Dr Fleming has been an academic pathologist for over 40 years. His research interests include the pathogenesis of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, and the molecular analysis of tissue. He has over 200 publications and a H-index of 49.
Dr Fleming has had several major leadership positions in academic medicine, including appointment as the inaugural Head of the Oxford Medical Sciences Division (Dean of Medicine) from 2000 till 2008. He was also Deputy Head of the UK Council of Medical Schools from 2002-5.
Since 2008, the problems of lack of pathology in many countries have been his focus. He has set up a MMed for Pathology in Zambia, set up and directed the International Department at the Royal College of Pathologists and been Senior Adviser for Pathology to the Centre for Global Heath at the NCI. He is currently leading a Lancet Commission on Diagnosis and has served as a WHO adviser for several areas of pathology.