Paul Denny

Professor Paul Denny is a Professor in the Department of Biosciences and the Department of Chemistry at Durham University. He is also a Fellow of the Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing. His research focuses on protozoan parasites, particularly Leishmania, aiming to understand lipid biosynthesis and membrane trafficking in host-parasite interactions to identify therapeutic targets. He has held significant roles, including being the MRC Global Network for NTDs Lead and has received notable awards such as the Royal Society of Biology Fellowship.

His research interests span Cell Biology, Lipid Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Parasitology. Central to his work is the study of sphingolipid biosynthesis pathways in parasites like Leishmania and Toxoplasma gondii, aiming to discover novel drug targets and therapies for neglected tropical diseases. His lab investigates antileishmanial compounds, drug delivery mechanisms, and the molecular basis of parasitic resistance to existing treatments.

Key scientific achievements include the MRC Outstanding Team Impact Prize (2024) for leading a global network addressing Leishmaniasis and Chagas disease, and the COMSTECH Distinguished Scholar award (2025). He has organized numerous workshops and training programs in countries like Kenya, Brazil, and Pakistan, focusing on drug discovery and capacity building in endemic regions.

Professor Denny supervises multiple PhD students, including Amy Wiseman, Davide Cazzola, and others, and has secured grants supporting collaborative research across continents. His lab collaborates with institutions globally, emphasizing equitable partnerships in scientific research. Notable contributions include developing nanoparticle drug delivery systems and identifying clemastine fumarate analogues as effective antileishmanials.

He is actively involved in public engagement, such as the Pint of Science event on 'flesh-eating parasites,' and serves on editorial boards including Parasitology and Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. His recent work highlights the role of sphingolipid metabolism in parasite survival and the application of advanced sequencing technologies for rapid pathogen genotyping.