An Interdisciplinary Research Centre leading the fight against helminth disease
Established in 2016, the BCHC at Aberystwyth University brings together an internationally-recognised team of Principal Investigators and external associates to lead the research community in the fight against parasitic worms causing agricultural, veterinary and biomedical diseases.
About Us
Helminth-related infections present some of the most difficult to treat diseases on our planet and their sustainable control depends on increasingly sensitive diagnostics and biomarkers as well as the development of prophylactic vaccines and novel therapeutic drugs. The BCHC will underpin innovation in this area through new collaborations and partnerships spanning previously untapped disciplines.
Video source: Gabriel Rinaldi – Female adult schistosome in culture actively feeding on red blood cells

Selected Recent Publications
View recent publications from BCHC members.

Facilities & Services
Aberystwyth University opens up a new era of collaborative, interdisciplinary research in the fight against neglected tropical diseases of global importance.

Our Research
Our research spans a broad variety of disciplines, including parasitology, chemistry, ecology, microbiology, mathematics, physics and computer science.
News
- Aberystwyth Welcomes OneZoo CDTMembers of BCHC here at Aberystwyth University are proud to be a part of the OneZoo CDT. This OneZoo CDT provides a transdisciplinary approach that aims to empower the next generation of scientists to understand and control zoonotic threats around the world. Research scientists from Aberystwyth University, Cardiff University, Queen’s…
- BCHC welcomes a new memberIn August 2022, the BCHC welcomed a new member – Dr Gabriel Rinaldi. Dr Rinaldi joins us from The Wellcome Sanger Institute. He was awarded the highly esteemed Future Leaders Fellowship by the UK Research and Innovation body. Over the next 4 years, his research will be based on improving…
- BCHC Students GraduateLast month, after long delays due to COVID-19 restrictions BCHC were pleased to welcome back several PhD and MRes students to celebrate their graduations. PhD graduates supervised by Prof Karl Hoffmann: Dr Ben Hulme: The focus of his research project was “Schistosoma mansoni α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (SmNAGAL) regulates coordinated parasite movement and…
- BCHC members presented at British Society for Parasitology 60th Anniversary spring meetingThe University of York hosted the British Society for Parasitology spring meeting this March. This year we were able to meet in person and remotely to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the event. Keynote speakers included Amy Buck (University of Edinburgh) and Susan Wyllie (University of Dundee). Several BCHC members…
Contact Us
Professor Karl F. Hoffmann
BCHC Director
Aberystwyth University
Edward Llwyd Building
Penglais Campus
Aberystwyth
SY23 3DA
WALES UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1970 622308
E-mail: bchc.uk@gmail.com
Mary Howlett -BCHC Administrator
Partner Organisations
Activities at the BCHC are supported by the following external organisations:
