Dr Michael Pascoe
Postdoctoral Research Associate
- pascoemj@cardiff.ac.uk
- 1.50, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB
- Media commentator
Overview
I'm a research associate working between the Cardiff Catalysis Institute (CCI) and the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. My research spans the fields of infection prevention, public health and materials science, particularly for developing new solutions for personal hygiene and disinfection.
I have a keen interest in the humanitarian applications of my research, as well as improving environmental sustainability within the healthcare sector. I am a handling editor of Letters in Applied Microbiology and have recently joined the steering committee of the Bevan Commission's Let's Not Waste programme.
Outside of my day-to-day research, I also participate in science outreach and communication. I completed a British Science Association Media Fellowship in 2019 and take part in Science in Schools, an outreach programme implimented by the British Council and French Ministry of Education. I also volunteer with The Loop and assist with the delivery of their harm reduction programme, helping to develop new ways to support people who use drugs.
Biography
Originally from Cornwall, I completed my undergraduate and masters degrees in Biomedical Science at Cardiff Metropolitan University. I later joined the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences as a PhD student, where I completed an industry-sponsored project developing a photosensitiser-based technology for disinfection of healthcare surfaces. Toward completion of my PhD, I completed a Media Fellowship with the British Science Association, which involved secondment to the specialist news team at BBC Wales.
Since completion of my PhD, I have been involved in an assortment of collaborative projects spanning the field of disinfection and hygiene including:
- Investigating disinfection challenges posed by dry surface biofilms
- Designing a protocol for decontaminating a complex electronic instrument, to support registration as a medical device
- Assessing methods for reprocessing respiratory PPE in emegency situations, such as supply shortages
- Developing self-disinfecting textiles for sanitary use in developing regions
Other areas in which I am interested include the use of biocides to improve sexual health and approaches for reducing the harms posed by recreational drug use. I am Microbiology Society Champion and volunteer as a senior chemist at The Loop.
Publications
2024
- Maillard, J. and Pascoe, M. 2024. Disinfectants and antiseptics: mechanisms of action and resistance. Nature Reviews Microbiology 22, pp. 4-17. (10.1038/s41579-023-00958-3)
- Davies-Jones, J., Davies, P. R., Graf, A., Hewes, D., Hill, K. E. and Pascoe, M. 2024. Photoinduced force microscopy as a novel method for the study of microbial nanostructures. Nanoscale 16(1), pp. 223-236. (10.1039/D3NR03499B)
2022
- Pascoe, M. J., Mandal, S., Williams, O. A. and Maillard, J. -. 2022. Impact of material properties in determining quaternary ammonium compound adsorption and wipe product efficacy against biofilms. Journal of Hospital Infection 126, pp. 37-43. (10.1016/j.jhin.2022.03.013)
- Pascoe, M., Radley, S., Simmons, H. and Measham, F. 2022. The Cathinone Hydra: Increased cathinone and caffeine adulteration in the English MDMA market after Brexit and COVID-19 lockdowns. Drug Science, Policy and Law (10.1177/20503245221099209)
- Edwards, D. et al. 2022. A rapid scoping review of harm reduction strategies for ecstasy (MDMA) users in recreational settings. [Online]. Research Square: Research Square. (10.21203/rs.3.rs-2178425/v1) Available at: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2178425/v1
2021
- Pascoe, M. J. and Maillard, J. -. 2021. The role of melanin in Aspergillus tolerance to biocides and photosensitizers. Letters in Applied Microbiology 72(4), pp. 375-381. (10.1111/lam.13437)
- James, E., Westwell, A., Pascoe, M. and Smith, A. 2021. Online survey into the development of a model legal framework for a cannabis market in the United Kingdom. Drug Science, Policy and Law 7 (10.1177/20503245211034931)
2020
- Pascoe, M. J. et al. 2020. Dry heat and microwave generated steam protocols for the rapid decontamination of respiratory personal protective equipment in response to COVID-19-related shortages. Journal of Hospital Infection 106(1), pp. 10-19. (10.1016/j.jhin.2020.07.008)
2019
- Pascoe, M. J. 2019. Photodynamic high-level disinfection for medical surfaces. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
