Institute for Human Infections and Immunity

Alok Dabi, MD

Neuroprotection, brain-gut-microbiome axis, acute neurology
View Department of Neurology profile »Dr. Dabi's research interest is in the brain-gut-microbiome axis and its role in several neurological disorders. He is researching the axis and the potential for its modulation via diet and the use of pre- and probiotics.

Sara Dann, PhD

Innate immunity, immune regulation, enteric pathogens
View Department of Internal Medicine profile »My research focuses on the induction and regulation of the host's immune response to bacterial and parasitic infections in the gut. We examine cross talk between epithelial cells and immune cells during infection. Current studies focus on: (1) IL-10 independent mechanisms of immune regulation; (2) induction of protective mucosal immunity in the absence of inflammatory signals; and (3) role of innate immune cells in inducing and suppressing intestinal inflammation.

Kelly Dineley, PhD

View Department of Neurology profile » The overall goal of my research program is to better understand the maladaptive neuroplastic changes in the brain related to cognitive deficits that arise in neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. For the past 15 years I have been studying neuroplasticity in animal models of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including infectious disease, central pain, cocaine addiction, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, for which I am currently funded and have been funded throughout my career.

Jianli Dong, MD, PhD

View Department of Pathology profile »Dr. Dong's research is focused on BRAF/MEK/ERK and p16/CDK/RB pathways in cancer biology, as well as molecular diagnostics and translational research, including research and development of molecular biomarkers in clinical applications.

Tonyia Eaves-Pyles, PhD

Bacteriology, pathogenesis
View Department of Microbiology & Immunology profile »My research focuses on understanding the interaction between pathogenic bacteria and epithelial cells of the lung and intestinal tract, as well as professional immune cells. I also investigate the interaction between intestinal epithelial cells and bacteria, specifically the dynamics of the normal flora in combination with the intestinal epithelium and their interaction and response to invading organisms.

Janice Endsley, PhD

Bacteriology, immunology
View Department of Microbiology & Immunology profile »
My research is focused on mechanisms and regulation of cell mediated immunity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb). An important component of my work is investigations to determine how human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) compromises CD8+T cell and macrophage function in the host immune response to M.tb. I have also extended my studies of cytotoxic lymphocytes to include natural killer cell function in infectious disease and reproduction.

Mark Endsley, PhD

Virology, immunology
View UTMB Researchgate profile
Research in my lab focuses on various aspects of HIV infection. We are currently working on projects related to the discovery of new anti-retroviral compounds, development of a sterilizing mucosal response through vaccination, and HIV-associated comorbidities that arise in patients with long-term infection.

Eduardo Eyzaguirre, MD

View Department of Pathology profile » Dr. Eyzaguirre utilizes a hamster model to study viral determinants of hantavirus pulmonary disease.

Rong Fang, MD, PhD

View Department of Pathology profile »We are interested in investigating the immune mechanisms by which mammalian hosts control intracellular pathogens. My current research focuses on cytosolic immune events, such as autophagy and inflammasomes, in macrophages and endothelial cells in response to cytosol-adapted pathogens. Our ongoing project(s) will be beneficial for rational design of potent vaccines.

Monique Ferguson, PhD

View Department of Internal Medicine profile »My research interests are to investigate mechanisms by which host cell factors facilitate different stages of the HIV life cycle and the development of small molecules that disrupt key virus-host interactions. In collaboration, I am focused on the development of co-culture systems: (1) to study how HIV alters the vaginal microbiome; and (2) to delineate the immunologic mechanisms of hepatic fibrosis in HIV/HCV co-infection.

Alexander Freiberg, PhD

Pathogenesis, structural biology, imaging, vaccine development, virology
View Department of Pathology profile »My research focuses on emerging RNA viruses, specifically the molecular mechanisms by which they cause encephalitis or hemorrhagic fever, their structure and assembly, and vaccine development. My research approaches include the characterization of the host immune response and cellular signaling pathways following infection using cell culture and small animal models.

Matthieu G. Gagnon, PhD

Structural biology/biochemistry, ribosome, bacterial pathogenesis, antibiotic resistance View Department of Microbiology & Immunology profile »My research aims to understand the basic cellular processes regulating protein synthesis by elucidating atomic structures of ribosome, RNA and protein functional complexes. Our goals are to characterize the molecular mechanisms by which human pathogens gain resistance to ribosome-targeting antibiotics using structural biology, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology techniques.

Mariano Garcia-Blanco, MD, PhD

View Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology profile »Human and viral genes are complex units of information whose tightly regulated expression produces a dazzling array of phenotypes. The Garcia-Blanco laboratory focuses on gene expression from the perspective of RNA biology. The laboratory studies gene expression and RNA-protein interactions in three biological contexts of biomedical importance: 1) Infection of human and insect cells with flaviviruses such as dengue and yellow fever viruses, 2) epithelial-mesenchymal transitions among carcinoma cells and 3) multiple sclerosis.

