director

Professor of Molecular Genetics and Virology

Director of the EDGe Centre, with over thirty years’ experience in infectious disease research and expertise in pathogen genomic surveillance, virus evolution and phylodynamics. Works closely with national and regional health institutions to strengthen laboratory capacity for One Health surveillance and enhance the Caribbean’s resilience to infectious disease threats.

christine.carrington@uwi.edu

centre staff

Core scientific, laboratory and administrative team.

Dr. Arianne Browne-Jordan

Laboratory Coordinator

Dr. Arianne Browne-Jordan

Coordinates laboratory operations and biosafety at the EDGe Centre, and supports delivery of the Centre’s training initiatives, laboratory services and research activities...

Ms. Karen Lee Lum

Administrative Officer

Ms. Karen Lee Lum

Provides critical support for EDGe Centre activities to ensure compliance and efficiency in the execution of financial, administrative, monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning actions.

Mr. Soren Nicholls

Bioinformatics Officer

Mr. Soren Nicholls

Performs bioinformatic analyses on genomic and metagenomic datasets, manages the Centre’s laboratory databases, and develops computational tools and pipelines.

Mr. Vernie Ramkissoon

Senior Laboratory Technician

Mr. Vernie Ramkissoon

Supports general laboratory operations and provides technical support to researchers across a range of projects, applying a broad range of biochemistry, molecular biology, genomics and virology techniques...

affiliated academic and technical staff

Dr. Orchid Allicock

Lecturer / Training Programme
Scientific Officer

Dr. Orchid Allicock

Supports the design, development and delivery of the Centre’s training portfolio, including the PANPRO Fellowship under the TT ONE LAB+ project, and supports EDGe Centre research and service activities...

Dr. Anushka Ramjag

Lecturer /
Research Programme
Scientific Officer

Dr. Anushka Ramjag

Performs research on pathogen genomic surveillance and B-cell responses to zoonotic and emerging viruses and contributes to day-to-day postgraduate student supervision...

Dr. Stephen Ramnarine

Postdoctoral Scientist

Dr. Stephen Ramnarine

Metagenomics for diagnostics and surveillance, including human and animal clinical samples and arboviral vectors. Supports sequencing optimisation, molecular identification of arbovirus vectors...

Dr. Nikita Sahadeo

Lecturer

Dr. Nikita Sahadeo

Research on arboviruses and metagenomic characterisation of microbial diversity in illegally imported wildlife in Trinidad and Tobago.

Prof. Christopher Oura

Professor Emeritus of Veterinary Virology /
Training Coordinator

Prof. Christopher Oura

Brings three decades of experience in veterinary virology, transboundary animal disease and One Health, and a track record of leading Caribbean-focused One Health initiatives...

Mrs. Peaches Daniel-France

Laboratory Technician

Mrs. Peaches Daniel-France

Supports research in molecular genomics and disease surveillance, with professional interests in analytical instrumentation, laboratory quality management systems, and ISO/IEC laboratory standards.

Mr. Anderson Williams

Laboratory Technician

Mr. Anderson Williams

Research on arboviruses and metagenomic characterisation of microbial diversity in illegally imported wildlife in Trinidad and Tobago.

postgraduate researchers and trainees

Ms. Shania Yip Ying

PhD Student in
Molecular Genetics

Ms. Shania Yip Ying

Research on using a metagenomic approach to detect and characterise viral pathogens associated with acute undifferentiated febrile and influenza-like illnesses towards strengthening diagnostic and genomic surveillance...