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Manon Pritchard   BDS MFDS RCS Ed PhD FHEA

Dr Manon Pritchard

BDS MFDS RCS Ed PhD FHEA

Lecturer in Clinical Dental Research

School of Dentistry

cymraeg
Welsh speaking
Users
Available for postgraduate supervision

Overview

My work entails conducting clinically focussed research for patient benefit within the areas of cariology and antimicrobial resistance. My ambition is to identify knowledge gaps through high quality primary and secondary research within the field and enhance patient and public involvement in our research. Using my diverse background in delivering clinical dentistry, conducting clinical trials and translational research, I aim to build strong networks to collaborate locally and nationally to improve the oral and dental health of children globally (and other citizens, including hard-to-reach groups), alongside working with the antimicrobial resistance surveillance group. I also undertake research-led teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Publication

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2014

2013

2012

Articles

Thesis

Research

Research funding

  • Wales Innovation Network. Co-I. Nanometre-scale Investigation of Bacterial Surface Chemistry (Nano-Bac), £9,955 (28/04/2023-30/06/2023)
  • EPSRC Core Equipment Award (EP/X034739/1). Co-I. EPSRC Equipment Call 2022: Cardiff University, £457,080 (02/01/23)
  • Venture Life Group plc. Co-I.Measurement of mouthwash anti-viral activity against COVID-19 (MOMA), £73,501 (08/07/2020-08/02/2021)
  • GW4 Seed corn funding. Co-I.Precision maggot therapy against key cystic fibrosis pathogens, £4,793.97 (01/09/2020-31/03/2021)
  • Sêr Cymru Infrastructure accelerator award. Co-IGel documentation or gel imaging system for multidisciplinary users across the Oral and Biomedical Science Theme, School of Dentistry, Cardiff University. iBright Imaging system CL1500 – ThermoFisher Scientific, £16,712.48 (01/06/2020-28/02/2023)
  • European Social Fund, KESS2 PhD. Co-I. Developing novel technologies to model the effects of therapies on bacterial biofilms, £88,634 (01/10/2019 to 31/09/2022)
  • Sêr Cymru II Fellowship, PI. The development of in vitro models of respiratory biofilm assembly to develop novel antimicrobial therapies, £165,000 (01/06/18 to 31/05/21)
  • Industrial collaborative project, Qbiotics, Co-I. Novel therapeutics for the treatment of multi-drug resistant wound infections, £281,715 (01/10/2016 to 31/12/2018)
  • Industrial collaborative project, Qbiotics, Co-I. Screening of EBC-46 analogues using in-vitro biofilm models, £3,000 (18/05/2015 to 01/09/2015)
  • Travel grant, European Cystic Fibrosis Society, PI. Fluorescent conjugation for localisation in a mucoid pseudomonal biofilm, £300 (10/06/15 to 13/06/15)
  • Small Angle Neutron Scattering experiments, ILL, Grenoble, Co-I. Investigating the solution conformation and mechanism of action of alginate oligosaccharides, £19,699 (20/11/2012 to 23/11/2012)
  • European Social Fund, KESS PhD Scholarship. A study of the ability of OligoG alginate nanomedicines to disrupt bacterial biofilms, £91,000 (01/10/2011 to 31/09/2014)

 Patent

  • Biofilm disruption (QBiotics)- International publication number: WO2020252535A1

 Blog

https://blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/innovation/2020/10/29/drive-your-career-with-a-kess-2-scholarship/

Teaching

Teaching commitments

MSc  Implantology 2011-2023: Lecturing, examining and marking on the cellular and molecular biology module

MSc  Implantology 2015-2023: Supervision of dissertation projects (6 students to date)

 

Teaching courses

2014: Advanced Teaching Skills: Stimulating, Lively and High Yield Learning through the. Use of Interactive and Innovative Teaching Approaches: Harvard University, USA

Biography

I graduated with a First-class honour in the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) at Cardiff University’s School of Dentistry in 2009. Following working clinically in both primary and secondary care settings I was awarded a KESS PhD scholarship at Cardiff School of Dentistry in 2011. My PhD entailed working with an industrial collaborator, AlgiPharma AS (a biopharmaceutical company from Norway), to analyse a novel antimicrobial compound against oral, chronic wound and cystic fibrosis pathogens, which has now reached Phase IIb/III clinical trials as an inhalation therapy for cystic fibrosis patients. This research sparked my interest in translational research and clinical trials.

I have since undertaken several multidisciplinary projects aimed at tackling one of the largest growing global issues, antimicrobial resistance. I was awarded a Sêr Cymru II Precision Medicine Fellowship in 2018 to develop in vitro models of biofilm assembly to test and optimise novel antimicrobial therapies. This Fellowship focused on improving the implementation of getting products from bench to bedside. During this period, I was selected to participate in the GW4 2020 crucible workshop on interdisciplinary approaches to tackling antimicrobial resistance, which led to a new collaborative project across four different universities alongside a new industrial collaborator. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I was a co-investigator on the clinical trial “Measurement of Mouthwash Anti-viral activity against COVID-19' (MOMA)”, working with Venture Life Group plc. This highly timely study had the potential to significantly lower the risk of COVID transmission in healthcare professionals working in the oral cavity, especially from asymptomatic patients. The innovative approach of this work towards protecting the safety of healthcare workers was included in the Cardiff University News section when first published due to its high impact and relevance: Scientists reveal make-up of SARS-CoV-2 outer envelope for first time - News - Cardiff University (April 2022) and importantly its effect on clinical practice, with NHS Salisbury implementing new guidelines in line with our findings: Salisbury Hospital drives for excellence in mouth care for COVID-19 patients. 

