Professor Stephen Cummings is Dean of the School of Science, Engineering & Design and holds a Chair in Microbiology at Teesside University. He studied for his first degree in Biological Sciences at Plymouth Polytechnic, before undertaking his PhD in Microbial Physiology at the University of Sheffield.

During this time he developed an interest in the response of bacteria to environmental stress, these interests continued during subsequent post-doctoral research which took him to the Rowett Research Centre, Aberdeen, the Department of Biochemistry UWC Cardiff and the Department of Microbiology, University of Leeds. He moved to Northumbria in 2003 where he was promoted to Reader (2007) then Chair of Microbiology in 2010. In 2016 he was appointed Dean of School at Teesside. Professor Cummings is active in national professional bodies; between 2010-2014, he was a member of the National Council of the Association of Applied Biology and convenor of its Applied Mycology and Bacteriology committee. He is also an editor of the Journal of Applied Microbiology, and Letters in Applied Microbiology.

My research studies how complex microbial communities are implicated in a number of diseases, so called polymicrobial infections. This work has taken advances in molecular biology, genomics and metabolomics and applied them to a number of significant diseases including, respiratory or pulmonary infections including cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis. Late onset infections of preterm infants, in particular necrotising enterocolitis and sepsis. Severe combined immuno deficiency disease (SCID) in neonates, and vaginosis in pregnant women in Burkina Faso. In order to explore these complex diseases we utilise a range of ‘omic' technologies (microbiomic, metabolomics and proteomic) and mathematical models. A key feature of our studies has been the involvement of clinicians in developing and undertaking the research. We have used our ‘omic' approaches to enhance our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of disease and translate this knowledge into better clinical management of these diseases and improved outcomes for the patients. I also have worked extensively on antibiotic resistance and exploiting nitrogen-fixing bacteria to improves oil fertility in agricultural systems. My research is a collaborative effort with colleagues regionally, nationally and internationally (Newcastle Medical School and Hospitals, and Nafferton Ecological Farming Group, CEH Oxford,Houston (USA), and colleagues in Australia, Japan, Pakistan and Turkey.

NIHR EME award (Newcastle, Liverpool, Nottingham, Oxford, Birmingham) Mechanisms Affecting the Gut of Preterm Infants in Enteral feeding trials (MAGPIE). Commencing 2016.

Summary: This is a mechanistic study not typically funded by NIHR. It exploits two large random clinical trials(RCT); one of which is examining the effects of supplemental enteral bovine lactoferrin on late onset sepsis (LoS) and necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) and aims to recruit n=2200 infants from 30 large UK NICUs; the second is comparing increases in the rate of milk feeds. (n=2800 infants). These provide unrivalled cohort sizes to give a highly powered study using our ‘omics’ technologies to understand the mechanisms causing NEC and LoS responsible for high mortality rates in preterm infants.

Editorial duties

I am an editor of the following international peer reviewed journals:

• Journal of Applied Microbiology
• Letters in Applied Microbiology

Committee membership

• Convenor, Applied Mycology and Bacteriology committee of the Association of Applied Biology (AAB). Member of Council and Trustee of AAB (2010-2014).
• Systematics and Evolution group committee of the Society of General Microbiology (2003-2007).

Collaborative Network

I am increasingly focused on the clinical aspects of microbial ecology and work with a large number of colleagues regionally nationally and internationally. I have undertaken projects with the following colleagues:

Preterm infants:             

Nick Embleton, Janet Berrington, Consultants in Neonatal Medicine, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle. Dr Chris Stewart, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA.

Burkina Faso:                  

Prof Bernard Brabin, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Dr Steve Roberts, University of Manchester.

SCID infants:                  

Andrew Gennery, Clinical Reader in Paediatric Immunology and Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle (SCID: Severe combined immune deficiency disease)

Pulmonary Infections:     

Chris van Der Gast, CEH, Oxford, Chris Ward, Senior Lecturer Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University. Malcom Brodlie, Consultant Paediatric Respiratory Physician, Great North Children’s Hospital, and Freeman Hospital.

Diagnostic Microbiology:   

John Perry,Freeman Hospital, international consortia (Turkey, Australia, Pakistan)

Danone/HEIF. 'Using ‘Omic’ technologies to explore the potential for rapid diagnosis of NEC and sepsis in preterm infants' Awarded 2013 - £22,500

Summary: This was an industry funded project to demonstrate the value of multi-omic approaches to the study of sepsis and NEC in preterm babies. Danone are a significant manufacturer of infant formula.