ProfessorWendy Barclay

I joined Imperial College in May 2007, moving with my research group from the University of Reading where I had previously been based since 1995. I had graduated in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University and had undertaken my PhD at the Common Cold Unit, Salisbury under the joint supervision of Dr David Tyrrell and Dr Fred Brown, studying the human immune response to rhinovirus. I acquired molecular virology skills as a postdoctoral fellow first in the laboratories of Professor Jeff Almond at Reading and then working with Dr Peter Palese at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York.

My expertise is in the field of respiratory viruses, in particular influenza viruses. My studies aim to understand the molecular and cellular basis of the pathogenesis, host range restrictions and transmissibility of influenza viruses. The approach includes the generation of recombinant viruses with defined mutations. This strategy has contributed to the production of novel influenza pandemic vaccines. In principle, the work employs the most appropriate virus strains and relevant cell or animal models. Primary influenza clinical strains are obtained through a long-standing collaboration with the Health Protection Agency, and viruses are studied on primary human airway cells and in ferrets. Translational aspects include analysing mode of action and resistance mechanisms of antiviral compounds, and characterization of novel cell substrates and attenuated virus backbones for influenza vaccines. The laboratory is funded by MRC, BBSRC, the Wellcome Trust and commercial bodies.

Featured Videos


The Robinson Lecture at Cambridge college, for distinguished alumna of the college to give a lecture on their work, as an inspiration to current students.
CVR Stoker award interview

Prof Wendy Barclay: Gender equality, open science & collaboration | CVR Meets, Stoker Award Winner - YouTube

Microbiology Society awards the Microbiology Society Prize Medal to an outstanding microbiologist who is a global leader in their field and whose work has had a far-reaching impact beyond the field of microbiology.
Barcroft Medal awardied 15 November 2023 Belfast University
Professor Wendy Barclay was awarded a CBE for her contributions to the study of viruses and her research during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prize Winners 2023 | Microbiology Society
The Delta variant: Why is it so dominant?
Vaccines: a double dose with Professor Brian Cox | The Royal Society
Women Luminaries - When Infections go viral


Team

Ms Cassie Tarquini - PA
Dr Jonathan Brown (Research Associate)
Mr Jack Hassard - PhD Student
Dr Ruthiran Kugathasan
Ms Maya Moshe (Research Technician)
Dr Ada Yan (Research Fellow)
Ms Jess Quantrill (Research Technician)
Dr Joelle Mettier (Research Associate)
Dr Carol Sheppard (Research Fellow)
Dr Olivia Swann
Dr Jie Zhou (Research Associate)
Ms Ksenia Sukhova (Research Technician)
Ms Amalie Rasmussen - PhD Student
Ms Dorothee Reuss - PhD Student