Professor Andrea Doeschl-Wilson

Group leader Infectious disease genetics and modelling; Leader of Roslin Institute Strategic Programme on the prevention and control of infectious diseases

Biography

Background

EMPLOYMENT 

2023 - now: Leader of the Roslin Institute Strategic Programme "Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases"

2022-2024:       KSLA-Wallenberg Guest Professorship at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences: Fusing genetics and epidemiology to reduce the spread infectious diseases.

2013 – now: The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS , University of Edinburgh: Group Leader

2010 – 2013: The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS , University of Edinburgh: Career Track Fellow

2006 – 2010: Scottish Agricultural College: Research Scientist (Genetic-epidemiological modelling)

2002-2006: Genus (former Sygen) / PIC Research Scientist: Development of selection and performance testing strategies

1997-1998: MAS - Mathematische Analysen und Systeme, Regensburg, Germany  Software developer for databank management and logistics in paper factories

CV

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Qualifications

2002 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Western Ontario

1997 Master in Science, Department of Mathematics, University of Regensburg, Germany

1994, Department of Mathematics, University of Tasmania, Australia

1993 Bachelor of Science, Department of Mathematics, University of Regensburg, Germany

Responsibilities & affiliations

External

  • Collaborator of international research consortia in farmed animal production and health
  • Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the INRAE DIGIT-BIO strategic programme
  • Member of the scientific organising committee of the 12th and 13th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production

  • Member of External Grant and Professorship Evaluation Committees

  • Member of BBSRC Expert Panel on Farm Animal Production
  • External PhD student examiner (UK, France, USA, Germany, The Netherlands, Australia)
  • Editor for Genetics, Selection & Evolution Journal
  • Reviewer of diverse research journals and funding committees

 

Roslin / University of Edinburgh Internal

  • Leader of the Roslin Institute Strategic Programme “Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases”
  • PI / co-I on 9 externally funded research projects
  • Supervisor of post-doctoral researchers and PhD students
  • Member of the Roslin Strategic Management Group
  • Member of the Roslin Scientific Management Group
  • Member of recruitment and interview panels at Roslin and R(D)SVS
  • Mentor of post-doctoral and University of Edinburgh Career Track Fellows
  • Chair and scientific advisor in PhD thesis committees
  • Internal PhD student examiner

 

Postgraduate teaching

Lecturer in “Methods to control the spread of infectious disease in animals and humans”. Post-graduate Infectious Disease and One Health course: One Health & Comparative Animal Model.  University of Edinburgh 

Open to PhD supervision enquiries?

Yes

Current PhD students supervised

  • Tijesunimi Ojo (primary supervisor): Breeding dairy cattle for increased resilience and health
  • Eleanor Hewett (co-supervisor): Exploring the role of nutrition in expression of positive and negative social behaviours to improve pig welfare
  • Phoebe Beal (co-supervisor): Living with parasites: exploring tolerance of infection to reduce gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep
  • Katja Zumer (co-supervisor): The role of genotype and cognitive ability in the navigation of social chaos

