UK Clinical Mycology Network

The UK Clinical Mycology Network (UKCMN) helps provide the highest standard of clinical mycology services across related disciplines in the UK.

Role

The UK Clinical Mycology Network (UKCMN) is a structured network of laboratories with a steering committee to guide and promote best practice in clinical mycology. This is achieved through regular meetings for all members, input into PHE UK Standards for Microbiology Investigations guidelines, and National Institute for Health & Care Excellence guidelines, and co-ordination of the following:

  • mycology service delivery
  • mycological surveillance
  • medical and laboratory training
  • diagnostic development
  • translational research

Terms of reference

UKCMN’s functions are to:

  • guide the way forward for best practice in medical mycology
  • ensure the provision of the highest quality services in clinical mycology and related disciplines throughout the UK
  • advise PHE on research, development and surveillance of fungal disease
  • define different levels of mycology provision and liaise between mycology centres
  • develop standard operating procedures (SOP) and/or examination procedures (EP)
  • specify recommended test repertoires
  • develop mycology training programmes, funding initiatives and set an annual programme of activities
  • establish working relationships with other organisations to continue providing a high quality clinical mycology service

To find out more, download the UKCMN constitution and terms of reference (PDF, 97.2 KB, 2 pages).

Network members

UKCMN currently consists of local microbiology laboratories, specialist microbiology laboratories, regional mycology centres, and the PHE Mycology Reference Laboratory:

Local microbiology laboratories

The local microbiology laboratories are:

  • Microbiology Department, Warrington and Halton Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Warrington
  • Department of Microbiology and Immunology, County Hospital, Hereford

Specialist microbiology laboratories

The specialist microbiology laboratories are:

  • Newcastle Hospitals Microbiology Laboratory, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
  • Department of Medical Microbiology, The Royal London Hospital, London
  • East Kent Microbiology Service, William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, Kent
  • Department of Microbiology, Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield
  • Microbiology Department, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich
  • Medical Microbiology, Kings College Hospital, London
  • Department of Medical Microbiology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen
  • Mycology Department, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh
  • Department of Microbiology, Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospital, London
  • Institute of Infection and Immunity, St George’s Hospital, London

Regional mycology centres

The regional mycology centres are:

  • Department of Medical Microbiology, Royal Free Hospital, London
  • Mycology Reference Centre, Department of Microbiology, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds
  • St Johns Institute of Dermatology, St Thomas Hospital, London
  • Mycology Reference Centre, Education and Research Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester
  • Department of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital of Wales/NPHS, Cardiff
  • Clinical Mycology, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow
  • Department of Medical Microbiology, The Royal Hospitals, Belfast
  • Department of Clinical Microbiology, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester

Join UKCMN

Laboratories offering mycology services who wish to join UKCMN will need to complete the laboratory application form (ODT, 30.9 KB).

Steering committee

The steering committee of UKCMN meets regularly to:

  • set the work plan
  • review progress
  • follow up actions

Membership

Current UKCMN steering committee members are:

  • Dr Silke Schelenz, Chair (Royal Brompton, London)
  • Dr Chris Linton, Secretary (PHE, Bristol)
  • Shila Seaton, Secretary (PHE, London)

  • Elaine Andrews (County Hospital, Hereford)
  • Rachael Arkely (William Harvey Hospital, Kent)
  • Dr Matthijis Backx (NPHS Cardiff)
  • Dr Richard Barton (Leeds General Infirmary)
  • Dr Tihana Bicanic (St George’s Hospital, London)
  • Ailsa Butler (Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh)
  • Dr Rebecca Gorton (Royal Free Hospital)
  • Dr Susan Howell (Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospital)
  • Dr Elizabeth Johnson (PHE, Bristol)
  • Dr Brian Jones (Southern General Hospital, Glasgow)
  • Dr Jonathan Lambourne (PHE, London)
  • Dr Deborah Lockhart (Aberdeen Royal Infirmary)
  • Dr Ronan McMullan (Royal Hospitals, Belfast)
  • Dr Berit Muller-Pebody (PHE, London)
  • Dr Dona Nelun Perera (University Hospitals of Leicester)
  • Dr David Partridge (Northern General Hospital, Sheffield)
  • Dr Riina Rautemaa-Richardson (Wythenshawe Hospital Manchester)
  • Dr Muhammad Raza (Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle)
  • Karen Rowland (Warrington & Halton Hospital, Cheshire)
  • Graham Smith (County Hospital, Hereford)
  • Dr Jim Wade (King’s College Hospital)

Annual meetings

These meetings are free to attend, and are aimed at laboratory staff and clinicians interested in the practical issues associated with the diagnosis of fungal infection.

Programmes and summaries for previous annual meetings can be found on the UK Government Web Archive.

Contact

UK Clinical Mycology Network

UKCMN Secretariat
c/o UKHSA Mycology Reference Laboratory
Infection Sciences
Pathology Sciences Building
Southmead Hospital
Bristol
BS10 5NB

Email chris.linton@nbt.nhs.uk

Telephone 0117 414 8336