Professor Thushan de Silva

MBE FRCP FRSB FMedSci

School of Medicine and Population Health

Professor of Infectious Diseases

Honorary Consultant Physician in Infectious Diseases

Thushan de Silva
Dr Thushan de Silva
Profile picture of Thushan de Silva
t.desilva@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 215 9532

Full contact details

Professor Thushan de Silva
School of Medicine and Population Health
The Medical School
Beech Hill Road
Sheffield
S10 2RX
Profile

I am an Infectious Diseases Clinician Scientist with a programme of research centred around clinical discovery science in the UK and Africa. Our group applies a broad range of methods including human immunology, epidemiology, molecular diagnostics and genomics, to establish how pathogens interact with human hosts at population and individual levels. We work primarily on respiratory viruses such as influenza and SARS-CoV-2, and Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococcus), investigating the natural history of infection and immunity to inform the design of diagnostic tools, vaccines, and other preventative measures. A specific area of interest is also how immunocompromising conditions such as HIV and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation impact the clinical risk and vaccine-induced immunity to respiratory viruses. 

I am part of the Clinical Infection Research Group (CIRG) in the Medical School at the University of Sheffield and am an Honorary Consultant Physician in Infectious Diseases in the South Yorkshire Regional Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine in Sheffield. I am co-director of the Florey Institute of Infection and lead the host-pathogen interactions theme. I am also a Principal Investigator in the Vaccines and Immunity Theme at the Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

I completed my undergraduate medical training at the University of Bristol in 2000. Following postgraduate clinical training in General Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases and HIV in Oxford and London, I moved to Sheffield for higher specialist training in Infectious Diseases & Microbiology in 2004. After relocating to The MRC Unit The Gambia in 2007, I was awarded a British Infection Society Research Fellowship (2007-8), followed by a MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowship and PhD (2008 – 11) under the supervision of Professor Sarah Rowland-Jones and Professor Robin Weiss, to study the pathogenesis of HIV-2 infection and the molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 and HIV-2 in West Africa.

I joined the University of Sheffield in 2013 as an NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer in Infectious Diseases & Microbiology. I was awarded a Wellcome Trust Intermediate Clinical Fellowship (2016 -2021), based between Imperial College London and the MRC Unit The Gambia, to study the immunogenicity of intranasal Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine in children and bidirectional interactions with nasopharyngeal microbiota. I returned to the University of Sheffield as a Senior Clinical Lecturer in 2020 and led a programme of SARS-CoV-2 research through the COVID-19 pandemic, including roles as lead PI in Sheffield for the COG-UK consortium and the PITCH study. 

I was awarded an MBE in 2021 for services to COVID-19 research.

Research interests

Our work involves molecular epidemiology and immuno-epidemiology to gain insights into population- and individual-level patterns of infections and immunity the following areas:

  1. Host immunity and prevention of respiratory infections. We investigate the mechanisms, durability and determinants of immune protection against respiratory pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, influenza and RSV, with a particular focus on mucosal and systemic immunity, inflammatory memory, and correlates of protection. This work spans natural infection, vaccination and immunocompromised populations, including people living with HIV and recipients of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We also develop and evaluate novel host-directed approaches to enhance respiratory epithelial defences and reduce susceptibility to infection.
  2. Epidemiology, transmission and surveillance of infectious diseases. We apply molecular epidemiology, genomics and large-scale population health data to understand patterns of infectious disease transmission, susceptibility and outcomes. Current work includes household transmission studies of respiratory pathogens, the evaluation and implementation of novel diagnostic and sequencing approaches for surveillance, and the use of electronic health records and linked datasets to identify risk factors for severe disease and improve strategies for prevention in vulnerable populations.
  3. Streptococcus pyogenes epidemiology and immunity. We seek to define the determinants of transmission, natural immunity and immune protection against S. pyogenes, particularly in settings with a high burden of disease. Through observational studies, human challenge models and international collaborative networks, our work aims to identify correlates of protection and generate evidence to support vaccine development.
Publications

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Journal articles

All publications

Journal articles

Book chapters

  • Abrahamian FM, Aldape MJ, Aldasoro E, Allen UD, Al-Sum H, Anadkat MJ, Anders K, Angelakis E, Angus BJ, Antoniadou A , Arena F et al (2017) List of Contributors, Infectious Diseases (pp. xv-xxxvi). Elsevier RIS download Bibtex download
  • De Silva TI & Green ST (2017) Managing the Patient with Recurring Skin Infections, Infectious Diseases (pp. 133-135.e1). Elsevier RIS download Bibtex download
  • Moysi E, de Silva T & Rowland-Jones S (2012) Immune Mechanisms of Viral Control in HIV-2 Infection, Models of Protection Against HIV/SIV (pp. 293-315). Elsevier RIS download Bibtex download
  • Ball TB, Barré-Sinoussi F, Biasin M, Blankson JN, Broliden K, Buckheit RW, Card CM, Clerici M, de Silva T, Fellay J , Fowke KR et al (2012) Contributors, Models of Protection Against HIV/SIV (pp. xi-xii). Elsevier RIS download Bibtex download

