Dr Cristina Gherghisan-Filip

Visiting Scientist

Cristina is currently working on several projects across the Norwich Research Park.

For example she is working on engineering novel antibiotics to target gut pathogens, having identified, expressed and structurally characterised novel antimicrobials detected in the human gut microbiota.

She demonstrated that these compounds are active against multi-drug resistant and clinically important pathogens such as Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium difficile. Her ambition is for this novel antimicrobial to be tested in clinical trials, and then to be administered to patients who are critically ill.

Cristina is also working on bioengineering of inhibitors specific to carbohydrate-active enzymes. Her work assessed the inhibitory action of the synthesised compounds and their use either for treating diabetes or the control of premature starch degradation in the endosperm of wheat and barley.

Using immunodiagnostics techniques, Cristina worked onĀ Development of a novel assay for the detection of active Human Neutrophil ElastaseĀ  in inflammatory diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis.

Her work contributed to at-home testing (point-of care testing) that improves diagnosis and detection of chronic inflammatory disease, and empowering patients in disease management.