New film series shines a light on the global challenge of fungal diseases

World-leading researchers, clinicians, policymakers and people with lived experience are sharing their perspectives in a new film series by the University of Exeter’s MRC Centre for Medical Mycology (MRC CMM).

The series of four videos brings together different aspects of the global fight against deadly fungal infections and antifungal drug resistance. The collection of short films, Stories Behind the Science brings together leading researchers, policymakers, healthcare professionals and people with lived experience to highlight the challenges of tackling fungal infections, and work happening around the world to address them.

The series includes insights into antifungal drug resistance, stories from people affected by aspergillosis and cryptococcal meningitis and perspectives from researchers working in South Africa and Latin America. Together, the films show how scientific discoveries, international collaboration, public health policies and lived experience all contribute to tackling this global health threat.

Dame Sally Davies, UK Special Envoy on Antimicrobial Resistance, who appears in the film Race Against Resistance, said: “Fungal diseases are a growing global health threat that remains too often overlooked. These films help bring the science and the human impact into focus, and highlight why we must act now.”

Professor Adilia Warris, Co-Director of the MRC CMM and Co-Lead of the Clinical Mycology Theme, NIHR Exeter Biomedical Research Centre, said:”Stories Behind the Science brings together the voices of people affected by fungal disease, of researchers dedicating their careers to medical mycology, and of clinicians treating patients with life-threatening infections. By sharing these different perspectives, we hope to increase awareness of fungal diseases and the impact on people’s health.  Collaboration at every level and across borders is key to improve outcomes for patients around the world.”

Stories Behind the Science was supported by funding from the FAILSAFE project and the NIHR Exeter Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), and forms part of the MRC CMM’s public engagement programme. The films are available to watch on The Fungal Threat website and the MRC CMM YouTube channel.