Rose Cooper PhD

Rose Cooper began to investigate the microbiology of wounds in 1992, which led to an interest in the efficacy of topical antimicrobial agents. Since 1997 she has been especially interested in studying the mode of action of manuka honey on antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria isolated from infected and chronic wounds, such as MRSA.

She has also been investigating the potential of bacteria recovered from wounds to form biofilms and searching for ways to limit biofilm formation. More recently, she has been testing combinations of antibiotics and honey on wound pathogens to find synergistic interactions. In collaboration with Prof Chris Griffith, the role of hospital environmental surfaces in the transmission of bacteria has been explored, with a view to limiting cross-infection by effective cleaning.

Rose has contributed to several books, some television and radio programs, and has been an invited speaker at conferences in Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Malaysia, Slovenia, Turkey, and the USA.