Nisha Garg, PhD

Pathogenesis, oxidative response networks and inflammation, vaccine development, cardiomyopathy
View Department of Microbiology & Immunology profile » My research focuses on understanding a) the changes in gene regulation and the signaling cascade that contribute to myocardial cytoskeletal rearrangement and mitochondrial dysfunction; and b) the role of free radicals in pathological processes, i.e., inflammation, oxidative damage, and clinical severity of cardiac disease of infectious and non-infectious etiologies. We are also working on developing a candidate vaccine against

Trypanosoma cruzi and Chagas disease. Our collaborators are at the UTMB and several laboratories in Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico.

Roberto Garofalo, MD

View Department of Pediatrics profile » My research focuses on respiratory viral infections in infants, in particular those that are caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). We are investigating aspects of RSV pathogenesis and treatment as they relate to airway inflammation and long-term morbidity, including recurrent wheezing and chronic asthma. We use different approaches, from cellular systems, to experimental infections and naturally occurring infections in human.

Thomas Geisbert, PhD

Pathogenesis, vaccine development, virology View Department of Microbiology & Immunology profile »My research focuses on the pathogenesis of emerging and re-emerging viruses that require Biosafety level (BSL)-4 containment and on the development of vaccines and postexposure treatments against these viruses. My work particularly emphasizes studies on viruses causing hemorrhagic fever (HF) including Ebola virus, Marburg virus, and Lassa virus.

Benjamin Gelman, MD, PhD

View Department of Pathology profile »Our work addresses the neurochemical, neurovirological, neuropathological and neuroimmunological effects of HIV infection and its comorbid conditions including hepatitis C. Our approach emphasizes using human tissue specimens. The current scientific focus is on the distribution and cellular identity of latent HIV in the tissues of patients with effectively suppressed virus replication. The goal is to target and destroy immune cells that support the latent pool of HIV DNA in the CNS and other body compartments.

Randall Goldblum, MD

View Department of Pediatrics profile » My current interests are largely in environmental effects on the development of diseases and on ways to reduce this burden to society by prevention of exposures and unique therapeutic products that can be used to treat these diseases.

George Golovko, PhD

View UTMB Research Experts profile
My research focuses on the development of bioinformatics applications designed to utilize Next Generation DNA Sequencing data for microbiome analysis, viral SNP characterization, and pathogen detection and identification. Specifically, I lead the development of genomic risk assessment based on multi-omics of host-pathogen interactions, as well as identification of interaction patterns in multidimensional space.

Bin Gong, MD, PhD

Pathogenesis, structural biology/imaging, experimental pathology View Department of Pathology profile »I am interested in how the endothelial cells are injured by infections. The ongoing research projects: Multiple regulatory and signaling mechanisms that converge on VE-Cadherin underlying Rickettsia-induced endothelial barrier dysfunction; Initiating a novel direction to reveal the role of non-coding RNAs in repairing vascular damages after high consequence pathogen infections.

Andrew Grant, MD

View Department of Internal Medicine profile »Dr. Goldblum is a physician specializing in allergies and immunology. His clinical research has focused on new therapies for patients with angioedema and immunodeficiency.

Tapas Hazra, PhD

View Department of Internal Medicine profile »My research focuses on microbial infection-induced oxidative genome damage repair in host tissues. Our studies will investigate the mechanistic basis of how modulating host genome repair can be an effective therapeutic intervention for combating pathogenic infection.

Mark Hellmich, PhD

View Department of Surgery profile »My research focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the development and progression of gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies. Current projects are investigating the function of transsulfuration enzymes, and cysteine metabolite, including the gaseous transmitter, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in GI inflammation, carcinogenesis, tumor progression, and the modulation of anti-tumor immunity.

Yashoda Madaiah Hosakote, PhD

View UTMB Researchgate profile
My research focuses on the investigation of virus-and host specific mechanisms that contribute to the pathogenesis of viral respiratory infections. Our goal is to dissect the novel molecular pathways of respiratory virus-induced lung inflammation in order to develop novel therapeutic interventions to treat and prevent respiratory infections using high throughput molecular and proteomics tools.

Haitao Hu, PhD

HIV/AIDS, antiviral immunity, host-virus interactions, vaccine, viral vectors, HIV latency, T cell biology View Department of Microbiology & Immunology profile »Dr. Hu's current research is focused on antiviral immunity and host-virus interactions in HIV infection and vaccination.

Cheng Huang, PhD

View Department of Pathology profile »My main research interests is to investigate the virus-host interaction and the pathogenesis of highly pathogenic arenavirus viruses as well as the development of vaccines and therapeutics against pathogenic arenavirus infection.