I was appointed a lecturer in Clinical Dental Research in October 2023, and my current research is focused on improving dental care by conducting both primary and secondary research in paediatric cariology to improve children’s oral health. I also work with the antimicrobial resistance surveillance team within the school. 

Honours and awards

2020     GW4 Crucible 2020 – Interdisciplinary Approaches to Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

2017    Medical Impact and Innovation award, Cardiff University (Research Group award)

2015 Poster prize: Cardiff and Vale UHB Research and Development Conference. Cardiff, UK (1st prize awarded).

2013 Poster Prize: European Tissue Repair Society. Reims, France (1st prize awarded).

2012 Poster prize: Welsh Microbiology & Infection Translational Research Group (2nd prize awarded).

2012 Oral Presentation: Cardiff University 27th Annual Life Sciences Postgraduate Research Day. Cardiff, UK (1st prize awarded).

2012 Cesare Romano Award for Cystic Fibrosis Research (New Therapies): 35th European Cystic Fibrosis Conference. Dublin, Ireland.

2006 Freda Berg Prize in Oral Biology: School of Dentistry, Cardiff, UK.

2006 Undergraduate Scholarship for ‘Best performance in first year’: Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.

2005 Louis Cohen Prize for Anatomy: School of Dentistry, Cardiff, UK.

 

Professional memberships

  • Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh
  • General Dental Council (GDC)

Academic positions

Career overview

  • 2023-present: Lecturer in Clinical Dental Research 
  • 2018-2023: Sêr Cymru II Precision Medicine Research Fellow
  • 2014-2018: Post-doctoral research associate 
  • 2011- 2014: EU-funded KESS PhD student, Cardiff School of Dentistry, Wales (GDP 0.2 fte)
  • 2010-2011: Dental Foundation Year 2:
    - SHO Maxillofacial Surgery on-call (Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales)
    - SHO Paediatric Dentistry (Cardiff School of Dentistry, Wales)
  • 2009-2010: Dental Foundation Year 1 (General Dental Practitioner, 29 Park Crescent, Barry, Wales)

Education and qualification

  • 2023: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
  • 2011-2014: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Cardiff School of Dentistry, Wales
    "OligoG alginate nanomedicine mediated disruption of mucin barriers and microbial biofilms"
  • 2013: Member of the Faculty of Dental Surgeons (MFDS), Royal College of Edinburgh
  • 2004-2009: First Class Honours, Bachelor of Dental surgery (BDS), Cardiff School of Dentistry, Wales

 

Speaking engagements

2023    ECR & PGR AMR Network Lightning Talk Session. Invited guest speaker

2023    GW4 Crucible Alumni Lightning Talk Session. Talk

2017   14th International Workshop on Carcinoma-associated Mucins, Cambridge, UK. Alginate oligosaccharide therapies to modify the mucus barrier in Cystic Fibrosis; from concept to clinical trials. Invited guest speaker.

2016    European Cystic Fibrosis Society, Basel, Switzerland. Oral poster presentation

2015    Selected Finalist, Young Investigator Award, European Cystic Fibrosis Society, Brussels, Belgium. Talk

2013    European Cystic Fibrosis Society, Lisbon, Portugal. Talk

2013    British Society for Oral and Dental Research, Bath, UK. Talk

2013   Seminar at Greenwich University. Characterisation of the interaction of an alginate oligosaccharide nanomedicine with bacterial surfaces and sputum from cystic fibrosis patients. Invited guest speaker

Committees and reviewing

  • Secretary for 'Y Gymdeithas Ddeintyddol Gymraeg' (Welsh Dental Society)
  • Review Editor on the Editorial Board of the ‘Oral Surgery' Section in Frontiers in Oral Health
  • Research Committee, Cardiff School of Dentistry (2020-2022)
  • People, Equality and Diversity Committee, Cardiff School of Dentistry (2017-2018)

Supervisions

Current supervision

Jenny Adams

Jenny Adams

Research student

Jingxiang Wu

Jingxiang Wu

Research student

Past projects

PhD student: Developing novel technologies to model the effects of therapies on bacterial biofilms- Jennifer Adams (European Social Fund, KESS2)                                         

MD student: The paediatric cystic fibrosis lung: understanding the evolving microbiome, antimicrobial resistance and novel approaches to treatment- Dr Juliette Oakley

MSc Implantology dissertation projects:

Essential oils as antimicrobial therapies in implantology and periodontology: a systematic review and meta-analysis- Sonam Yueden Geltsen 

The effect of plasmid carriage of the colistin resistance genes mcr-1 and/or mcr-3 on modulation of Escherichia coli growth and motility- Yuan Chun Kwan  

An in vitro analysis of novel, anti-microbial compounds from the Queensland rainforest for the treatment of peri-implantitis- Jing Xiang Wu 

Development of an in vitro model to test for acquisition of resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa- Mohammad K. Alhomsi

The effect of a novel alginate oligosaccharide on the hyrophobicity of oral bacteria on dental materials- Himanshu Kishnani

Antimicrobial testing of novel agents EBC-46 and EBC-211 on pathogens- Hina Sadh

Research themes

Specialisms

  • Paediatrics
  • Antimicrobial resistance
  • clinical trials
  • Evidence-based care