Aubrey Cunnington PhD, BMBCh, FRCPCH, DTM&H

Professor Aubrey Cunnington is a leading clinician-scientist and expert in paediatric infectious diseases, currently serving as Professor of Paediatric Infectious Disease and Head of the Section of Paediatric Infectious Disease in the Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial College London. He also holds an honorary consultant position in paediatric infectious diseases at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

Professor Cunnington’s research focuses on understanding the mechanisms that underlie severe infectious diseases, with particular emphasis on malaria pathogenesis, host–pathogen interactions, and the development of innovative diagnostics and therapeutics. His work combines clinical studies with advanced molecular and computational approaches to explore why some individuals develop severe disease while others do not, and how this knowledge can improve patient outcomes.

He leads large multidisciplinary initiatives, including the NIHR Global Health Research Group on Digital Diagnostics for African Health Systems, aimed at developing and implementing novel diagnostic tools for malaria and other infectious diseases in low-resource settings. Professor Cunnington has also been involved in major international collaborations such as the EU-Horizon 2020 DIAMONDS consortium, which focuses on personalised diagnosis and management of febrile illnesses in children.

Professor Cunnington graduated with a medical degree from the University of Oxford, holds a PhD from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and completed specialist training in paediatrics and infectious diseases. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and plays a key role in education and mentorship for students and early-career researchers at Imperial College. His dedication to advancing global health through research, clinical practice, and innovation reflects his commitment to tackling severe infectious diseases and improving health outcomes for children worldwide