Tom Hughes

Tom Hughes is affiliated with the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), who he works closely with on a range of projects to strengthen research for high consequence pathogens and to develop personnel and laboratory capacity for biosecurity and biosafety in South East Asia. Tom received his Bachelor of Science in Development Studies and Natural Resources from the University of East Anglia and has a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Tom is currently a post-graduate student at MORU with Prof Stuart Blacksell (Biorisk and Zoonosis) and Prof Richard Maude (Epidemiology), his PhD research is focused on studying the impact of zoonotic disease surveillance in the indigenous communities of Peninsular Malaysia on reducing the risk of zoonotic disease emergence.

Tom is the Founder and Director of Conversation Medicine. Conservation Medicine works to develop science-based solutions to prevent pandemics and promote conservation. Tom works closely with government and university partners in Malaysia, to establish sustainable disease surveillance systems for wildlife and people with high exposure to wildlife. He has expertise in wildlife biology, field logistics, zoonotic disease surveillance in wildlife, livestock, and humans, conducting risk assessments, biosafety, biosecurity, and multi-disciplinary research coordination.

Conservation Medicine, based in Malaysia, is committed to working with its Malaysian partners, the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit and with colleagues and partners across South East Asia and beyond to continue research, training, and capacity building efforts to strengthen zoonotic disease research and improve biosecurity and biosafety.