI. Prosser, et al. PJ. Dobson, IP. Thompson. (2010). The impact of zero-valent iron nanoparticles on a river water bacterial community. J Hazard Mater. 184(1-3), pp.73-80.
BB. Oakley, F. Carbonero, CJ. van der Gast, RJ. Hawkins, KJ. Purdy (2010). Evolutionary divergence and biogeography of sympatric niche-differentiated bacterial populations. ISME J. 4(4), pp.488-497.
D. Ager, S. Evans, H. Li, AK. Lilley, CJ. van der Gast (2010). Anthropogenic disturbance affects the structure of bacterial communities. Environ Microbiol. 12(3), pp.670-678.
GB. Rogers, S. Skelton, DJ. Serisier, CJ. van der Gast, KD. Bruce (2010). Determining cystic fibrosis-affected lung microbiology: comparison of spontaneous and serially induced sputum samples by use of terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism profiling. J Clin Microbiol. 48(1), pp.78-86.
CJ. van der Gast, D. Ager, AK. Lilley (2008). Temporal scaling of bacterial taxa is influenced by both stochastic and deterministic ecological factors. Environ Microbiol. 10(6), pp.1411-1418.
CJ. van der Gast (2008). Islands shaping thought in microbial ecology. ADVANCES IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, VOL 64. 64, pp.167-182.
ER. Travis, NK. Hannink, CJ. Van der Gast, IP. Thompson, SJ. Rosser, et al. NC. Bruce. (2007). Impact of transgenic tobacco on trinitrotoluene (TNT) contaminated soil community. Environ Sci Technol. 41(16), pp.5854-5861.
JI. Prosser, BJM. Bohannan, TP. Curtis, RJ. Ellis, MK. Firestone, et al. RP. Freckleton, JL. Green, LE. Green, K. Killham, JJ. Lennon, AM. Osborn, M. Solan, CJ. van der Gast, JPW. Young. (2007). The role of ecological theory in microbial ecology. Nat Rev Microbiol. 5(5), pp.384-392.
D. Field, G. Wilson, C. van der Gast (2006). How do we compare hundreds of bacterial genomes?. Curr Opin Microbiol. 9(5), pp.499-504.
CJ. van der Gast, B. Jefferson, E. Reid, T. Robinson, MJ. Bailey, et al. SJ. Judd, IP. Thompson. (2006). Bacterial diversity is determined by volume in membrane bioreactors. Environ Microbiol. 8(6), pp.1048-1055.
DA. Pearce, CJ. van der Gast, K. Woodward, KK. Newsham (2005). Significant changes in the bacterioplankton community structure of a maritime Antarctic freshwater lake following nutrient enrichment. Microbiology (Reading). 151(Pt 10), pp.3237-3248.
EAD. Mitchell (2005). Bacteria and island biogeography. Science. 309(5743), pp.1997-1999.
T. Bell, JA. Newman, IP. Thompson, AK. Lilley, CJ. van der Gast (2005). Bacteria and island biogeography - Response. SCIENCE. 309(5743), pp.1998-1999.
CJ. van der Gast, AK. Lilley, D. Ager, IP. Thompson (2005). Island size and bacterial diversity in an archipelago of engineering machines. Environ Microbiol. 7(8), pp.1220-1226.
IP. Thompson, CJ. van der Gast, L. Ciric, AC. Singer (2005). Bioaugmentation for bioremediation: the challenge of strain selection. Environ Microbiol. 7(7), pp.909-915.
T. Bell, D. Ager, J-I. Song, JA. Newman, IP. Thompson, et al. AK. Lilley, CJ. van der Gast. (2005). Larger islands house more bacterial taxa. Science. 308(5730), pp.1884-1884.
CJ. van der Gast, IP. Thompson (2005). Effects of pH amendment on metal working fluid wastewater biological treatment using a defined bacterial consortium. Biotechnol Bioeng. 89(3), pp.357-366.
AC. Singer, CJ. van der Gast, IP. Thompson (2005). Perspectives and vision for strain selection in bioaugmentation. Trends Biotechnol. 23(2), pp.74-77.
