Fungal Kingdom: Threats & Opportunities
What might we uncover in an unknown biosphere?
As both antibiotic producers and deadly pathogens, necessary members of ecosystems and invasive species, understanding the complexity of the Fungal Kingdom demands a multidisciplinary approach. CIFAR’s team includes diverse experts who interrogate the unique facets of fungal biology to mitigate the threats posed by fungi and harness their extraordinary potential.
IMPACT CLUSTERS
The Fungal Kingdom program is part of the following CIFAR Impact Clusters: Nurturing a Resilient Earth and Shaping the Future of Human Health. CIFAR’s research programs are organized into 5 distinct Impact Clusters that address significant global issues and are committed to fostering an environment in which breakthroughs emerge.
RESEARCH AND SOCIETAL IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS
The need for antifungals
CIFAR Fellow Charles Boone (University of Toronto), Co-Director Leah Cowen (University of Toronto), Fellow Christina Cuomo (Broad Institute), Co-Director Joseph Heitman (Duke University), and Fellow Gerard Wright (McMaster University) identified new molecules that kill fungal pathogens or reduce resistance to existing antifungal treatments by screening diverse chemical libraries, including natural products and derivatives. The next steps in this work are to catalyze the discovery of novel antifungals, targets and resistance mechanisms.
Unlocking a vaccine for white nose syndrome
CIFAR Fellows David Blehert (United States Geological Survey), Bruce S. Klein (University of Wisconsin, Madison) and Don Sheppard (McGill University) made a major discovery related to a pathogenic fungus called Pseudogymnoascus destructans, better known as the White Nose Syndrome. This Syndrome has killed millions of ecologically vital bats across North America, with 90-100% mortality rates at some sites. The research team discovered how the fungus initiates the infection via skin, leading to new prevention strategies, including a new vaccine which is already showing promise. If successful, these studies would have a beneficial impact on ecosystems, biodiversity as well as animal and human health.
This new report, One Health: Fungal Pathogens of Humans, Animals, and Plants, highlights the remarkable advances in the field and provides updated recommendations to address scientific and public health challenges today.
Program member authors: Arturo Casadevall, John W. Taylor, Joseph Heitman, and Leah Cowen
Founded
2019
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Molecular genetics
Microbiology
Epidemiology
Bioinformatics
Public Health
Biochemistry
CIFAR Contact
Fellows & Advisors
Program Directors
Leah E. Cowen
Program Co-Director
Joseph Heitman
Program Co-Director
Fellows
Colin Averill
Associate Fellow
David S. Blehert
Fellow
U.S. Geological Survey
Charles M. Boone
Fellow
Genetic Networks
Anuradha Chowdhary
Fellow
Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute
Christina A. Cuomo
Fellow
Cameron Currie
Fellow
Matthew C. Fisher
Fellow
Lillian Fritz-Laylin
Fellow
Iliyan D. Iliev
Fellow
Tim James
Fellow
Hailing Jin
Fellow
Bruce Klein
Fellow
Ksenia Krasileva
Fellow
James Kronstad
Power Corporation Fellow
Kabir Gabriel Peay
Fellow
Julie Segre
Associate Fellow
Don Sheppard
Fellow
Jason E. Stajich
Fellow
Eva H. Stukenbrock
Fellow
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology
Gerard Wright
Fellow
Advisors
Arturo Casadevall
Advisor
David Denning
Advisor
Neil Gow
Advisor
Sarah Jane Gurr
Advisory Committee Chair
Maria J. Harrison
Advisor
Regine Kahmann
Advisor
John Taylor
Advisor
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars
Artem Babaian
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2025-2027
Amelia Barber
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2025-2027
Iuliana V. Ene
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars 2021-2023
Aleeza Gerstein
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars 2021-2023
Asiya Gusa
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2023-2025
Vayu Hill-Maini
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2025-2027
Kyla Ost
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2023-2025
Rebecca Shapiro
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars 2021-2023
Neta Shlezinger
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2023-2025
Related News
Fungal Kingdom: Threats & Opportunities
Do fungi pose a threat to our brains?
A Q&A with Leah Cowen, program Co-Director of CIFAR’s Fungal Kingdom: Threats & Opportunities, on the realitie...
June 13, 2024
Announcement
Newest CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars take on high-risk, high-reward pursuits
16 distinguished early-career researchers join the prestigious CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars program
May 23, 2023
Announcement
James Kronstad named Power Corporation Fellow
We are pleased to announce CIFAR Fellow James Kronstad’s appointment as the Power Corporation Fellow.
May 15, 2023
Brief
The Future of Fungi: Threats and Opportunities
CIFAR and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund held a workshop to help chart the future challenges and opportunities presented by...
October 19, 2022