Researcher Spotlight: Dr Tanmay Bharat

Who are you?

Tanmay Bharat, Programme Leader at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, UK.

What’s your background?

I have a BSc in Chemistry, an MA in Biological Sciences and a PhD in Structural Biology of Pathogens. 

What are your current research interests?

I study how bacteria form multicellular communities called biofilms using a range of microscopy techniques.

What’s your interest in AMR

I have battled antibiotic resistant bacteria virtually all my life, having had the misfortune of being afflicted by chronic bacterial bone infections. The usual treatment for these infections is surgery since the infecting bacteria do not respond to drugs. Having had several surgical treatments myself, I am motivated to develop new ways to tackle these AMR bacteria. Beyond my personal experience, this is an urgent global health problem that needs immediate attention.

And what’s your role in the Beyond Antibiotics team?

I am a Co-PI supervising projects on microscopy of biofilms. Results in our laboratory interface with other efforts in the programme and will eventually lead to novel therapeutic strategies against pathogenic bacteria.

Any interesting hobbies or interests outside of the lab?

Outside the lab, my time is primarily spent in childcare.