Tetsuro Ikegami, PhD

Vaccine development, virology View Department of Pathology profile »My research focuses on the development of countermeasures against Rift Valley fever (RVF). My research approaches include reverse genetics to rescue various recombinant Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) mutants, characterize innate and adaptive immune responses against those RVFV mutants, testing the efficacy of various vaccine candidates for RVF.

Mini M. Jose, PhD, RN, FNP-C

View School of Nursing profile »My current research focus is to improve the primary care outcomes of reproductive age women. Bacterial vaginosis is a common and difficult to control women’s health issue encountered at primary care practices. My research focus is to test newer antibiotics in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis and aerobic vaginitis.

Cheryl Juneau, DrPH, RN, FNP-BC

View School of Nursing profile »I am faculty in the School of Nursing and a Family Nurse Practitioner. As a member of the Multi-Translational Team (GI), I have collaborated with infectious diseases faculty on research pertaining to community-acquired Clostridium difficile. As a clinician with a doctorate in Public Health, my research interests are focused on communicable diseases, including emerging infectious diseases.

Bhupendra Kaphalia, PhD

View Department of Pathology profile »In general, I am working on formation, distribution, metabolism, disposition and toxicity evaluation of lipid conjugates of xenobiotic alcohols and development of analytical methods (HPLC, GC & TLC) involved in in vitro and in vivo metabolism of compounds of biological and environmental interest. I use state of art nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry for characterization of the metabolites.

Philip Keiser, MD

View Department of Internal Medicine profile »
Dr. Keiser’s primary interest is the care and treatment of HIV and its related infections. He is the director of the Ryan White Clinical in Galveston and is the lead physician for the regional AIDs Education and Training Center. He also directs the UTMB Antibiotic Stewardship Program and is the Local Health Authority for Galveston County. His clinical research focuses on outcomes and cost effectiveness studies of HIV in resource limited settings; effects of HIV on orphans and vulnerable children in Africa; and antibiotic stewardship.

Kamil Khanipov, PhD

View CV »

• Precision Medicine for Prediction of Optimal Mode of Delivery in Pregnancy
• Precision Medicine for Prediction of Diabetic Foot Ulcer Complications
• Novel Methods for Identification of Multi-Dimensional Co-Exclusion Patterns in Oral Microbiomes
• Unraveling the Roles of Genetic Predisposition and Microbiota Dysbiosis in Heart Failure Associated Comorbidities
• Detection and Visualization of Multidimensional Patterns in Multi-omics Data
• Modulation of Gut Bacteriome: Impact on Tumor Stroma in Colon Cancer
• Hurricane Harvey Decision-Support – Resilient Environments and Communities
• Cytosine Deamination Adducts and Cancer Etiology

M. Firoze Khan, PhD

View Department of Pathology profile »
Dr. Khan's research interests include: oxidative stress and autoimmune diseases; chemical-induced autoimmunity; molecular mechanisms of splenic toxicity of aromatic amines; and biomarkers of chemical exposure.

Gayle Olson Koutrouvelis, MD, MPH

View Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology profile»
I am the Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) Fellowship Director, and foster, oversee and mentor fellow research projects. My research interests are primarily clinical in global health, infectious disease obesity/diabetes and pregnancy outcome. Collaborating with Dr. Miguel Cabada has opened new opportunities for fellows for projects in infectious disease and pregnancy outcomes in middle income countries.

Thomas Ksiazek, DVM, PhD

View Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciencesprofile » Epidemiology/ecology and laboratory diagnosis of hemorrhagic fevers and arthropod-borne viral diseases. Consultant on operational biosafety and facility design to USDA, DOD, DHS, and several international laboratories. High containment laboratory and field operations experience in national laboratories for over 35 years. International experience includes long-term professional assignments in England, Taiwan, Indonesia and Egypt as well as extensive outbreak experience in Asia, Africa and South America.

Jun-Ho La, DVM, PhD

View Department of Neuroscience & Cell Biology profile » Dr. La’s research focuses on sensory neuronal plasticity in peripheral and central nervous system as a mechanism of, and a therapeutic target for, chronic neuropathic, inflammatory, and functional pain. One of his main research interests is sensory neuron-immune cell interactions leading to postinfectious/postinflammatory chronic pain.

Fernanda Laezza, MD, PhD

View Department of of Pharmacology & Toxicology profile » Dr. Laezza's research interests include biological and translational psychiatry, neuroscience and neuropharmacology; drug discovery; molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration and neuropsychiatric disorders; regulation of excitability and synaptic transmission by protein; protein interaction; intracellular signaling pathways; quantitative approaches in biology; multi scale image analysis, high throughput screening, enabling technologies.

