David Andes

David Andes, MD, is a Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, holding appointments in the Department of Medicine and the Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology within the School of Medicine and Public Health. He holds the William A. Craig Endowed Professorship and serves as Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases. Dr. Andes directs the NIH-funded Wisconsin Antimicrobial Drug Discovery and Development Center of Excellence and leads a multidisciplinary research team focused on antimicrobial resistance.

• University: University of Wisconsin–Madison
• School: School of Medicine and Public Health
• Department: Department of Medicine
• Secondary Appointment: Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology
• Rank: Professor
• Endowment: William A. Craig Endowed Professor
• Leadership: Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases

Dr. Andes’ research focuses on understanding and combating antimicrobial drug resistance, particularly in fungal pathogens. His work spans from molecular mechanisms of resistance in biofilms to clinical trials and epidemiology. He employs in vivo infection models, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling, and drug development strategies to define optimal antimicrobial dosing and identify new therapeutic targets. His research has directly informed clinical guidelines for managing resistant infections.

The 15 most recent publications highlight a strong focus on antifungal resistance, fungal biofilms, pathogenesis of Candida species (including C. albicans and C. auris), extracellular vesicles, therapeutic drug monitoring, and the development of clinical guidelines. These works appear in top journals such as Science, Nature Microbiology, Clinical Infectious Diseases, and The Lancet Infectious Diseases, reflecting the high impact and translational nature of his research.

Dr. Andes has received numerous honors, including:

• National Institutes of Health Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award
• Top 1% Highly Cited Researcher (Web of Science)
• Billy Cooper Award, Medical Mycological Society of the Americas
• University of Wisconsin Puestow and Rankin Research Awards
• American Society of Health-System Pharmacy Innovation Award

He is a Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the American Academy of Microbiology, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He serves on the editorial boards of ten journals, including Journal of Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, and has been a member of influential committees such as the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute Antifungal Committee and the Mycoses Study Group Steering Committee. He has trained numerous students and postdoctoral researchers through his lab and educational programs like the Molecular Mycology Training Course at MBL. His research is continuously funded by the NIH and FDA, supporting multiple active projects in antimicrobial discovery and development.

Dr. Andes leads the Andes Research Lab, which investigates fungal biofilm resistance, in vivo pathogenesis, and drug development. The lab utilizes animal models, molecular biology, and pharmacodynamic approaches to study resistance mechanisms and evaluate novel therapeutics. The team includes scientists, researchers, and clinical collaborators working on interdisciplinary projects aimed at addressing the global crisis of antimicrobial resistance.