Dr Kelly Thornber

About me:

My research is interdisciplinary and solutions-focused, using systems thinking, engagement and science communication approaches to apply biosciences research to real-world issues. I work with a wide range of external partners from the public, private and social sectors, focusing on:

• Reducing environmental levels of pharmaceutical pollution from human healthcare, by considering this issue from a systems perspective. This work aims to understand the multitude of factors contributing to the release of pharmaceutical waste along the healthcare pharmaceutical life cycle, in order to identify effective solutions.
• Addressing the global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), in particular finding ways to reduce or mitigate the impacts of environmental antimicrobial pollution or carriage of resistant bacteria.
• Developing more sustainable aquaculture (fish and shrimp farming) practices, both in the UK and globally. This is largely through seeking to improve biosecurity and reduce the need for chemical usage (including antibiotics).

I am a Co-Director of the new Pharma Pollution Hub. This is a new non-profit, independent think tank dedicated to finding solutions to reduce the environmental impacts of medicines used in UK healthcare. We are using a systems thinking approach to:

1. Define the problem. We are raising awareness of the environmental impacts of pharmaceuticals used in healthcare, and outlining the social, economic and human health risks of not taking action.
2. Mobilise the research community to accelerate the change process. We are developing a Research for Change Agenda, to focus the expertise and resources of the academic community on answering partner-led questions that support our transition to a sustainable pharmaceutical society.
3. Collectively identify pragmatic solutions. We are working with thought leaders from across the public health, pharmaceutical, healthcare and environmental sectors, to co-design an actionable roadmap for change.

My research is interdisciplinary and solutions-focused, using systems thinking, engagement and science communication approaches to apply biosciences research to real-world issues. I work with a wide range of external partners from the public, private and social sectors, focusing on:

• Reducing environmental levels of pharmaceutical pollution from human healthcare, by considering this issue from a systems perspective. This work aims to understand the multitude of factors contributing to the release of pharmaceutical waste along the healthcare pharmaceutical life cycle, in order to identify effective solutions.
• Addressing the global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), in particular finding ways to reduce or mitigate the impacts of environmental antimicrobial pollution or carriage of resistant bacteria.
• Developing more sustainable aquaculture (fish and shrimp farming) practices, both in the UK and globally. This is largely through seeking to improve biosecurity and reduce the need for chemical usage (including antibiotics).

2003 - 2006 DPhil Biochemistry, Balliol College, University of Oxford

2000 - 2003 BSc(hons) Biochemistry and Biological Chemistry, University of Nottingham

2023 - present Co-Director of Pharma Pollution Hub

2019 - present Research Fellow in Sustainable Development, University of Exeter

2017 - 2019 Daphne Jackson Research Fellow (funded by BBSRC), University of Exeter

2011 - 2017 Freelance Science Writer and Owner of Scientific Scripts (science communications business)

2008 - 2010 Scientific Administrator, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute

2007 - 2008 Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Universite Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France