
Biography
Contact details:
- +44 (0) 1603 450 036
Richard is Group Leader of the Technology Algorithms Group (Leggett Group). His research interests include:
- Application of new sequencing technologies
- Real-time sequence analysis
- Sequencing for diagnostics and surveillance
- Classification and assembly of metagenomic samples
- In-field and in situ sequencing
- Development of new bioinformatics tools
He has been involved in the development of a number of bioinformatics tools, including:
- NanoOK (https://documentation.tgac.ac.uk/display/NANOOK/NanoOK)
- NextClip
- Bubbleparse
- Cortex_con and MetaCortex (http://cortexassembler.sourceforge.net/)
- StatsDB
- RADplex
Graduating in Physics, Richard spent 10 years working as a software engineer, before undertaking an MSc in Advanced Computing Science and a PhD in Computational Biology. His PhD thesis was entitled, "Computational approaches for the analysis and modelling of filamentous growth and branching of Steptomyces coelicolor". Following the PhD, and prior to joining EI, Richard was a postdoc at The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, looking at novel methods for SNP detection in reference-free organisms.
Projects
Publications
Related reading.
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20 April 2016
Technology
FEATURE
| 3 min READ
MinIONs, MAP and MARC: Nanotechnology developments
We're working with the latest in nanopore sequencing technology to push the boundaries of low-cost, portable genomics solutions.
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12 June 2023
Comment
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Single cells offering limitless potential
Revolutionary techniques to extract and sequence the genetic material of a single cell are allowing scientists to begin to answer fundamental questions.
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05 June 2023
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Cellular Genomics: understanding why being different is normal
What does a “healthy” or “normal” cell look like?
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22 May 2023
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Bananas are on the brink but close cousins could save their skins
With the growing spread of a new strain of Panama disease, which is devastating banana crops, there is an urgent need to boost their resilience - and potentially apply the same approach to protect other vulnerable crops.
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10 May 2023
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Cultural differences: how analysing mixed communities of microorganisms could help us understand AMR
Microbes don’t live in single-strain groups – they mingle. Antimicrobial resistance can be passed between strains as well as within them. What does this mean for the future of single-cell sequencing and the fight against AMR?
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24 April 2023
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Memories of sequencing the human genome to mark seven decades of DNA
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17 April 2023
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Hidden jewels in our blood could hold secrets of healthy ageing
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30 March 2023
Science
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Differences make a difference: from one cell to a world of individuality
In our last article, we explored how low-level exposure to antibiotics in the environment is affecting the emergence of resistance genes in Salmonella. Here, we explore how single-cell genomics can elevate our understanding of how AMR arises - and equip us with the knowledge to tackle this existential threat.
21 December 2015
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NanoOK: Quality Control for portable, rapid, low-cost DNA sequencing
Scientists at the Earlham Institute (EI) have been putting Oxford Nanopore’s MinION sequencer through its paces with an open-source, sequence alignment-based genome analysis tool called ‘NanoOK’.
10 April 2023
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Engineered plants produce sex perfume to trick pests and replace pesticides
Tobacco plants have been engineered to manufacture an alluring perfume of insect sex pheromones, which could be used to confuse would-be pests looking for love and reduce the need for harmful pesticides.
28 March 2023
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Human body a breeding ground for antimicrobial resistance genes
The community of microbes living in and on our bodies may be acting as a reservoir for antibiotic resistance, according to new research from the Earlham Institute and Quadram Institute in Norwich.
06 February 2023
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Key tilapia genome offers boost to global food security
The first full, high-quality reference genome for a genetically improved tilapia strain has been published, offering the potential to improve food security for billions of the world’s poorest people.
10 January 2023
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Exotic wheat DNA could help breed ‘climate-proof’ crops
Wheat containing exotic DNA from wild relatives benefits from up to 50 per cent higher yields in hot weather compared with elite lines lacking these genes.
22 November 2022
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Sequencing project to unleash the huge potential of euglenoids
An ambitious plan to sequence the genomes of all known species of euglenoids over the next decade has been launched today.
24 October 2022
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Circadian clock insights could be key to increased wheat yields
New research carefully measuring the influence and regulation of the circadian clock in wheat could help breeders improve key agricultural traits in one of the world’s most important crops.
28 September 2022
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European consortium launched to reverse biodiversity loss through genomics research
A quantum leap in the use of genomics is needed to reverse unprecedented species loss and ecosystem degradation, according to a new pan-European consortium of leading research organisations.