Will Fungi Be the Last of Us?

Dr. Rex is a distinguished research scientist, key opinion leader in the field of infectious disease therapy, in particular antifungal agents, and the Chief Medical Officer of F2G. Prior to F2G, Dr. Rex held the role of Senior Vice President and Head of Infection, Global Medicines Development at AstraZeneca and Professor of Medicine at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. Dr. Rex served as the Industry Representative on the US FDA Anti-Infective Drug Advisory Committee from 2007 to 2011. He also chaired the Consensus Committee on Microbiology for the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), formerly NCCLS. Dr. Rex holds a BA in Biochemistry from Rice University and an MD from Baylor College of Medicine in Texas.

At the CDC, Tom Chiller provides leadership for fungal disease activities, which include detection, prevention and response activities, policy and advocacy, both nationally and internationally. He serves as the associate director for global programs in the Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases. Dr Chiller is board certified in infectious diseases and is a faculty member in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Emory School of Medicine. Dr Chiller has led efforts to end deaths from opportunistic fungal infections in HIV, control the spread of MDR Candida auris and azole resistant Aspergillus, and identify emerging mold infections.

Paul Verweij is a consultant microbiologist and professor of clinical mycology at the Radboud University Medical Centre. He is a board member of the Centre of Expertise in Mycology Radboudumc/CWZ and director of the national mycology reference laboratory. Since 2020, he also has an appointment at the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). Professor Verweij coordinates a national mycology course for residents in medical microbiology and has organized mycology training courses for other medical professionals. His main research interest is the management of invasive fungal diseases.

Maryn McKenna is a journalist specializing in public health, global health and food policy, and the author of three books: BIG CHICKEN, SUPERBUG, and BEATING BACK THE DEVIL. She teaches science writing and storytelling at Emory University’s Center for the Study of Human Health and collaborates with podcasters and filmmakers. Her stories appear in WIRED, Scientific American, The Atlantic, the New York Times Magazine, the Guardian, Smithsonian, Mother Jones and lots of other places.