ProfessorPaul Fleming

Professor Fleming established a clinical research programme in 2015 focused on the neonatal microbiome and immune development in very preterm infants. This programme has produced many high-impact publications. He has been Principal Investigator or co–Principal Investigator on multiple large-scale studies, including national randomised controlled trials and population-based cohort studies addressing neonatal infection, respiratory disease, neuroprotection, and early-life outcomes. These include leadership roles on trials evaluating RSV prophylaxis, neonatal respiratory therapies, outcomes following SARS-CoV-2 exposure, and neuroprotective interventions. Professor Fleming was also a national neonatal advisor and investigator for the RECOVERY trial (Children's Advisory Group), contributing to trial design, analysis, and high-impact publications. His wider research contributions include national epidemiological investigations with the UK Health Security Agency, leadership of studies using the National Neonatal Research Database, membership of trial steering and data safety monitoring committees, editorial and peer-review activity for leading paediatric journals, and strategic research governance roles within NHS research networks.

Paul has a special interest in studying patterns of microbial colonisation and immune development in preterm babies and in using large real-world datasets in healthcare research.  His work sits at the intersection of clinical neonatology, microbiome science, immunology, translational science and clinical trials. He is passionate about research that improves healthcare outcomes for children.