G. Lear, MJ. Harbottle, CJ. van der Gast, SA. Jackman, CJ. Knowles, et al. G. Sills, IP. Thompson. (2004). The effect of electrokinetics on soil microbial communities. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 36(11), pp.1751-1760.
A. Johnson, N. Llewellyn, J. Smith, C. van der Gast, A. Lilley, et al. A. Singer, I. Thompson. (2004). The role of microbial community composition and groundwater chemistry in determining isoproturon degradation potential in UK aquifers. FEMS Microbiol Ecol. 49(1), pp.71-82.
CJ. van der Gast, AS. Whiteley, IP. Thompson (2004). Temporal dynamics and degradation activity of an bacterial inoculum for treating waste metal-working fluid. Environ Microbiol. 6(3), pp.254-263.
DA. Pearce, CJ. Gast, B. Lawley, JC. Ellis-Evans (2003). Bacterioplankton community diversity in a maritime Antarctic lake, determined by culture-dependent and culture-independent techniques. FEMS Microbiol Ecol. 45(1), pp.59-70.
CJ. van der Gast, AS. Whiteley, AK. Lilley, CJ. Knowles, IP. Thompson (2003). Bacterial community structure and function in a metal-working fluid. Environ Microbiol. 5(6), pp.453-461.
CJ. van der Gast, AS. Whiteley, M. Starkey, CJ. Knowles, IP. Thompson (2003). Bioaugmentation strategies for remediating mixed chemical effluents. Biotechnol Prog. 19(4), pp.1156-1161.
CJ. van der Gast, CJ. Knowles, M. Starkey, IP. Thompson (2002). Selection of microbial consortia for treating metal-working fluids. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol. 29(1), pp.20-27.
CJ. van der Gast, CJ. Knowles, MA. Wright, IP. Thompson (2001). Identification and characterisation of bacterial populations of an in-use metal-working fluid by phenotypic and genotypic methodology. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation. 47(2), pp.113-123.
C. van der Gast, L. Cuthbertson, G. Rogers, C. Pope, R. Marsh, et al. G. Redding, K. Bruce, A. Chang, L. Hoffman. (2013). THREE CLINICALLY DISTINCT CHRONIC PEDIATRIC AIRWAY INFECTIONS SHARE A COMMON CORE MICROBIOTA. In: PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY. pp.304-304.
G. Rogers, C. van der Gast, S. Yerkovich, P. Hopkins, K. Bruce (2013). Bacterial species associated with the lower airways of patients with and without bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after lung transplantation. In: EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL.
G. Rogers, C. van der Gast, K. Bruce, D. Serisier (2013). Defining the bacterial microbiota of adult non-CF bronchiectasis. In: EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL.
M. Wright, CJ. Van der Gast, K. Bruce, P. Marsh, G. Rogers (2013). 1026 CULTURE-INDEPENDENT CHARACTERISATION OF VIABLE BACTERIA IN ASCITES REVEALS A BROAD RANGE OF SPECIES INCLUDING THOSE OF NON GUT ORIGIN. In: Journal of Hepatology. Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS, 24/4/2013. pp.S422-S422.
G. Rogers, C. Van Der Gast, K. Bruce, DJ. Serisier (2013). Airway Bacterial Community Structure Correlates With Clinical Measures Of Disease Of In Adult Non Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis. In: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE.
G. Rogers, C. Van Der Gast, P. Hopkins, S. Yerkovich, K. Bruce (2013). The Lower Airway Bacterial Microbiota In Patients With And Without Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome Following Lung Transplantation. In: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE.
TH. Hafiz, LC. Cuthbertson, AO. Oliver, GB. Rogers, KD. Bruce, et al. MP. Carroll, CVVD. Gast. (2012). P89 The Effect of Sample Handling on Viable Bacterial Community Profiles from Cystic Fibrosis Sputum Samples. In: Thorax. London, ENGLAND, 5/12/2012. pp.A102.2-A102.
GB. Rogers, MP. Carroll, FA. Stressmann, DT. Rivett, CJ. van der Gast, et al. AK. Lilley, SJ. Elborn, G. Connett, J. Legg, KD. Bruce. (2010). CYSTIC FIBROSIS LUNG INFECTIONS: FROM ECOLOGICAL INSIGHTS TO CLINICAL BENEFIT. In: PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY. pp.189-191.