Michael Laposata, MD, PhD

View Department of Pathology profile »Dr. Laposata is the Chair of the Department of Pathology. His primary research interests are: (1) fatty acid alterations in patients with cystic fibrosis, and (2) diagnostic mistakes, particularly involving evaluation of patients for bleeding and thrombotic disorders.

William Lawrence, PhD

View Department of Microbiology & Immunology profile »Dr. Lawrence’s research focuses on the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of anthrax infection with special emphasis on the physiological effects of anthrax toxins. He is also involved in the evaluation of drugs, monoclonal antibodies, and vaccines that inhibit anthrax disease progression. This research will aid in the discovery of new anthrax prophylactics and therapeutics.

James Le Duc, PhD

Virology, vector biology, bacteriology, global health, public health policy
View Department of Microbiology & Immunology profile »
Dr. LeDuc directs the Galveston National Laboratory, where basic and applied research is conducted on viruses, bacteria and rickettsia under various levels of biocontainment (BSL2, 3 and 4).

James Lee, PhD

Professor Emeritus

Sunhee Lee, PhD

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Nontuberculous mycobacteria View Department of Microbiology & Immunology profile »Dr. Lee’s research interests focus on identifying the genetic basis of important virulence traits, key components of host-pathogen interaction, and immunogenicity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacteria. A long-term goal of her laboratory is the generation of safe and effective mycobacterial vaccines and therapeutics.

Shinji Makino, DVM, PhD

Pathogenesis, vaccine development, virology
View Department of Microbiology & Immunology profile »
We study various aspects of SARS coronavirus-host cell interactions, attempting to understand viral pathogenesis at the molecular level. We also study viral RNA synthesis, assembly, virus-host cell interactions and vaccine development of Rift Valley fever virus, which is highly pathogenic for humans and ruminants.

Jere McBride, PhD

View Department of Pathology profile »
Identification and molecular characterization of protective immunodeterminants of Ehrlichia spp., investigation of pathogenic mechanisms and host-pathogen interactions of Ehrlichia, understanding the molecular mechanisms in the adaptation of Ehrlichia to mammalian and arthropod hosts, and translational research on development of diagnostics and vaccines for the ehrlichioses.

Peter Melby, MD, FASTMH

View Department of Internal Medicine profile »
Dr. Melby is the director of both the Center for Tropical Diseases and the Department of Internal Medicine Division of Infectious Diseases. His research focuses on the immunopathogenesis of infectious diseases, particularly leishmaniasis. His laboratory is involved in studies of mechanisms of disease, the impact of malnutrition on host defense, drug discovery, and point-of-care diagnostics for neglected tropical diseases. He is also involved in clinical and research training in tropical infectious diseases.

Vineet Menachery, PhD

View Department of Microbiology & Immunology profile
I am interested in emergence of novel coronaviruses and the role of host factors/comorbidities in infection outcomes. The emergence of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV underscores the threat of cross-species transmission events. Our experimental platforms seek to leverage metagenomics data, robust reverse genetic systems, and the CoV life cycle to prepare for future CoV outbreaks. A second research focus considers the impact of comorbidities on specific host factors and infection outcomes.

Terumi Midoro-Horiuti, MD, PhD

View Sealy Center for Vaccine Development profile »
My research focuses on structure and functions of allergens and environmental effects on the development of allergic diseases. We are working on the mechanism of prenatal and early post natal environment, including microbiome on the immune development.

Gregg Milligan, PhD

View Sealy Center for Vaccine Development profile »
The primary focus of my laboratory is to investigate the protective role of B and T lymphocytes against HSV infection of the genital tract, sensory ganglia, and central nervous systems. We also study how interactions between single-cycle WNV vaccines and the innate immune system shape the adaptive immune response.

Chad Mire, PhD

View Department of Microbiology & Immunology profile »
My research focuses on understanding host-pathogen interactions of lethal negative strand RNA viruses. Using reverse genetics we characterize viruses in vitro and in vivo elucidating what is important for virus replication thereby potentially revealing pathways for small molecule inhibitors or therapeutics which can be targeted for protective benefit.

Vladimir Motin, PhD

Bacteriology, pathogenesis, vaccine development, systems biology
View Department of Pathology profile »
My major research interest is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that underlie the nature of the acute bacterial infectious process caused by Y. pestis, the etiological agent of plague. The unraveling of Y. pestis virulence network will allow us to determine novel targets for therapeutics beyond antibiotics, generation of new vaccines and for development of robust diagnostic assays.

Frederick Murphy, DVM, PhD

Professor Emeritus
Email Dr. Murphy »

Surendra Negi, PhD

Bioinformatics, computational biology
My research focuses on: 1) understanding the molecular recognition mechanisms used by proteins to perform various cellular functions and their role in human diseases using computational strategies, 2) use of immunoinformatics for epitope discovery and rational vaccine design, and 3) the development of new strategies to overcome emerging drug resistance.

