Dr Brown leads a research group presently consisting of four post-doctoral research associates and one PhD student investigating the pathogenesis of Streptococcus pneumoniae lung infections. Present research focuses on the role of surface lipoproteins for S. pneumoniae virulence and as potential vaccine candidates, and the importance of complement for immunity to S. pneumoniae. Pivotal findings have been the identification of two protein antigen vaccine candidates effective at preventing serious S. pneumoniae infections, and the demonstration of the unexpected importance of the classical complement pathway for innate immunity. The group is funded by the MRC, Wellcome Trust, and British Lung Foundation and has several close collaborations, including with Imperial College, Glasgow University, University of Pennsylvania, and the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm.