Prof Alessia Buscaino

Biography

I am a Group Leader at the Quadram Institute and my research bridges fungal biology, genomics, and food innovation.

My work focuses on understanding the role of fungal organisms in human health and, in parallel, on developing fungal-based solutions for sustainable, animal-free food production. My group has two main research streams. One investigates how the human fungal commensal Candida albicans adapts to different host environments, particularly within the gut, and how it interacts with the microbiome. The other explores fungal platforms for alternative protein production, using filamentous fungi and yeasts to create nutritious and sustainable foods.

Before joining the Quadram Institute, I was Professor of Fungal Biology at the University of Kent, where I also led the Growing Kent & Medway UKRI-funded Consortium. I hold a Laurea in Molecular Biology from the University of Palermo, a PhD from the University of Heidelberg/EMBL, and completed postdoctoral training at the Universities of Edinburgh, Oxford, and Tel Aviv.

My research aims to connect microbiology, nutrition, and biotechnology to advance both human health and sustainable food systems.