Joan Nichols, PhD

Viral pathogenesis, immune response, bioengineered human tissue models, virology
View Department of Internal Medicine profile »My research focuses on the immune response of the lung after exposure to pollutants, injury and/or respiratory pathogens. My research involves production of bioengineered human lung and human bone marrow models to study the influence of infectious diseases on stem cell response, hematopoiesis, immune cell responses and wound healing.

David Niesel, PhD

View Department of Microbiology & Immunology profile »We are investigating Streptococcus pneumoniae gene/protein expression changes in vivo and in low shear microgravity environments. We have had multiple experiments performed on the space shuttle and on the International Space Station. The laboratory is also developing rapid novel methods for antibiotic resistance detection in complex populations of bacteria.

Juan Olano, MD

Bacteriology, anatomic and clinical pathology, endothelial pathology, pathogenesis
View Department of Pathology profile »My research interests are focused on the pathogenesis of obligate intracellular bacteria. My long term goal is to study molecular pathogenesis of rickettsioses. I am interested in adherens- and tight junction proteins and the signal transduction pathways involved in their regulation. Another area of focus is the development of ultrasensitive diagnostic methods for rickettsial infections and the development of small animal models.

Andres Oberhauser, PhD

View Department of Neuroscience & Cell Biology profile »My research focuses on the dynamics and mechanics of proteins using single-molecule manipulation techniques. My laboratory has developed methods to investigate the effect of disease-causing mutations on the nano-mechanics of muscle and kidney protein complexes. We are also using AFM-based nano-mechanical studies in living cells infected with Rickettsiae montanensis.

Slobodan Paessler, DVM, PhD

Molecular biology, viral pathogenesis, vaccine/antivirals, and diagnostics development
View Department of Pathology profile »My main research interest is in understanding the mechanisms by which emerging RNA viruses cause encephalitis, hemorrhagic fever, or respiratory diseases. Central nervous system (CNS) invasion by RNA viruses is a particularly complex and fascinating process. We seek to elucidate the nature of the neuroinflammatory response to CNS invasion by viruses in diverse families such as Togaviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, Bunyaviridae and Arenaviridae.

Janak Patel, MD

View Department of Pediatrics profile »
I am engaged in clinical practice of pediatric infectious diseases. My research interest is in the study of respiratory viral epidemiology, host response and complications leading to acute otitis media in children. The roles of host genes of innate immunity, cytokines and viral-bacterial interactions in the nasopharynx are also being studied.

C.J. Peters, MD

Professor Emeritus
Email Dr. Peters »

Johnny Peterson, PhD

View Department of Microbiology & Immunology profile »
His primary research is with toxin-mediated bacterial diseases, including cholera and anthrax. He developed an effective antisecretory drug for cholera that also competitively blocks anthrax edema toxin. His research defined the role of eicosanoids in the pathogenesis of cholera and led to the discovery of an eicosanoid activator protein known as phospholipase A2-activating protein (PLAA).

Vsevolod Popov, PhD, DSc

Bacteriology, pathogenesis, structural biology/imaging, electron microscopy, virology
View Department of Pathology profile »My research interests include ultrastructure of bacteria (especially rickettsia, ehrlichia, anaplasma, and chlamydia), viruses and protozoa pathogenic for humans and animals and their interaction with the host cells at the ultrastructural level in patients and in model systems.

Don Powell, MD

Immunology, clinical, structural biology/imaging, host response
View Department of Internal Medicine profile »My research interests currently include the biology of intestinal mesenchymal cells, including their role in the colon cancer microenvironment and their immunological role in promoting immune tolerance or in the pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel disease and the response to infection.

Brendan Prideaux, PhD

View Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, & Anatomy profile »
My research interests are the application of mass spectrometry and molecular imaging to the study of neuroscience and infectious disease. I am particularly interested in studying disease pathogenesis via lipid and metabolite imaging by mass spectrometry. Additionally, I am applying mass spectrometry imaging to map drug and metabolite distribution into tissues.

Richard Pyles, PhD

View Department of Microbiology & Immunology profile »
My research group studies viral and bacterial infections of mucosal cells in the context of human microbiomes. Our research efforts are focused on urogenital, nasal and respiratory mucosae that are first exposure sites for the majority of pathogens using small animal models and novel ex vivo human culture systems. My lab group is also involved in clinical research and trials of novel mucosal delivery devices and probiotics.

Krishna Rajarathnam, PhD

Immunology, structural biology, protein engineering
View Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology profile »
Chemokine-mediated recruitment of circulating neutrophils to the site of infection forms the first line in host defense. My research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms by which chemokines (such as CXCL8) interact with their GPCR receptors and glycosaminoglycans for orchestrating in vivo neutrophil recruitment in health and disease.

