Stewart Cole

Last updated

Sir Stewart Thomas Cole KCMG FRS (born 1955) is a British/French microbiologist. He was the Director General of the Pasteur Institute since January 2018 to December 2023.

Contents

Early life and education

Cole grew up in Wales, where he was educated at Milford Haven Grammar School and then at Ardwyn Grammar School, Aberystwyth. Following a life-threatening bout of paratyphoid he developed an interest in bacteria, viruses and infectious diseases, which led to his reading microbiology at the University of Wales, in Cardiff (now Cardiff University) followed by research for his PhD at the University of Sheffield, England. Subsequently, he was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Umeå (Sweden) and a research assistant at the Max-Planck-Institut for Biology, Tübingen (Germany).

Career and research

Stewart Cole has been active in infectious disease research and global health for many years. Between 2007 and 2017, he was a full professor and director of the Global Health Institute at the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL, one of the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology). [1] His laboratory at EPFL closed in December 2018. He was previously professor, senior vice president and scientific director of the Pasteur Institute in Paris (1983 – 2007), which he later rejoined as Director General.

His research accomplishments in microbiology have been widely acclaimed and are of direct relevance to global health and disease-control in both the developing world and the industrialized nations. Over four decades his team has investigated a range of topics including: bacterial electron transport systems; the genomics and diagnostics of retroviruses (HIV) and oncogenic papillomaviruses (HPV); antibiotic resistance mechanisms; and the molecular microbiology of toxigenic clostridia. Cole is best known for his pioneering work on the genomics, evolution and virulence of pathogenic mycobacteria, especially those causing the human diseases tuberculosis (TB), leprosy and Buruli ulcer.

Cole has supervised numerous students for MS and PhD degrees, and trained >50 postdoctoral fellows and clinicians. With them, he has published over 400 scientific papers and review articles. [2] Notable alumni include Priscille Brodin, Bruno Canard, Roland Brosch, Stephen Gordon, Alexander Pym and Tim Stinear.

Cole is also an inventor on many patents, several of which were licensed to industrial partners giving rise to diagnostic and therapeutic products that have found direct application in human medicine and helped save lives. [3]

Cole was scientific coordinator for the New Medicines For Tuberculosis project (NM4TB), [4] running from 2006 to 2009 and the ensuing More Medicines For Tuberculosis project (MM4TB) [5] running from 2011 to 2016 in the context of the FP7 European Union's Research and Innovation funding programme. This work led to the discovery of the TB drug candidate BTZ043 [6] and PBTZ169 [7] based on the benzothiazinone scaffold.

In 2014, EPFL mandated its spin-off iM4TB, (Innovative Medicines for Tuberculosis ) a not-for-profit foundation, to raise funds and undertake preclinical development of PBTZ169. This was achieved with support from EPFL and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Both BTZ043 and PBTZ169 completed phase 1 clinical trials and then entered phase 2a trials. [8] [9]

In 2019, Cole was appointed academic Scientific leader of the public-private initiative ERA4TB (European Regimen Accelerator for Tuberculosis). ERA4TB is developing new treatment regimens for TB and receives funding from the European Commission's IMI Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Accelerator. [10]

Director of the Pasteur Institute

Stewart Cole was appointed as the 16th director general of the Pasteur Institute on 13 October 2017, [11] [12] 130 years after its foundation, thus becoming the first non-French appointee. He took office on 2 January 2018, when he began to prepare the institute's Strategic Plan for 2019–2023. The overarching ambition of the Strategic Plan was to give new impetus to basic research at the institute and to increase its impact on human health. Priority areas of the Strategic Plan included (re)emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, brain connectivity and neurodegenerative diseases. [13] From the Strategic Plan it is clear that the four missions originally defined by Louis Pasteur for his institute - research, public health, training/education and translating research into applications of value to humanity - are as relevant today as they were in 1887 when the Pasteur Institute was founded. He completed his term on 31 December 2023.

In 2024 joined the Ineos Oxford Institute [14] on antimicrobial research as Executive Chair and became President of the Pasteur Foundation - UK. [15]

He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to science. [16]

