Dr Kim Thompson is a Principal Investigator at Moredun Research Institute, where she heads the Aquaculture Research Group funded by Benchmark Animal Health Ltd. She graduated from University of Stirling with a BSc (hons) in Biochemistry, and with an MSc in Immunology from University of Aberdeen and a PhD in Fish Immunology from University of Stirling. Before coming to Moredun Research Institute she was a Reader in Fish Immunology at the Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, where she was based for more than 20 years. Her research interests include vaccine development for fish pathogens (viral, bacterial and parasitic), examining the immune response of fish to these pathogens and understanding the factors that influence this response. She is also interested in developing alternative therapies for disease control in fish (e.g. functional feeds, immunostimulants, probiotics). She has published over 130 articles in international peer-reviews publications relating to this work. She is a member of the European Association of Fish Pathologists, Asian Aquaculture Society, and a founding member of the International Society of Fish and Shellfish Immunology. She is also a Member of BBSRC UK Veterinary Vaccinology Research Network and International Veterinary Vaccinology Research Network.

Kim’s current research focuses on the development of vaccines for a variety of cold and warm water aquaculture fish species farmed globally, including tilapia, salmon, seabass and seabream. Her research also focuses on complex gill disease and the factors associated with this condition.