Neil Cumberlidge's research interests focus on the taxonomy, systematics, phylogeny, evolution, biogeography, and conservation of African and Madagascan freshwater crabs. He is Chair of the IUCN SSC Freshwater Crustacean Specialist Group, and  led the IUCN Red List global assessment of the freshwater crabs. He is currently working on projects that focus on freshwater crab biodiversity, evolution, conservation and parasitology in Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Madagascar, and continental Africa.