Our Speakers

John Hammond obtained his PhD in comparative immunology from the University of St Andrews before moving to Stanford University in 2003 to study the NK (natural killer immune cells) receptor evolution in mammals. In 2009 he moved to The Pirbright Institute with a Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Institute fellowship to study NK cells in ruminants. He now leads the Immunogenetics Group at the Institute studying the mechanisms and consequences of genetic variation on the mammalian immune system using functional genomics to direct in silico, in vitro and in vivo studies to decipher the mechanisms and consequences of genetic variation on the mammalian immune system. 

There are three current areas of focus.

1. Applying high-resolution systems immunology approaches to decipher the complexity of antibody responses. This is being applied to study protective responses in livestock to improve the next generation of vaccines using immune guided structural vaccinology.
2. Using knowledge of the cattle B cell response to support a proof of concept anti-methanogen vaccine to reduce the impact of livestock rearing on the climate change.
3. Investigating variable NK cell receptors and their MHC class I ligands in livestock species, aiming to improve natural immunity and vaccine responsiveness through informed breeding.