Past PhD students supervised

  • Duygu Madenci (PhD completed 2025): Breeding cattle for reduced bovine TB transmission
  • Holly Nisbett (PhD completed 2025): Improving the efficiency of beef production through the use of precision farming technology and machine learning techniques
  • Mette Tollervey (PhD completed 2025): Genetics, epigenetics and genotype environment interactions in RAS-reared Atlantic salmon, Salmo Salar
  • Zulfa Insani Hubi (PhD completed 2024): Understanding the relationship between host tolerance-resistance and nutrition to multiple pathogen challenge
  • Lucy Oldham (PhD completed 2023): The role of cognitive and affective state during agonistic encounters: Implications for social interactions and animal welfare
  • Simone Foister (PhD completed 2020) Balancing short and long term aggression to maximise welfare and productivity
  • Christopher Orrett (PhD completed 2019) Genetics of host response to infection with Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus. BBSRC Industrial CASE PhD studentship
  • Raphaka Kethusegile (PhD completed 2019) Genome-wide association study for bovine tuberculosis resistance in Holstein-Friesian dairy cattle.
  • Graham Lough (PhD completed 2018) Should we aim for genetic improvement of host resistance or tolerance to infectious disease? BBSRC Industrial CASE PhD studentship
  • Zeenath Islam (PhD completed 2017) Statistical modelling and analysis of the infection dynamics of PRRSV in vivo infections
  • Debby Lipschutz-Powell  (PhD completed 2015) Estimating the host genetic contribution to the epidemiology of infectious diseases
  • Suzanne Desire  (PhD completed 2015) Genomic and environmental dissection of social aggressiveness and feeding behaviour in pigs
  • Mahmoud Shirali (PhD completed 2013) Reduction in energy usage and environmental footprint using biological growth models
  • Laszlo Trefan (PhD completed in 2010): Meta-analysis of meat quality traits in pigs
  • Carol-Anne Duthie (PhD completed 2009). Individual and epistatic genetic effects of quantitative trait loci affecting growth, feed intake, body composition and meat quality in pigs

Research summary

The Doeschl-Wilson group investigates how the genetics of individuals, together with other factors affects harmful and beneficial social interactions and the spread of infectious disease in farm animals. We are an interdisciplinary group of scientists aiming to effectively combine field and laboratory experiments with mathematical modelling and quantitative genetics theory, with the ultimate aim to improve animal health, welfare and resilience for more sustainable livestock production.  

Current research interests

Research in the Doeschl-Wilson group focuses on the development of mathematical models and computational tools that enhance our understanding how the genetics of individuals and diverse non-genetic factors together influence the dynamics of infectious diseases and their impact on the health and performance of individuals and of entire livestock populations. We use these tools to -DESIGN infection experiments and sampling strategies that let us detect the genetic signal from disease and performance data. -IDENTIFY individuals or genomic regions associated with high genetic resistance or tolerance to infections, or high genetic risk for transmitting infections (infectivity). -PREDICT the impact of genetic and non-genetic control strategies on future disease prevalence and pathogen evolution. We use a wide range of modelling techniques that combine methods from mathematical dynamical systems theory, Bayesian statistics, and quantitative genetics.Applications include virus infections in pigs (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, PRRS) and chicken (Marek’s disease), gastro-intestinal parasite infections in sheep, bacterial infections in cattle (bovine Tuberculosis), to virus and protozoa infections in fish. We also apply mathematical tools to study genetic effects and group dynamics underlying aggressive behaviour in pigs. Questions we are particularly interested in: Should we aim for genetic improvement in host resistance or tolerance to infectious disease? Are there disease superspreaders in the population and to what extent is superspreading genetically determined? Can we identify individuals with high genetic risk for becoming infected or spreading infections a priori, based on their genetic make-up? To what extent does vaccination with partially protective vaccines reduce disease transmission and pathogen evolution? How can selective breeding help to control infectious disease and minimise its impact on livestock production? How to breed animals for sustainable livestock production? We collaborate with researchers and industry partners in the UK, across Europe, USA and Canada, Australia and Africa.

