Dr Riina Richardson, one of the UK’s leading experts in fungal infections, has been elected the next President of the British Society for Medical Mycology (BSMM) – one of the oldest specialist societies for human and animal fungal disease in the world.
Dr Richardson is a Senior Lecturer in Infectious Diseases and Medical Education in the Manchester Fungal Infection Group at The University of Manchester, and an Honorary Consultant in Medical Mycology at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. She was elected at the Society’s 59th Annual Scientific Conference in Norwich, September 2025.
The BSMM, founded in 1964, has nearly 200 members in the UK, Europe, and further afield. Its history is linked to the broader emergence of medical mycology as a field in the mid-20th century, as awareness of fungal infections in humans and animals began to grow.
Today, BSMM plays an important role in global networks that promote research, education, training, and clinical excellence in fungal diseases. The Society collaborates closely with the European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM), the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology (ISHAM), and the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) – organisations that help shape international standards for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of fungal disease.
Reflecting on her election, Dr Richardson said: “It is a great honour to take on the role of BSMM President, and I very much look forward to working with colleagues across the UK and internationally to advance our field. This is an incredible opportunity to strengthen collaborations, advocate for medical mycology, and unite basic scientists and clinicians in the shared mission of improving patient outcomes, preventing infections, and raising public awareness worldwide.”
Dr Richardson is an internationally recognised clinical academic with more than 180 peer-reviewed publications spanning medical mycology, microbiology, mucosal immunology, and infectious diseases. Her group conducts research from basic fungal biology to applied clinical studies and clinical trials, with a focus on the pathogenesis of chronic mucosal infections and the mutagenicity of chronic Candida infections.
Clinically, she specialises in the diagnosis and management of fungal sinusitis, mucosal candidosis, and opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. She has also contributed to antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention strategies across the NHS and internationally.