Tuesday 27th October
Zombie apocalypse: a popular science fiction theme, but could it really happen?
We already know that viruses can change human behaviour, but how far could this go – is a human rage virus possible? How close to a zombie apocalypse have we been? Which viruses have come the closest and how might it work? Drawing on concepts of viral evolution, and his work on disease mechanisms and pandemic virus transmission, Greg will discuss how viruses manipulate host behaviour to transmit and whether a viral zombie apocalypse is possible.
About the speaker
Greg Towers is a Professor of Molecular Virology in the Centre for Immunobiology and Infection at the Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London. His research is focussed on understanding how we protect ourselves from viral infection using our immune systems and how viruses still manage to infect us and cause disease. His lab studies HIV and SARS-CoV-2 and the diseases they cause (AIDS and COVID 19) to understand mechanisms of viral infection and immunity that can be used to develop novel therapeutics including antivirals and anti-inflammatories. Greg has 30 years of experience in virology research and has led an independent research group since 2001, funded by continual fellowship and and programme level support from the Wellcome Trust. His research has provided paradigm-shfting observations on how HIV infects cells, how viruses evolve, and how antiviral proteins work to limit infection.
14+ only.
Walk ins will be accepted if capacity allows but booking is recommended.
| Adult: | £5 |
| Concession: | £4 |
All ticket proceeds support Centre of the Cell’s operations and future events.
Upcoming date
- Tue 27 Oct 2026 6:00pm