Matthew Rice

PIPS Host Organisation: UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)

PIPS Project Title: Contributing to the Open Innovation pipeline of the antimicrobial discovery, development, and diagnostic team at UKHSA Porton Down.

As part of a PIPS placement at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Porton Down, Matthew a third year SoCoBio DTP student, joined the Antimicrobial Discovery, Development, and Diagnostics (AD3) team to contribute to their Open Innovation pipeline. During the placement, he received hands-on microbiology training in a range of established assays, including antibiotic susceptibility testing, bacterial adaptation, and intracellular compound accumulation. He also gained insights into best practices and participated in interdisciplinary group meetings, where he had the opportunity to present his work.

A significant aspect of the placement involved supporting the establishment of new assays within the AD3 team. This included implementing the AMES mutagenicity screen using S. typhimurium strains on specialised media. Matthew also contributed to setting up the hollow fibre infection model for various ESKAPEE pathogens, which enables simulation of in vivo pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) dynamics to study antimicrobial mechanisms and resistance development. Additionally, he introduced a novel assay for measuring intracellular antimicrobial compound accumulation, aiding in compound prioritisation and pharmacodynamic profiling.

This experience broadened Matthew’s technical microbiology skillset and provided valuable exposure to applied research in a public health context. He gained a deeper understanding of regulatory considerations, translational science, and the collaborative nature of interdisciplinary teams. The placement also offered insights into early-stage bacteriophage therapy research and the development of a biomedical service aimed at delivering phage therapeutics to NHS patients. Overall, the placement significantly enhanced Matthew’s awareness of alternative career paths in public health microbiology and drug development.

UKHSA expressed high satisfaction with Matthew’s performance and outcomes of the placement, noting Matthew’s excellent knowledge and strong grasp of the tasks assigned. They also appreciated the opportunity for their PDRAs to gain supervisory experience—an opportunity that is typically more limited compared to their counterparts in academic settings.