The Microbiology laboratory is committed to improving patient outcomes and protecting the public health. This is achieved in part by undertaking appropriate R&D activities supported by internal and external funding. Strategic partnerships continue to be established to enhance the R&D output. Key R&D staff represent the Microbiology laboratory at local, regional and national R&D committees.

The department has a wide range of clinical and research interests and staff members have published widely on subjects including:

• Antibiotic resistance

• Infection control

• Epidemiology of important pathogens

• Food and environmental microbiology

• Bacterial methodology

• Antiviral resistance

• Tuberculosis

• Diagnosis and treatment of HIV

• Blood borne viruses

• Development of molecular assays

• Infections in immunocompromised patients