De Profundis ad Astra: Understanding Tolerance, Persistence and Resistance from Ancient Archaea, to harnessing the 4th state of matter 

Brendan is Professor of Pharmaceutical Microbiology at the School of Pharmacy at Queen’s, where he leads the Biofilm Research Group. He is also the current Deputy Head of School. Research in his group aims to understand the mechanistic basis of antimicrobial tolerance exhibited by microbial biofilms, and to develop effective biofilm detection methodologies (wound biofilm sensors) and control strategies for the treatment of chronic biofilm-mediated infections. Recent developments in novel approaches for biofilm control has included using atmospheric pressure, non-thermal plasmas (or ‘cold’ plasmas), alone and in synergy with antimicrobial agents, and to improve delivery of antibiotics to bacterial biofilms. Recently, studies of extreme halophiles from 250M year old halite evaporites and spleothems from Kilroot Saltmine, N. Ireland has led to the first descriptions of antibiotic resistance mechanisms in Archaea. 

Brendan has published widely on biofilm control and AMR and is the immediate past President (2020-23) of the Society for Applied Microbiology (now Applied Microbiology International) from whom he received the 2017 WH Pierce Prize (awarded each year at to a young microbiologist (under 40) who has made a substantial contribution to the science of applied microbiology). He was the 2013 Recipient of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Science Award, is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Medicine, University of Limerick and Editor of the textbook ‘Hugo & Russell’s Pharmaceutical Microbiology’ a core textbook in schools of pharmacy worldwide.