George Chamilos, MD, is Professor and Head of the Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis at the School of Medicine, University of Crete. He is also a Group Leader at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of the Foundation for Research and Technology–Hellas (IMBB-FORTH). Dr Chamilos is a physician-scientist specializing in the immunobiology of invasive fungal infections. His research investigates how professional phagocytes recognize and eliminate fungal pathogens, with particular emphasis on Aspergillus and Mucorales. His laboratory employs comparative experimental models, ranging from Drosophila to humans, to investigate dynamic host–fungal interactions, with a particular focus on LC3-associated phagocytosis (LAP) and lipid-mediated host defence. His work has identified LAP-dependent and LAP-independent mechanisms that restrict fungal growth within macrophages, as well as pathogenic strategies involving fungal melanin and mycotoxins that subvert these host-defence mechanisms in health and disease. His research is supported by national and international funding, including grants from the European Research Council.