GAFFI, the only global non-profit organization dedicated to the eradication of death and suffering from fungal disease, is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Tom Chiller, MD, MPHTM to its Board, starting 28th June 2025. Dr. Chiller, a globally recognized leader in fungal diseases, brings decades of experience in public health, patient-care improvements, and global disease surveillance to GAFFI – accelerating our ability to save lives and reduce suffering from fungal disease.
Dr. Chiller is the recently appointed Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and Vice President of Strategic Innovation at IMMY (Immuno-Mycologics, Inc.), US-based IVD manufacturer dedicated to saving lives through the development and distribution of innovative diagnostic solutions for fungal diseases.
Until recently Dr. Chiller served as Chief of the Mycotic Diseases Branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where he led national and international efforts to detect, prevent, and respond to fungal infections. Under his leadership, the CDC’s fungal disease program expanded dramatically, growing federal investment from $2 million to over $24 million and launching groundbreaking initiatives such as FungiSurv, the first national surveillance system for fungal diseases. He also played a pivotal role in identifying and responding to emerging threats like Candida auris and advancing global strategies to reduce deaths from cryptococcal infections in HIV.
His work at CDC included spearheading the development of surveillance systems, laboratory capacity, and policy frameworks that have shaped fungal disease response worldwide. Dr. Chiller’s leadership helped secure the inclusion of fungal pathogens in major global health platforms, including the WHO’s Global Antimicrobial Surveillance System and the first-ever WHO fungal priority pathogens list.
“I am excited to join the board at GAFFI, where I hope to help capture the momentum we have right now in global health and fungal diseases.” said Dr. Tom Chiller. “We need to help countries, policymakers, donors, and industry engage with the right partners to build capacity to detect, treat, and control fungal diseases. GAFFI is the right organization to help coordinate, facilitate and bring together these different sectors to make this happen. I look forward to what we can accomplish together.”
“Dr. Chiller’s appointment to the Board demonstrates that GAFFI is the organization that is best placed to support and facilitate the network of resources that need to come together to tackle this important issue” said Oddi Aasheim, Chair of GAFFI. “His appointment will enable GAFFI to build new critical relationships and enhance our ability to support the amazing set of committed people around the world that are relentlessly working to save lives the lives of millions of children, mothers and fathers.”