Ricardo Rajsbaum, PhD

Immunology, host-pathogen interactions
View Department of Microbiology & Immunology profile »
We study host-pathogen interactions and innate immune responses to viruses. Specifically, we focus on members of the tripartite motif (TRIM) family of E3-ubiquitin ligases, which can have antiviral functions. We hope to identify new innate signaling components and viral proteins that are regulated by ubiquitin and could be targeted for therapeutic intervention.

Victor Reyes, PhD

View Department of Pediatrics profile »
The focus of my research is on regulation of mucosal immune responses. I have been active in characterizing the underlying immune mechanisms during infection of the gastric mucosa with Helicobacter pylori (Hp) and how Hp hijacks regulation of host immunity to establish chronic infection leading to gastric cancer. My lab has also been elucidating mechanisms leading to inflammatory bowel disease, a dysregulated response to normal flora. My research involves the use of cocultures of Hp-infected gastric organoids with human T cells to characterize the responses and deep sequencing of Hp isolates from different gastric disease states.

Richard Rupp, MD

View Sealy Center for Vaccine Development profile »
Dr. Rupp is the Director of Clinical Trials and Clinical Research and a member of the Executive Committee for the Sealy Center for Vaccine Development (SCVD). He leads the SCVD Clinical Trials Group, and is a Principal Investigator for clinical trials, Phase I to IV, in both pediatric and adult populations. Vaccines studied have included those protecting against human cytomegalovirus, seasonal, avian and pandemic influenza, pneumococcal disease, human papillomavirus, Dengue, varicella, Herpes simplex 2, and meningococcal disease.

Abha Sahni, PhD

View Department of Pathology profile »
Dr. Abha Sahni’s primary research interests include delineation of interactions between host endothelium and pathogenic bacteria with emphasis on endothelial pathobiology, pathogen entry mechanisms, and pathogenesis of human rickettsioses. Another area of her expertise is the role of fibrinogen and growth factor interactions in inflammation induced cancer growth and metastasis.

Sanjeev Sahni, PhD

View Department of Pathology profile »
The ongoing research projects in my laboratory are focused on various aspects of spotted fever and typhus group rickettsioses, including activation/subversion of host signaling pathways regulating innate immune responses, apoptosis, autophagy, redox homeostasis, intracellular detection, and vascular inflammation/permeability to understand disease pathogenesis and to identify novel targets for therapeutic interventions.

Tais B. Saito, DVM, MS, PhD

View UTMB Research Expert profile
My research interest is pathophysiology of infectious diseases, with main emphasis on the understanding of vector-host-pathogen interactions and disease pathogenesis. My expertise in tick vector transmission of important animal and human pathogens have allowed me to develop models of a more natural route of infection, to study different aspects of the diseases pathogenesis. Using humanized animal models I have also developed research interest in comorbidities involving infectious diseases.

Vanessa V. Sarathy, PhD

View Department of Pathology profile »
My research of mosquito-borne flaviviruses involves both in vitro and in vivo studies. We focus on antigenicity of the viral envelope protein, characterization of animal models of flavivirus infection, and identification of virulence determinants using next generation sequencing. This combinatorial approach is useful to decipher the complicated pathogenesis of flaviviruses.

Catherine Schein, MSc, PhD

View UTMB Researchgate profile »
My research focuses on structure and sequence based design of vaccines, anti-virals and inhibitors of toxins. My research group uses molecular docking tools, assembly of large databases, bioinformatic analytic methods, specialized methods for physicochemical property (PCP-) based consensus and motif identification, and analysis of variance.

Jian Sha, MD, MS

View Department of Microbiology & Immunology profile »My research focuses on studying bacterial pathogens such as Aeromonas, Salmonella, and Yersinia species, particularly host-bacteria interactions and new virulence determinant identifications. I also study brain leukoencephalopathy associated with the mutation of Phospholipase A2-activating protein. We have demonstrated that bacterial products such as cholera toxin and LPS activate PLAA-phospholipase A2 axis that orchestrates production of inflammatory mediators leading to the disease state in the host.

Michael Sherman, PhD

View Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology profile »My research focuses on structure of alphaviruses, protein complexes, and intracellular bacteria (e.g. rickettsia) to study protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interactions. My research approaches include different imaging techniques in electron microscopy, cryo-electron microscopy and (cryo-) electron tomography.

Pei-Yong Shi, PhD

View Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology profile »
My research focuses on flavivirus replication, diagnosis, antiviral, and vaccine. We take a multidisciplinary approach (structural, molecular, and chemical biology, and animal model) to unravel disease mechanism and develop countermeasure. Many of our projects are highly collaborative with both academic and pharmaceutical partners around the world.

