David Brian Collinge

David Brian Collinge is Professor of Plant Pathology at the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences (PLEN), Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen. Since 2023, he has served as Head of the Section for Microbial Ecology and Biotechnology, overseeing approximately 40 employees across 4 research groups. Previously, he was Head of the Section for Plant Pathology from 2003-2006. His academic journey began with a BSc in Genetics from the University of Liverpool (1979) followed by a PhD in Genetics from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne (1982).

Professor Collinge's research focuses on the nature of plant defense mechanisms, pathogenicity mechanisms, signal sensing and transduction in plants, and the exploitation of these mechanisms for disease control in developing countries. His work extensively examines fungal interactions with plants across various lifestyles including necrotrophs, biotrophs, and endophytes. His research group has worked with multiple biological systems involving fungal pathogens since 1988, including studies on Pea with Ascochyta pisi, Rape with Leptosphaera maculans, Wheat with Septoria tritici and Fusarium graminearum, Maize with Maize Rayado Fino Virus, and Norway Spruce with Ceratobasidium bicorne. The bulk of his research effort has concerned Barley with the Powdery Mildew Fungus (Blumeria graminis) and Fusarium graminearum.

His recent publications (2022-2025) reveal a strong focus on fungal endophytes for plant disease control, particularly examining the interactions between beneficial fungi and cereal crops to combat Fusarium diseases. His work demonstrates how endophytic fungi can activate plant defense mechanisms to suppress pathogens, with significant implications for sustainable agriculture. His research spans molecular mechanisms of plant-microbe interactions, mycotoxin detoxification pathways, and the development of biological control strategies as alternatives to chemical pesticides.

• NOVA Prize (2008) for Nordic MSc programme in Plant Pathology
• President of BSPP (2022)
• Joint Editor in Chief of CABI Plant Health Cases (since 2022)
• Associate Editor for European Journal of Plant Pathology (since 2004) and Plant Pathology (since 2011)

Professor Collinge has supervised 31 completed PhD students and has been responsible for 4 PhD courses and 2 BSc/MSc level courses in plant biotechnology and plant pathology. He has participated in acquiring over 100 million Danish Kroner for research funding, including coordination of several major research programs such as the Marie S. Curie Horizon 2020 ETN "BestPass" (2015-2019) and Danida FFU projects on Black Sigatoka in banana. His leadership extends to being Coordinator for Denmark for Nordic PhD courses in plant pathology (2001-2017) and serving on numerous national and international examination boards and review committees.

His research group, the "Plant Pathology and Microbiology" group, has maintained up to 10 employees since 1988 and has established collaborations across multiple continents, with visiting professorships at McGill University, Huazhong Agricultural University, and University of Pretoria. The group's current focus on endophytic fungal interactions aims to uncover defining principles in crop protection and plant tolerance across biotic and abiotic stresses, with potential applications for sustainable food security worldwide.