Rate My Professor Richard Stanton

Professor Richard Stanton is Professor of Virology in the School of Medicine at Cardiff University, serving as Head of Infection research within the Division of Infection and Immunity since 2022. He is Co-Director of the Wales Applied Virology Unit and a Senior Research Leader at Health and Care Research Wales, both since 2025. Stanton obtained his BSc (Hons) in Microbiology from the University of Wales College of Cardiff (1995-1999), Diploma in Biomedical Methods from the University of Wales College of Medicine (1999-2000), and PhD in Virology from the same institution (1999-2002). His academic career began with an industrial training placement in Bacteriology at the Public Health Laboratory Service (1997-1998), followed by Research Assistant (2002-2003) and postdoctoral researcher roles at the University of Wales College of Medicine/Cardiff University School of Medicine (2003-2010). He advanced to Lecturer in Microbiology (2010-2015), Senior Lecturer (2015-2018), Reader in Microbiology (2018-2021), and Professor in Virology (2021-present).

Stanton's research specializations encompass the biology, immunology, and diagnosis of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), alongside the development of recombinant adenovirus vectors. He contributes to the Viral Immunology Research Group and Cytomegalovirus and Adenovirus Virology group. Notable publications include 'Virion proteomics of genetically intact HCMV reveals a regulator of envelope glycoprotein composition that protects against humoral immunity' (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2025), 'HCMV-secreted glycoprotein gpUL4 inhibits TRAIL-mediated apoptosis and NK cell activation' (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2023), 'Reconstruction of the complete human cytomegalovirus genome' (2010), and 'HCMV pUL135 remodels the actin cytoskeleton to impair immune recognition of infected cells' (Cell Host and Microbe, 2014). Stanton holds editorial roles as Editor for PNAS Nexus, PLoS Pathogens, and Scientific Reports, and Editorial Board Member for the Journal of General Virology. He serves on the Wellcome Trust Discovery Award Advisory Group, Healthcare Research Wales Fellowship Grant committee, and other panels. Professional memberships include the Microbiology Society, American Society for Microbiology, and British Society for Immunology.