Awards and distinctions

Notes and references

  1. "UPCOL – Cole Lab – Chair of Microbial Pathogenesis".
  2. "Stewart Cole". scholar.google.com. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  3. "Stewart Cole Inventions, Patents and Patent Applications - Justia Patents Search". patents.justia.com. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  4. "New Medicines For Tuberculosis". Archived from the original on 9 October 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  5. "More Medicines For Tuberculosis". Archived from the original on 9 October 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  6. Makarov, Vadim (14 March 2009). "Benzothiazinones Kill Mycobacterium tuberculosis by Blocking Arabinan Synthesis". Science. 324 (5928): 801–804. Bibcode:2009Sci...324..801M. doi:10.1126/science.1171583. PMC   3128490 . PMID   19299584.
  7. Makarov, Vadim; Lechartier, Benoit; Zhang, Ming; Neres, João; Sar, Astrid M; Raadsen, Susanne A; Hartkoorn, Ruben C; Ryabova, Olga B; Vocat, Anthony; Decosterd, Laurent A; Widmer, Nicolas; Buclin, Thierry; Bitter, Wilbert; Andries, Koen; Pojer, Florence (March 2014). "Towards a new combination therapy for tuberculosis with next generation benzothiazinones". EMBO Molecular Medicine. 6 (3): 372–383. doi:10.1002/emmm.201303575. ISSN   1757-4676. PMC   3958311 . PMID   24500695.
  8. "Search of: BTZ043 | Tuberculosis - List Results - ClinicalTrials.gov". classic.clinicaltrials.gov. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  9. "Search of: PBTZ169 | Tuberculosis - List Results - ClinicalTrials.gov". classic.clinicaltrials.gov. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  10. "Homepage". IMI Innovative Medicines Initiative. Archived from the original on 19 June 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  11. Papageorgiou, Nik (23 October 2017). "Stewart Cole appointed president of Institut Pasteur".
  12. "Professor Stewart Cole appointed President of the Institut Pasteur". 13 October 2017. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  13. "Strategic plan for 2019-2023". Institut Pasteur. 21 May 2019. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  14. "Sir Stewart Cole joins the Ineos Oxford Institute for antimicrobial research as Executive Chair | University of Oxford". www.ox.ac.uk. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 2 March 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  15. "Pasteur Foundation - UK". pasteurfoundation.uk. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  16. "No. 63571". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 2022. p. N3.
  17. "Marjory Stephenson Prize Lecture". Society for General Microbiology. Archived from the original on 10 January 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  18. "2009 Kochon Prize Award Winners". STOP-TB Partnership. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  19. "Warm congratulations to Stewart Cole". EPFL. 11 June 2014. Archived from the original on 16 February 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  20. Papageorgiou, Nik (8 August 2016). "Stewart Cole receives the Gardner Middlebrook Award 2016". EPFL. Archived from the original on 16 February 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  21. sam (1 July 2023). "Honorary degrees". Your University. Retrieved 29 February 2024.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BCG vaccine</span> Vaccine primarily used against tuberculosis

Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine is a vaccine primarily used against tuberculosis (TB). It is named after its inventors Albert Calmette and Camille Guérin. In countries where tuberculosis or leprosy is common, one dose is recommended in healthy babies as soon after birth as possible. In areas where tuberculosis is not common, only children at high risk are typically immunized, while suspected cases of tuberculosis are individually tested for and treated. Adults who do not have tuberculosis and have not been previously immunized, but are frequently exposed, may be immunized, as well. BCG also has some effectiveness against Buruli ulcer infection and other nontuberculous mycobacterial infections. Additionally, it is sometimes used as part of the treatment of bladder cancer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Koch</span> German physician and bacteriologist (1843–1910)

Heinrich Hermann Robert Koch was a German physician and microbiologist. As the discoverer of the specific causative agents of deadly infectious diseases including tuberculosis, cholera and anthrax, he is regarded as one of the main founders of modern bacteriology. As such he is popularly nicknamed the father of microbiology, and as the father of medical bacteriology. His discovery of the anthrax bacterium in 1876 is considered as the birth of modern bacteriology. Koch used his discoveries to establish that germs "could cause a specific disease" and directly provided proofs for the germ theory of diseases, therefore creating the scientific basis of public health, saving millions of lives. For his life's work Koch is seen as one of the founders of modern medicine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuberculosis</span> Infectious disease

Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is an infectious disease usually caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in which case it is known as latent tuberculosis. Around 10% of latent infections progress to active disease which, if left untreated, kill about half of those affected. Typical symptoms of active TB are chronic cough with blood-containing mucus, fever, night sweats, and weight loss. Infection of other organs can cause a wide range of symptoms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bacteriology</span> Subdiscipline of microbiology that studies bacteria

Bacteriology is the branch and specialty of biology that studies the morphology, ecology, genetics and biochemistry of bacteria as well as many other aspects related to them. This subdivision of microbiology involves the identification, classification, and characterization of bacterial species. Because of the similarity of thinking and working with microorganisms other than bacteria, such as protozoa, fungi, and viruses, there has been a tendency for the field of bacteriology to extend as microbiology. The terms were formerly often used interchangeably. However, bacteriology can be classified as a distinct science.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Streptomycin</span> Aminoglycoside antibiotic

Streptomycin is an antibiotic medication used to treat a number of bacterial infections, including tuberculosis, Mycobacterium avium complex, endocarditis, brucellosis, Burkholderia infection, plague, tularemia, and rat bite fever. For active tuberculosis it is often given together with isoniazid, rifampicin, and pyrazinamide. It is administered by injection into a vein or muscle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Émile Roux</span> French physician (1853–1933)

Pierre Paul Émile Roux FRS was a French physician, bacteriologist and immunologist. Roux was one of the closest collaborators of Louis Pasteur (1822–1895), a co-founder of the Pasteur Institute, and responsible for the institute's production of the anti-diphtheria serum, the first effective therapy for this disease. Additionally, he investigated cholera, chicken-cholera, rabies, and tuberculosis. Roux is regarded as a founder of the field of immunology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tropical medicine</span> Interdisciplinary branch of medicine

Tropical medicine is an interdisciplinary branch of medicine that deals with health issues that occur uniquely, are more widespread, or are more difficult to control in tropical and subtropical regions.