S. Woodcock, CJ. van der Gast, T. Bell, M. Lunn, TP. Curtis, et al. IM. Head, WT. Sloan. (2007). Neutral assembly of bacterial communities. In: FEMS Microbiol Ecol. England, 13/9/2006. pp.171-180.
HE. Connolly, CJ. van der Gast, D. Wylie, T. Stephenson, IP. Thompson (2006). Enhanced biological treatment of spent metalworking fluids by prior removal of a polymer. In: Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology. Khania, GREECE, 4/7/2005. pp.1540-1546.
2019 LEAD Nottingham - Core outcomes for gastrointestinal problems in cystic fibrosis.
2016 - 2017 Microbiology Society Microbiome Expert Working Group member
Peer review - Funding bodies:
2008 – present: Member of NERC peer review college. Invited member on NERC research programme, responsive mode, independent research fellowship, and industrial CASE studentship moderating panels.
2016 – present: Trusted reviewer for the European Society of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ESCMID).
2016 – present: Invited expert member on CF Trust Science and Innovation Board (SIB) to assess Strategic Research Centre proposals.
Regularly invited to review proposals from national and international funding bodies, including:
European Research Council, UK Biotechnology & Biosciences Research Council, UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, UK Medical Research Council, Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department , USA National Science Foundation, Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada , Israel Science Foundation, and The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research.
Peer review - ISI journals:
2020 - present: Editor, Microbiome
2013 – present: Editorial board, The International Society of Microbial Ecology Journal.
Invited regularly to review manuscripts for Science, Nature Communications, Ecology Letters, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Molecular Ecology, Ecology, Environmental Science and Technology, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, and other journals.
As PI:
Organization and function of the gut microbiota in cystic fibrosis (Cystic Fibrosis Trust). Wth Prof Alan Smyth, Dr Giles Major (both Queen’s Medical Centre / Nottingham University), Dr Damian Rivett (MMU). 2019-2022.
Non-tuberculosis mycobacteria infection and the wider lung microbiota in cystic fibrosis (Cystic Fibrosis Trust). With Dr Thomas Daniels (Southampton CF centre), Dr Damian Rivett (MMU), Dr Leah Cuthbertson (Imperial College London). 2019-2022.
Sensitivity, reliability and clinical applicability of microbiome analysis in adults and children with CF (NorthWest Lung Charity). With Dr Alex Horsley (Manchester Adult CF Centre / University of Manchester). 2019 – present
Detection of CF lung pathogens using engineered bacteriophages (CF Trust). Dr Damian Rivett (MMU), Dr Antonia Sagona (Warwick) and Dr Mary Carroll (Southampton CF centre). 2017 – present
As Co-I:
NERC Soil Security Programme Grant 'Extreme rainfall: Unravelling the importance of new climate-rhizosphere feedbacks across contrasting land use systems' with Prof Gary Bending (University of Warwick) and Dr Niall McNamara (NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology).
2014 - 2019: BBSRC SARISA GFS Programme Grant 'Roots of decline? Assembly and function of the rhizosphere microbiome in relation to yield decline' with Prof Gary Bending (University of Warwick), Prof Penny Hirsch (Rothamsted Research), Dr David Bass (Natural Hsitroy Museum), Prof Peter Mills (Harper-Adams University, and Keith Norman (Velcourt)
2008 – present: Member of NERC peer review college. Invited member on NERC research programme, responsive mode, independent research fellowship, and industrial CASE studentship moderating panels.
2016 – present: Trusted reviewer for the European Society of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ESCMID).
2016 – present: Invited expert member on CF Trust Science and Innovation Board (SIB) to assess Strategic Research Centre proposals.
Regularly invited to review proposals from national and international funding bodies, including:
European Research Council, UK Biotechnology & Biosciences Research Council, UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, UK Medical Research Council, Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department , USA National Science Foundation, Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada , Israel Science Foundation, and The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research.
Honorary Consultant Microbiologist, Northern Care Alliance NHS Group
Visiting Professor in Microbial Ecology, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick
2020 - present: Editor, Microbiome
2013 – present: Editorial board, The International Society of Microbial Ecology Journal
Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (FRSB)
European Cystic Fibrosis Society member