Steve Cunningham

Steve Cunningham is a Professor of Paediatric Respiratory Medicine at the University of Edinburgh’s Deanery of Clinical Sciences, affiliated with the Centre for Inflammation Research and Centre for Reproductive Health. He chairs the NICE Guideline for Bronchiolitis and leads initiatives like the UK British Lung Foundation Coalition for Bronchiolitis. His roles include advising NHS Choices, MapOfMedicine, and global asthma programs via the Bright Start Foundation. As UK National Co-ordinator for the ChILDEU project, he supports rare lung disease research and clinical guidance.

Research focuses on bronchiolitis, cystic fibrosis (CF), rare respiratory diseases, and asthma. Notable contributions include Phase IV CF pharmacovigilance trials, CFTR gene therapy studies, and RSV infection research. He has secured grants for projects like the NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Respiratory Health (RESPIRE-2) and an RSV molecular epidemiology study.

He received the NIHR Impact Prize (2025) for contributions to respiratory health. Key publications address cystic fibrosis physiology, bronchiolitis management, and rare lung disease platforms. His work bridges clinical practice and policy, with a focus on improving care in developing nations and reducing hospital admissions for respiratory conditions.