Cath is a Professor of Environmental Engineering for Buildings and the Pro-Dean for Research and Innovation in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Leeds. Her research focuses on the indoor environment in buildings, leading experimental and computational studies to understand exposure to pollutants and bioaerosols and technologies to mitigate risks such as ventilation and air cleaning. 

What inspired you to co-develop the concept behind the Hub?

At Leeds we have worked on airborne infection and indoor air quality for over 20 years, working with clinicians, microbiologists, architects and engineers, mathematical modellers and social scientists to improve the design of the built environment for health. This is critical for aspects like pandemic response and control of healthcare-acquired infections, but we still have lots of knowledge gaps especially around detection, survival and exposure to microorganisms. The hub brings a real opportunity to connect across disciplines and bring new insights and innovations to these, and many other, challenges, and to build capability.

Which collaborative opportunities excite you the most?

I’m excited to be able to connect with those at the forefront of developing technologies to detect microorganisms in different environments and to understand how these can be integrated with design and behavioural strategies to support healthy buildings. There are real opportunities with novel sampling techniques to be able to rapidly detect the presence of microorganisms in air and on surfaces and to use this data to better inform mitigation strategies. 

What motivated you to explore bioaerosol detection as part of your research?  

I ended up here by accident! My background is fluid dynamics and a chance conversation over 20 years ago led me to moving from industrial fluids applications into a postdoc role modelling the application of ultraviolet light to controlling Tuberculosis transmission. I discovered a field that I loved and have never looked back. 

What are you most proud of in your research career?

Our work to support the pandemic response, including through a number of research projects and as a participant in the UK Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE). This was one of the hardest, and most stressful periods of my career, but at the same time hugely rewarding to be able to bring scientific knowledge to bear on a critical challenge in a very rapid timescale. I was very proud of everyone who contributed from PhD students, technicians and postdocs through to senior academics and government scientists who all pulled together in a unified team.