Xuan-Zheng “Peter” Shi, MD, MS

View Department of Internal Medicine profile »
My lab has research interests in gut inflammation and immunity, and the role of gut microbiota in the development of gut dysfunctions and immune impairments.

Mark P. Simons, PhD, D(ABMM), MSCPH

Email Dr. Simons »
Dr. Simons is the director of the Navy Infectious Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory and an adjunct member of the IHII. Research interests include interactions/impacts of wound microbial ecology and host immune responses on wound infection clearing and healing, as well as diagnostic assay development, epidemiology of emerging infections and antibiotic resistance, and the public health impact of novel interventions and therapeutics.

Lynn Soong, MD, PhD

View Department of Microbiology & Immunology profile »
My research focuses on immune regulation and mechanisms of pathogenesis following Orientia or Leishmania infection. Using genetic and immunological approaches, we examine how these intracellular pathogens establish the infection at skin inoculate sites and alter innate or adaptive immune responses, leading to acute tissue damage and persistent infections.

Robin Stephens, PhD

View Department of Internal Medicine profile »
Research in my lab focuses on immunity to malaria infection. We are studying Plasmodium chabaudi as a model of human malaria using primarily multi-color flow cytometry and omics approaches to investigate T cell memory and other pathogenic determinants in vivo.

Heather Stevenson-Lerner, MD, PhD

View Department of Pathology profile »
My primary research focus is to determine how dysregulated hepatic immune responses lead to fibrosis development and cirrhosis. We are using multispectral imaging to phenotype hepatic lymphocytes, macrophages, and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells in human liver tissue to determine their role in liver injury and improper wound healing. Our IRB-approved clinical study currently has 99 HCV-infected patients enrolled from which we are collecting blood and liver biopsy samples before and after treatment with the recently developed IFN-free, direct-acting antivirals.

Jiaren Sun, MD, PhD

View Department of Microbiology & Immunology profile »
My research focuses on the immunological mechanisms during viral hepatitis and other liver diseases. Our research approaches include the generation of transgenic mouse systems, molecular and cellular manipulation and intervention in vivo, and advanced analytic methodologies to gain an insight to the complexed virus host interaction in the liver. 

Fujio Suzuki, PhD

View Department of Internal Medicine profile »My main research focuses on gut bacteria-associated sepsis, bacterial pneumonia and MRSA infection in persons who have suffered with severe burn injuries, radiation injuries in gastrointestinal systems, and chronic alcohol consumption. Also, my research target is the biology of suppressor neutrophils, M2 macrophages, and innate lymphoid cells.

Kaori Terasaki, DVM, PhD

View Department of Microbiology & Immunology profile
My primary research interest is studying the mechanisms of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) genome packaging and vaccine development. Our research on vaccine development is focused on generating novel single cycle replicable RVFV as safe vaccine candidates.

Robert Tesh, MD

Email Dr. Tesh »

Tracy Toliver-Kinsky, PhD

View UTMB Research Expert profile » Current research efforts are focused on the use of a dendritic cell (DC) growth factor, fms-like tyrosine kinase-3 ligand (Flt3L), as a prophylactic treatment after burn injury to enhance immune function and decrease susceptibility to infections. Current projects are investigating the cellular and molecular responses of DCs to Flt3L signaling, and the mechanisms by which DCs enhance neutrophil migratory capacity.

Alfredo Torres, PhD

View Department of Pathology profile »Dr. Torres is interested in the mechanisms used by diarrheagenic Escherichia coli strains to adhere to and colonize intestinal epithelia. His laboratory is also investigating the pathogenic mechanisms of Burkholderia mallei and B. pseudomallei, with the goal of developing novel vaccines and therapeutics.

Bruno Travi, DVM, PhD

View Department of Internal Medicine profile »My interests focus on the development and utilization of animal models of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis and understanding its transmission cycles. In our lab different aspects of leishmaniasis are considered including host immune response and screening of antileishmanial compounds. More recently, emphasis has been placed on the development of molecular point of care diagnostic tests for both cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. This diagnostic approach is being applied to arboviruses and will be extended also to other pathogens.

Chien-Te "Kent" Tseng, MS, PhD

View Department of Microbiology & Immunology profile »My research focuses on the pathogenesis of emerging RNA viruses, especially SARS-CoV and Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV). Current projects include identifying innate signaling molecules and events relevant to immune evasion or protection, and establishing preventive and therapeutic strategies against aforementioned viruses. My approaches include reverse genetics, genomics and proteomics, gene knock-out/down, or constitutive expression to verify the roles of selected genes in viral pathogenesis.

