It was today announced that Professor Alison Holmes has been appointed as the inaugural Director of the Fleming Initiative.
Welcoming the appointment, Professor Hugh Brady, Imperial's President, said:
"With Lord Darzi, Executive Chair of the Fleming Initiative. and Professor Tim Orchard, Chief Executive of Imperial College NHS Foundation Trust, I am delighted to announce that Professor Alison Holmes will be appointed as the inaugural Director of the Fleming Initiative, effective October 1st, 2024.
Professor Alison Holmes is a renowned expert in infectious diseases, currently serving as the David Price Evans Chair of Global Health and Infectious Diseases at the University of Liverpool and a Professor at Imperial College London. Her internationally recognized research focuses on infectious diseases and antibiotic use, particularly in the prevention of infections and the optimization of antimicrobial therapies.
Trained as an infectious diseases physician, Professor Holmes has a rich history with the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
She has held significant roles within the NHS and on international boards, including the Helmholtz Health Strategic Advisory Board in Germany and the scientific board of Singapore's National Centre for Infectious Diseases.
As a former President of the International Society for Infectious Diseases, she has contributed her expertise to several WHO advisory groups and panels. Additionally, she has served on national and international scientific committees, including UKRI, MRC, SFI, and the ERC Advanced Grants panel.
Her involvement with key UK bodies includes the Government's Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Prescribing, Resistance, and Healthcare Associated Infections, as well as NICE’s Antimicrobial Health Technology Evaluation Committee.
Professor Holmes leads a dynamic research portfolio that includes large-scale international collaborations aimed at improving antimicrobial use, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Notably, she leads the Wellcome Trust funded Centres for Antimicrobial Optimisation (CAMO-Net), a groundbreaking global initiative. She has secured funding from organizations such as NIHR, EPSRC, GRF, ESRC, and MRF and has received recognition from NIHR with two Senior Investigator awards. A Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, she was honoured with an OBE in 2021 for her contributions to medicine and infectious diseases.
In her own words, Professor Holmes stated, “The Fleming Initiative’s ambition to unite scientists, policymakers, and the public is a vision I have long championed. I look forward to playing a central role in fostering a global movement to combat antimicrobial resistance while honoring the legacy of Fleming and his laboratory at St Mary’s Hospital.”
Lord Darzi expressed his enthusiasm for this appointment, saying, “I am delighted that Professor Holmes will lead this global initiative. Her extensive experience in coordinating pioneering networks in AMR and her leadership roles will be crucial in advancing the Fleming Initiative’s ambitious vision.”
We warmly welcome Professor Holmes to her new role and look forward to her leadership in driving forward the important work of the Fleming Initiative."
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