Biographies
Team Members

Hirst leads the NHS Highly Specialised Services laboratory within the Centre for Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) Diagnosis and Research at the University of Leicester—the UK’s largest hub-and-spoke diagnostic centre for PCD, serving the Midlands and North of England. With over 25 years of experience in motile respiratory cilia research, he is a leading expert in all laboratory-based diagnostic techniques for PCD and has trained professionals in multiple centres worldwide. 

Dr Hirst holds a degree in Applied Biochemistry and a PhD from the University of Leicester. His pioneering contributions include introducing air–liquid interface (ALI) cultures into PCD diagnostic practice, establishing PCD diagnostic testing standards and guidelines, PCD gene discovery, and developing cellular models of the disease. 

He also contributes to the LifeArc Centre for Rare Respiratory Disease, applying diagnostic methods to gene-edited cells and tissues, aiding biobanking of samples, supporting early-career researchers and promoting the global dissemination of PCD diagnostic expertise.