Dr. Donald Leung is a globally recognized physician-scientist and preeminent authority in pediatric immunology and allergic diseases. He currently holds the distinguished position of Edelstein Chair of Pediatric Allergy-Immunology at National Jewish Health and serves as Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. Born in New York City in 1949, he completed his undergraduate education at Johns Hopkins University before earning both his PhD and MD from the University of Chicago in 1975 and 1977 respectively. Following his pediatric residency and specialized fellowship in allergy-immunology at Boston Children's Hospital, he began his academic career at Harvard Medical School, where he progressed from Instructor to Associate Professor of Pediatrics between 1981 and 1989. Since 1989, he has led the Division of Pediatric Allergy-Immunology at National Jewish Health, establishing it as a premier center for research and clinical care in allergic and immunologic disorders.
Dr. Leung's pioneering research has fundamentally transformed the understanding of atopic dermatitis, immune mechanisms, and inflammatory skin diseases, with his investigations into bacterial and viral infections in atopic dermatitis patients reshaping clinical management approaches worldwide. As Principal Investigator of the NIH/NIAID Atopic Dermatitis Research Network since 2004, he has directed groundbreaking multicenter studies that have elucidated critical disease mechanisms and informed novel therapeutic strategies. His scholarly output includes more than 800 peer-reviewed publications, earning him recognition as one of immunology's highest-cited researchers with Web of Science designation in 2020. His sustained research excellence has been supported by over 35 NIH grants and has yielded 20 patents, demonstrating the translational impact of his scientific discoveries. His work on the role of Staphylococcus aureus in atopic dermatitis pathogenesis represents one of his most influential contributions, explaining the critical relationship between skin barrier defects and immune dysregulation in inflammatory skin conditions.
Beyond his research achievements, Dr. Leung has profoundly shaped his field through his editorial leadership as former Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology from 2003 to 2015, the most highly cited journal in its discipline. He has received numerous prestigious honors including the E. Mead Johnson Award for Outstanding Research in Pediatrics, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Distinguished Scientist Award, and the World Allergy Organization Scientific Achievement Award, reflecting his exceptional contributions to advancing knowledge and patient care. His mentorship has cultivated generations of immunologists and allergists, while his leadership extends to critical advisory roles including the NIAID National Allergy and Infectious Disease Advisory Council and the Food Allergy Research Education Center of Excellence. In 2022, his sustained outstanding contributions were further recognized with promotion to Distinguished Professor, cementing his legacy as one of the most influential figures in pediatric immunology. Dr. Leung continues to advance the field through ongoing research initiatives focused on the complex interplay between immune responses, skin barrier function, and environmental factors in allergic diseases, ensuring his enduring impact on future therapeutic strategies and clinical practice worldwide.
