Robin May is the Gresham Professor of Physic, Chief Scientific Advisor to the Food Standards Agency.
His research focuses on host-pathogen interactions, particularly in the lethal fungal infection cryptococcosis. His contributions range from discovering a novel ‘Division of Labour’ pathogenesis mechanism that triggered the ‘Pacific Northwest Outbreak’ of cryptococcosis, to recent work showing how pathogens communicate through the exchange of extracellular vesicles.
He was appointed as Chief Scientific Advisor to the Food Standards Agency, a role in which he provides senior science advice to ministers and the public. He led the PATH-SAFE project – a £19m government investment that aims to build a national genomic surveillance programme for foodborne pathogens, and was appointed as the Gresham Professor of Physic, a position that provides free public lectures on medicine to a global audience.