Demidmaa Ravsal Tuvdendorj, MD, PhD

View Department of Internal Medicine profile »My research is focused on impaired lipid metabolism and the development or progression of inflammatory processes. Specifically, I am interested in the mechanisms of development of systemic low-grade inflammation in patients with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, who are more susceptible to the development of drug-resistant form of tuberculosis.

Nikos Vasilakis, MA, PhD

View Department of Pathology profile » My research interests involve basic research on evolution and pathogenesis of arthropod-borne viruses, virus – mosquito, and virus – host interactions utilizing sylvatic dengue virus (DENV) as a model.

Kathleen Vincent, MD

View Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology profile » My research interests revolve around women’s health, particularly reproductive health related to STI/HIV and pregnancy prevention and pelvic floor disorders. I have led efforts to incorporate emerging imaging techniques and the sheep vaginal model for toxicity and pharmacokinetic evaluations. I currently am funded to conduct clinical studies that include microbiome and inflammatory markers to study the use of intravaginal rings to prevent HIV and for medical treatment of urinary incontinence.

David Walker, MD

View Department of Pathology profile » My research interests focus on arthropod transmitted-obligately intracellular Rickettsia, Ehrlichia, and Orientia. Excellent mouse models and state-of-the-art immunologic approaches are employed to elucidate mechanisms of immunity and pathogenesis and vaccine development.  Other key activities include international collaborations in Mexico, Brazil, Portugal, and Cameroon.

Tian Wang, PhD

View Department of Pathology profile »
My research focuses on understanding of immune response to West Nile virus infection in protection and pathogenesis. West Nile virus, a vector-borne pathogen, has resulted in annual outbreaks of viral encephalitis in North America since 1999. Using a murine infection model, my current work explores immune factors contributing to the development of long-lasting protective immunity against West Nile virus.

Stanley Watowich, PhD

Scott Weaver, PhD

View Department of Microbiology & Immunology profile » My research focuses on arboviruses, including mechanisms of emergence from enzootic cycles, evolution, mosquito-virus interactions, and vaccine development. My research approaches include reverse genetics to identify adaptive mutations that mediate host range changes, and field studies in Africa and Latin America to understand the ecology and epidemiology of emerging arboviruses. 

Susan Weller, PhD

View Department of Family Medicine profile »
My research focuses on the accurate measurement and representation of human beliefs and behaviors across national and cultural boundaries. Research skills include optimizing data collection by improving the types of questions asked, to improve the reliability and validity of responses and analyzing responses with agreement-based techniques (e.g., the Cultural Consensus Model) as well as nonparametric multivariate scaling and clustering techniques. Current work focuses on beliefs about the common cold and H1N1 flu in the U.S. and Mexico.

A. Clinton White, MD

View Department of Internal Medicine profile »
Dr. White's research focuses on interactions between the host and pathogens. Among his research interests are host responses to Cryptosporidium and other intestinal protozoa, clinical studies in cysticercosis. He studies host responses controlling strongyloidiasis and immunoregulation in HIV-TB co-infection in Peru. He has published over 120 peer-reviewed publications in addition to numerous book chapters.

John E. Wiktorowicz, PhD

Adjunct Professor

Ping Wu, MD, PhD

View Department of Neuroscience & Cell Biology profile »I am interested in neural infection, which includes using human neural stem-derived neurons and astrocytes to study the neural effect of various viruses, including HIV, Nippa and Hendra viruses, and Zika virus. I am also interested in studying viral infection of murine neural stem cells during neural development.

Min Kyung Yi, PhD

View Department of Microbiology & Immunology profile »I am interested in dissecting the mechanisms of hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication and HCV-induced pathogenesis. My current research interests are focused on the roles of HCV proteins involved in viral replicating organelles generation and virus particle assembly as well as their roles in pathogenesis including hepatic steatosis and fibrosis.

Whitney Yin, MD, PhD

View Department of Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology profile »My research focuses on antiviral drug toxicity for inhibitors against HIV reverse transcriptase. Our goal is to rational design drugs that are potent and low toxic using combination methods of structural biology, biophysics and molecular biology.

Xue-jie Yu, MD, PhD

Adjunct Professor

Wenbo Zhang, PHD

View Department Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences profile »
My research has focused on the study of vascular biology in retinal diseases, including diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity. More recently, I have studied mechanisms of retinal neuronal and vascular injury and retinal neovascularization in ischemic retinopathy. Currently, I plan to bring my expertise in retinal neuronal injury and inflammation to elucidate how and why ZIKV infection causes retinal neuronal damage in collaboration with Dr. Tian Wang, an expert in virology.

Yingxin Zhao, PhD

View Department of Internal Medicine profile »My research interest is to use systems biology approach to better understand the innate immune response and to develop novel methodologies for quantitative proteomics profiling and protein posttranslational modification analysis.