Conference proceedings

  • Snowden J, Parkash V, Knelange N, Styczynski J, Tridello G, de Silva T, Niederwieser D, Aljurf M, Sureda A, Mikulska M , de la Camara R et al (2025) NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES (NTD) AND RELATED INFECTIONS IN HAEMATOPOIETIC CELLULAR THERAPY (HCT) IN ADULTS AND CHILDREN: A SURVEY FROM THE EBMT INFECTIOUS DISEASES WORKING PARTY. BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION, Vol. 60 (pp 571-572) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Miller PDE, de Silva T, Leonard H, Goddard K, Anthias C, Hoschler K, Peggs K, Madrigal A & Snowden JA (2017) P295: Viral microneutralization assay to determine seasonal influenza vaccine immunogenicity in the first year post reduced intensity conditioning allogeneic HSCT. Bone Marrow Transplantation, Vol. 52(Suppl 1) (pp S269-S270). Marseille, France, 26 March 2017 - 26 March 2017. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Miller PDE, de Silva T, Skinner R, Gilleece M, Peniket A, Hamblin A, Greenfield D, Anthias C, Peggs K, Madrigal A & Snowden JA (2016) Routine Vaccination Programme (RVP) Practice after Adult and Paediatric Allogeneic Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT): A British Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (BSBMT) Survey of UK NHS-Based Programmes. BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION, Vol. 51 (pp S400-S401) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Meiring J, De Silva T & Snowden J (2015) A study of adherence to a vaccination schedule following adult allogenic haematopoietic stem cell transplants in UK transplant centre. BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION, Vol. 50 (pp S203-S204) RIS download Bibtex download

Preprints

Teaching interests

I am involved in delivering the undergraduate (MBChB) Infectious Diseases, Tropical Medicine and Microbiology curriculum at the University of Sheffield. I also lecture on the MSc in Antimicrobial Resistance (MED404), Molecular Medicine MSc (MED6006) and Pharmacology of Respiratory Disease (CDL302, Biomedical Science).

Professional activities and memberships

National and International

  • Co-chair, Wellcome Trust Early Career Award Interview Committee
  • Africa Research Excellence Fund (https://www.africaresearchexcellencefund.org.uk/) College of Experts 
  • Vaccines and Infection Subcommittee, British Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and cellular therapy (BSBMTCt), vaccination subcommittee 

Local

  • Co-Director, Florey Institute of Infection
  • Deputy Theme Lead, Infection and Immunity Theme, Sheffield NIHR Biomedical Research Centre
  • UREC Ethics reviewer for Medical School 
Research themes and key projects

Mucosal and systemic immunity to respiratory viruses

  1. ASPIRE: Antisense-mediated state programming for respiratory epithelial defence. (Advanced Research and Invention Agency, 2026 – 2030). 
  2. Hybrid immunity to SARS-CoV-2 in Zimbabwean adults with HIV and other chronic diseases (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, 2023 – 2026).
  3. Study of SARS-CoV-2 and RSV systemic and mucosal immunity within a household transmission study in The Gambia (UKRI), including PhD supervisor for Dawda Jobe, MRC Gambia, exploring cross-reactive antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2.
  4. Study of SARS-CoV-2 T-cell and antibody responses as part of the PITCH studyOCTAVE study and IMMPROVE consortium (2024 – 2028).
  5. Part of a consortium to establish a Global Paediatric Cell Atlas of Nasal and Oral Mucosa (Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, 2021 – 2026).
  6. Supervisor for Ben Lindsey, Wellcome Trust 4ward North Clinical PhD fellowship on inflammatory memory in the upper respiratory tract following respiratory viral infections (2023 – 2026).

Epidemiology of respiratory viruses

  1. The VIVID Study: Understanding the risk of severe illness from respiratory viruses in vulnerable people (Astra Zeneca, Externally Sponsored Study, 2024 – 2028). 
  2. Supervisor for Jack Goodall, Wellcome Trust Clinical PhD fellow (2026 – 2029), investigating how respiratory viruses modulate bacterial colonisation and alter transmission dynamics in the upper respiratory tract.

The epidemiology and immune responses to Streptococcus pyogenes

  1. Co-supervisor for Jenny Hall, MRC Clinical PhD fellow (2026 – 2029), Exploring what drives upsurges in Streptococcus pyogenes disease

Several clinical and molecular epidemiology studies forming part of the MRC Unit The Gambia Strep A research portfolio, including but not limited to:

  1. Lead for immunology studies across UoS and MRC Gambia in a Wellcome Trust funded S. pyogenes human challenge study to establish correlates of protection (2025 – 2027).
  2. Co-lead at the MRC Gambia in a global network of scientists seeking to define correlates of immune protection in natural infection with Streptococcus pyogenes (iSpy Network, 2023 - 2027).

Co-supervisor for Dr Ed Monk, Wellcome Trust Clinical PhD fellow (2024 – 2027), who is using school-based studies to explore transmission and natural immunity to S. pyogenes.