Research in my group aims to understand the mechanistic basis of antimicrobial tolerance exhibited by microbial biofilms, and to develop effective biofilm detection methodologies (wound biofilm sensors) and eradication therapies for the treatment of chronic biofilm-mediated infections. Research in the group is highly multidisciplinary in nature; from medicinal chemistry, chemical biology, to molecular microbiology, functional metagenomics and bioinformatics. Among our interests are the identification of important regulators of biofilm formation (including proteases, such as lasB in P. aeruginosa) and bacterial virulence, and development of novel approaches for biofilm control, including atmospheric pressure, non-thermal plasmas (or ‘cold’ plasmas). We have an active research interest in antibiotic biodiscovery from extremophilic bacteria and archaea, having developed a unique and exciting programme of halophile research, based on extreme halophiles from 250M year old halite evaporites and spleothems from Kilroot Saltmine, N. Ireland using both culture-based and culture-independent approaches. Our research is multidisciplinary in nature, enjoying active national and international collaborations with academic and industry partners.   In collaboration with the Centre for Plasma Physics and the Institute for Global Food Security (IGFS), we are elucidating the mechanisms of action of Atmospheric Pressure, Non Thermal Plasma (APNTP) in biofilm control, aiming to developing clinical and AgriFood applications of this exciting technology.