Professor Adilia Warris

Exeter researcher wins prestigious paediatric infectious diseases award

Professor Adilia Warris, co-director of The MRC Centre for Medical Mycology based at the University of Exeter, has received this year’s Bill Marshall Award for her pioneering paediatric infectious diseases research.

Professor Warris's research focuses on the host-fungus interaction in specific patient groups with an emphasis on Aspergillus species.

She also investigates the epidemiology of invasive fungal infections in children, how to manage these diseases and the pharmacology of antifungals in paediatrics.

The Bill Marshall Award is the most prestigious given by ESPID (European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases), recognising one senior member of the society each year.

Professor Warris received her award at the 39^th annual meeting of the ESPID, where she gave a lecture entitled ‘Fungal Enquiries’.

“My enquiries in fungal diseases are driven by clinical observations and impressions,” said Professor Warris.

“For me it is a privilege to be able to drive the clinical and translational research portfolio in medical mycology forward with a passion to improve child health and train the next generation of clinical academics in paediatric mycology.

“The COVID-19 associated fungal diseases we have recently been confronted with, cryptococcal meningitis being still a leading cause of HIV/AIDS deaths, and the emerging antifungal resistance, do call for urgent action.”

Professor Warris is also a consultant in paediatric infectious diseases in Great Ormond Street Hospital, London.

In 2014 she launched, and now chairs, the European Paediatric Mycology Network (EPMyN), which aims to improve the management and understanding of paediatric fungal infections.

She also leads on a number of European multicentre studies including EUROCANDY (clinical epidemiology of paediatric candidemia) and cASPerCF (aspergillus infections in cystic fibrosis), and PASOAP, a UK multicentre study assessing antifungal prescribing practices and antifungal stewardship.

She has published over 170 papers in peer-reviewed journals and contributes to several book chapters, both nationally and internationally.

Date: 26 May 2021