Project activity

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Current project grants

-USDA-NSF-NIH-BBSRC-BSF-NNSFC Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases program. US-UK Collab: Combined influence of imperfect vaccines, host genetics and non-genetic drivers on virus transmission and virulence evolution. UK PI. US PI: Dr. J. Dunn.
- Breeding dairy cattle for increased resilience and health. Roslin Foundation PhD studentship. PI.
- AI-PigNet: The AI of social interactions for next gen smart animal breeding. UKRI International Partnering Award Plus. BB/Y513891/1 PI.
- ECO-READY- Achieving Ecological Resilient Dynamisms for the European food system through consumer-driven policies, socio-ecological challenges, biodiversity, data-driven policy, sustainable futures. HORIZON-CL6-2022 research and Innovation programme; grant agreement N◦101084201. Roslin PI.
- BBSRC Transforming UK Food Systems call: TRADE- TRAnsforming the DEbate about livestock systems transformation. BB/W018152/1 . Co-I. PI: Dominic Moran, Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems, University of Edinburgh
-What makes a super-spreader? BBSRC Responsive Mode Grant. Co-I. PI: Pedro Vale, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh
-Drivers of Salmon Robustness. BBSRC Business and Academia Prosperity Partnership Award. Co-I & Pillar lead. PI: Nick Wade (Roslin Institute) and Herve Mignaud (Mowi)
-EUAqua.Org - Integrative breeding strategies for the transition of EUropean AQUAculture towards sustainable ORGanic production. European Commission HORIZON-CL6-2024-BIODIV-01-9 grant, project ID 101181589. Co-I.
- NOLice – NOvel tools for a future with NO lice in NOrwegian aquaculture. Norwegian Research Council award. Co-I. PI: Nick Robinson,.

Past project grants

- Initiating cattle health genomics research and applications in Uganda. BBSRC ISP pump priming award. PI.
- AHDB PhD studentship: Breeding cattle for reduced bTB transmission.
- US-UK Collab: Drivers of diversity and transmission of co-circulating viral lineages in host meta-populations. UKRI-BBSRC, USDA-NSF-NIH-BBSRC-BSF-NNSFC Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases program. Co-I. PI: Dr. Kim Van der Waal (University of Minnesota, US).
- Integration of biological models in genomic evaluations: pig-growth-model whole genome prediction (PGM-WGP). USDA-NIFA. Co-I. PI: Prof. Jack Dekkers (Iowa State University, USA).
- Investigating infectiousness of pigs selected for multi-factorial resilience or increased resistance to PRRS. Alberta Applied Agricultural Genomics Program (A3GP). Co-PI with Prof. G. Plastow, University of Alberta.
- Catalysing disease eradication in farm animals through gene editing: a feasibility study. ISCF Transforming Food Production Seeding Award.
- ROBUST-SMOLT: Impact of early life history in freshwater recirculation aquaculture systems on Atlantic salmon robustness and susceptibility to disease at sea. Co-I and WP leader. PI: H. Mignaud (University of Stirling). BBSRC-NERC aquaculture call.
-Increasing research skills and capacity to support the implementation of national livestock development plans in sub-Saharan Africa. BBSRC Global Challenges Research Fund Strategic Training Awards for Research Skills (GCRF-STARS). Co-I. PI: Prof. A. Djikeng.
-SMARTER: SMAll RuminanTs breeding for Efficiency and Resilience. EU Horizon 2020 collaborative project (Grant agreement ID 772787). Workpackage Deputy Leader. PI: C. Moreno, INRA (France).
-ISA resistance in Atlantic salmon: Defining new phenotypes for accurate breeding. Co-I. PI: B. Hillestad (SalmoBreed). Norwegian research council, Innovation project for the industrial sector.
-Inferring genetic and individual variation in population and dynamic models. Scottish Government Programmes of Research 2015-21, Strategic Research Programme RD 3 2 2 –Disease mechanisms. Co-I (Roslin PI). PI: D. Griffith, Moredun Research Institute.
-The role of host genetic resistance and vaccination on transmission of Marek’s disease virus in poultry. AFRI Animal Health and Disease project SF424. Project Leader: Dr. John Dunn (USDA Department of Agriculture and Fisheries).
-SAPHIR: Strengthening Animal Production and Health Through the Immune Response. EU Horizon 2020 collaborative project. Project PI: Isabelle Schwartz (INRA, France). http://www.h2020-saphir.eu/
-Balancing short and long term aggression to maximise welfare and productivity. Walsh PhD Fellowship Programme. Co-I. PI: Dr. Simon Turner (SRUC)

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