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
- Exciting new collaboration with Drugs for Neglected Diseases InitiativeOn June 10-11, Dr. Jo Forde Thomas, Dr. Sarah Davey and Prof Karl Hoffmann visited Geneva, Switzerland to finalise a new collaboration with the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi). After an entire day of sharing activities and priorities for the future, the BCHC was asked to be one of…
- Accelerating pre-clinical drug discovery for schistosomiasisOn Wednesday 3rd June 2026, Prof. Karl Hoffmann hosted the first Research Steering Group meeting for a new £10 million collaborative Wellcome grant, which aims to Accelerating pre-clinical drug discovery for schistosomiasis. The BCHC was honoured to welcome project collaborators, our funders and Steering committee members from across the UK, Europe…
- BCHC Celebrates International Women’s Day at the Visibility AwardsToday, members of the BCHC attended Aberystwyth University’s Visibility Awards, which celebrates under-represented groups and their contributions towards research culture. Two members of the Hoffmann lab were awarded: Dr. Josephine Forde-Thomas (PDRA) and Dr. Sarah Davey (PDRA). Jo is an invaluable member of the Department of Life Sciences, the Barrett…
- Exciting new investment in AI-guided drug discoveryThe Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund have invested in an exciting new project led by Aberystwyth University with collaborators at University of Dundee and BrightCore, Inc. in Japan. GHIT is international organisation that helps support the development of drugs, vaccines and diagnostics for malaria, tuberculosis and NTDs. The project…
Contact Us
BCHC Director: Professor Karl F. Hoffmann
Aberystwyth University
Edward Llwyd Building
Penglais Campus
Aberystwyth
SY23 3DA
WALES UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1970 622308
E-mail: bchc.uk@gmail.com
Mary Evans and Sarah Davey – BCHC Administrators
Partner Organisations
Activities at the BCHC are supported by the following external organisations:
Photos on this page sourced from BCHC members and Aberystwyth University