Following his PhD studying the ascomycete mould Aspergillus nidulans at the University of Melborne and a postdoctoral work in the basidiomycete yeast Cryptococcus neoformans at Duke University Medical Center, James returned to Australia to establish the Fungal Pathogenesis Laboratory in the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences at the University of Queensland. His research program focuses on two facets of C. neoformans pathogenesis. Through the whole genome analysis of clinical isolates from patients who have undergone relapse, the group has identified examples of parallel evolution with identical genes mutated in multiple patients, implicating alteration of epigenetic mechanisms and the resulting hypervirulence in the relapse process. The group is also investigating the development of new antifungal agents to treat life-threatening fungal infections, with a focus on targeting the de novo purine biosynthesis pathway. Through a number of collaborations and with the aid of mutagenesis, virulence models, protein crystallography and high throughput screens the group is pursuing a broad spectrum therapeutic agent useful in the combat of life-threatening fungal infections.