TB Alliance is a not-for-profit product development partnership (PDP) dedicated to the discovery and development of new, faster-acting and affordable tuberculosis (TB) medicines. Since its inception in 2000, TB Alliance has worked to grow the field of available treatments for TB and now manages the largest pipeline of new TB drugs in history. It was founded in Cape Town, South Africa, and has since expanded. It is headquartered in New York City and has a regional office in Pretoria.

Professor John Grange died 10 October 2016 was an English immunologist, epidemiologist, researcher, and academic, and was one of Europe's leading tuberculosis specialists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis</span> Medical condition

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a form of tuberculosis (TB) infection caused by bacteria that are resistant to treatment with at least two of the most powerful first-line anti-TB medications (drugs): isoniazid and rifampicin. Some forms of TB are also resistant to second-line medications, and are called extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bedaquiline</span> Medication used to treat tuberculosis

Bedaquiline, sold under the brand name Sirturo, is a medication used for the treatment of active tuberculosis. Specifically, it is used to treat multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis along with other medications for tuberculosis. It is taken by mouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stefan H. E. Kaufmann</span> German biologist

Stefan Hugo Ernst Kaufmann is a German immunologist and microbiologist and is one of the highly cited immunologists worldwide for the decade 1990 to 2000. He is amongst the 0.01% most cited scientists of c. 7 million scientists in 22 major scientific fields globally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Institut Pasteur Korea</span> Disease research institute

Institut Pasteur Korea is an infectious disease-focused research institute located in Gyeonggi Province, Rep. of Korea. Its mission is to identify novel molecular targets and discover small molecules by utilizing its proprietary platforms to diagnose, treat and address serious unmet global public health needs.

The French Louis Pasteur (1822–1895) and German Robert Koch (1843–1910) are the two greatest figures in medical microbiology and in establishing acceptance of the germ theory of disease. In 1882, fueled by national rivalry and a language barrier, the tension between Pasteur and the younger Koch erupted into an acute conflict.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jörg Hacker</span> German microbiologist

Jörg Hinrich Hacker is a German microbiologist. He served as president of the Robert Koch Institute from 2008 to 2010 and of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina from 2010 to 2020. He is the editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Medical Microbiology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeremy Farrar</span> British medical researcher

Sir Jeremy James Farrar is a British medical researcher who has served as Chief Scientist at the World Health Organization since 2023. He was previously the director of The Wellcome Trust from 2013 to 2023 and a professor of tropical medicine at the University of Oxford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuart B. Levy</span> American microbiologist, expert on antibiotic resistance

Stuart Blank Levy was a researcher and physician at Tufts University. He was among the first to advocate for greater awareness of antibiotic resistance and founded the Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics.

Pasteur Institute of Iran is a medical research center located in Tehran, Iran. The institute is one of the oldest leading research and public health centers in Iran and the Middle East, established in 1920 following an agreement between the Institute Pasteur of Paris and the Iranian government. The Pasteur Institute of Iran was developed with the help of a land donation from Abdol-Hossein Farmanfarma. Its mission is to support advanced research and to provide innovative programs in basic and applied medical sciences, and production of biopharmaceuticals and diagnostic kits with special emphasis on infectious diseases. It meets the specialized and scientific health demands of the local community and tries to establish a link between applied research and industry. Pasteur Institute is a leading regional facility in the development and manufacture of vaccines. The institute has a total staff of 1300 in its 28 departments and 5 branches in different cities of Iran, which are active in different areas of medical and pharmaceutical biotechnology. There are about 300 PhDs and M.Sc. graduates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natteri Veeraraghavan</span>

Natteri Veeraraghavan (1913-2004) was an Indian physician, microbiologist and medical researcher, known for his contributions to the understanding of diseases like rabies, tuberculosis and leprosy. He was a former director of the Pasteur Institute of India, Coonoor and the chairman of the World Health Organization International Reference Center on Rabies. He was honoured by the Government of India in 1967, with the award of Padma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award for his contributions to the society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anil Koul</span> Indian scientist (born 1972)

Anil Koul is an Indian scientist and former Director of the CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), a premier biomedical and biotechnology research institution under Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) under Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India.