Professor of Infectious Disease Immunology at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Eleanor Riley is a world leader in malaria immunology. Her holistic, multidisciplinary approach has allowed her to make major contributions to our understanding of the mechanisms of immunity to malaria. Eleanor has consistently questioned the perceived wisdom of anti-malarial immunity, subjecting widely-held but poorly documented beliefs to intellectual scrutiny and experimental examination. Professor Riley’s background in basic sciences, veterinary medicine, human infectious diseases and global health give her a unique perspective on the basic and translational research needs for improving public health in tropical countries.