David Denning

David Denning is a Professor of Infectious Diseases at The University of Manchester, leading the Manchester Fungal Infection Group (MFIG). He specializes in medical mycology, focusing on fungal infections such as aspergillosis, antifungal resistance, and diagnostic advancements. His work spans clinical, research, and advocacy roles, including founding the Global Action for Fungal Infections (GAFFI) to advocate for global fungal disease recognition. Denning has authored over 800 publications, holds an H-index of 138, and contributed to research grants exceeding £30M. He has served as Director of the National Aspergillosis Centre and led major genomic sequencing projects for Aspergillus fumigatus.

Education: MB BS from The University of London (1980), with postgraduate training in medicine, infectious diseases, and clinical microbiology, including a fellowship at Stanford University. His research interests include fungal burden estimation, antifungal drug development, and improving diagnostics for mycoses.

Research highlights include defining the global burden of fungal diseases, advancing antifungal therapies, and addressing gaps in diagnostics and treatment accessibility. He is a key opinion leader in mycology, chairing international conferences and serving on WHO advisory groups. Recent work emphasizes CPA-TB comorbidity and antifungal policy in low-resource settings.

• Grants & Funding: >£30M from Wellcome Trust, NIH, EU, and others.
• Global Initiatives: GAFFI (advocacy), LIFE program (education), and fungal disease burden estimation projects.
• Labs/Teams: Manchester Fungal Infection Group (MFIG), collaborations with J. Craig Venter Institute and global mycology networks.

His work aligns with UN SDG3, addressing neglected tropical diseases and improving global health equity through mycology advocacy and capacity-building.