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.
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...

