Rate My Professor Pip Beard

Professor Pip Beard is Professor of Viral Pathology and Head of the School of Life Sciences at Keele University. She holds a veterinary qualification from the University of Sydney and a PhD from the University of Edinburgh, and has worked across universities and research institutes in Australia, Scotland, the USA, Mongolia, and England. Previously a group leader at The Pirbright Institute, she served as World Organisation for Animal Health expert for sheeppox, goatpox, and lumpy skin disease from 2016 to 2022, Director of the Genomia Fund, Past Director of the International Veterinary Virology Network, and Past Athena Swan Champion at Pirbright. At Keele, she chairs the Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity committee and leads the European Commission-funded international research consortium DEFEND from 2018 to 2023. Beard is a member of the Microbiology Society Virology Division, Veterinary Specialty Advisory Committee of the Royal College of Pathologists, Board of the International Veterinary Vaccinology Network, World Organisation for Animal Health Advisory Group on mpox, and Chair of international DISCONTOOLS expert review groups for lumpy skin disease, sheeppox, and goatpox. Her awards include Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2023, Wellcome Trust Fellowship and Clinical Fellowship in 2004, Specialty Research Medal from The Royal College of Pathologists in 2014, and Journal of Comparative Pathology Medal in 2018.

Professor Beard's research focuses on poxviruses that cause disease in livestock, such as lumpy skin disease virus, sheeppox virus, and goatpox virus, recognized as neglected pathogens in low- and middle-income countries. Her studies investigate molecular interactions with host cells, pathological and immunological changes during infection, and insect-borne transmission of lumpy skin disease virus in cattle. Key publications cover viral kelch proteins (2004, 2005), host proteins and pathways including TRAF2, RAB1A, and retrograde transport (2013, 2014, 2016), insect-borne transmission and subclinical lumpy skin disease virus infections (2020, 2022), immune responses to lumpy skin disease virus (2022), and economic impacts of capripoxvirus diseases with control recommendations (2020, 2021). She has supervised seven postdoctoral scientists, eight PhD students as primary supervisor, six MSc students, and 12 undergraduates, with team members advancing to academia and industry. Beard has secured funding from BBSRC, MRC, Wellcome Trust, European Commission, and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. She teaches lectures, small group sessions, and online courses in infectious diseases, pathology, and veterinary clinical skills, offers undergraduate placements through the UK Veterinary Summer Studentship Programme, lectures to veterinary students on research careers, and supports the Cornell University Veterinary Leadership scheme. As a strong advocate for gender equality, she developed Women in Science as a cross-cutting theme and the Gender Action Plan for the DEFEND consortium, and campaigned for women's opportunities on the International Veterinary Virology Network Board.