Eduard Roos

A Little About Me

I am a passionate and inquisitive enthusiast of the natural world, a journey that began in my formative years and culminated in the completion of my undergraduate studies in Zoology at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. During my final year, I had the privilege of participating in a mentorship program under the guidance of Prof. Armanda Bastos, working on African swine fever under BSL-3 conditions at the ARC Transboundary Animal Disease programme.

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My academic pursuit then led me to the University of the Free State, where I earned a BSc. Hons. in Zoology at the Qwaqwa campus. Here, under the mentorship of Dr Johann van As and Prof Oriel Thekisoe, my focus shifted towards unravelling the phylogenetic relationships of haemoparasites in the local crag-lizard population, providing invaluable insights into the intricacies of their ecology.

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Continuing my quest for knowledge, I embarked on a transformative journey at Stellenbosch University, commencing an MSc in Molecular Biology in 2015, which later evolved into a PhD project in 2016. Under the guidance of Prof Michele Miller and Dr Sven Parsons, my research focused on identifying molecular diagnostic methods for detecting Mycobacterium bovis (bovine TB) infection in Phacochoerus africanus (common warthog). At the same time, I explored the phylogenetic relationships of the bacteria, contributing to our understanding of disease dynamics.

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After completing my PhD in 2018, I sought new horizons at the Pirbright Institute in 2019, where I investigated antibody cross-reactivity and developed novel bio-imaging reagents for studying bovine immunology in the context of viral diseases such as African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease.

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In 2022, I transitioned to industry with Clinomics (Pty) Ltd as a Specialist in Research and Development, focusing on innovative diagnostics and immune therapies for animal health. A short period in 2024 at the Agricultural Research Council within the Transboundary Animal Disease programme allowed me to contribute further to disease diagnostics and biobanking before moving into my current academic role.

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Since September 2024, I have been a Lecturer in Wildlife Health and Immunology at the Royal Veterinary College, UK, where I lead the Wildlife Health & Immunology Research Laboratory (WHIRL). My group focuses on understanding wildlife immune responses to zoonotic and transboundary diseases, with the aim of developing novel diagnostic tools and interventions that benefit both conservation and global health.