Alok Dabi, MD
Neuroprotection, brain-gut-microbiome axis, acute neurology
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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
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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.
Laura Dickson, PhD
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Google Scholar page
Our lab’s research involves trying to understand the genetic and environmental basis of mosquito – pathogen interactions. We aim to identify the genetic basis and molecular mechanisms underlying mosquito susceptibility
to pathogens, as well as understanding the role that the mosquito microbiome plays in mosquito susceptibility to pathogens. CV
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.
Amina El Ayadi, PhDResearch Interests:
Tissue repair involves adaptative immunity and the contribution of lymphocytes. The hyperinflammatory response to traumatic injury leads to aberrant wound healing, overactivation of myofibroblast, and subsequent hypertrophic
scar development. My research is focused on identifying the role of the gamma-delta (γδ) resident T cells in wound healing and myofibroblast differentiation.
Keywords: Wound healing, inflammation, lymphocytes, adaptative immunity,
wound infections
Janice Endsley, PhDBacteriology, 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, PhDVirology, 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.
Olivier Escaffre, PhDI am a Research Scientist II in Dr. Alexander N. Freiberg’s laboratory in the department of Pathology at UTMB. My research work involves studying the pathogenesis of emerging zoonotic viruses in containment laboratories (BSL-3/4). Specifically,
I have extensive experience using 2 and 3-dimensional human lung and vaginal models to study the early steps of infection and virus dissemination. I also have a strong interest in the development/characterization of therapeutics against these
agents.
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, PhDView
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, PhDPathogenesis, 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, PhDStructural 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.
Roberto Garcia, MDView Department of Neurosursgery profile
» I have a broad background in laboratory research in neurosurgery, specifically within the fields of endovascular neurosurgery, neuro-oncology and traumatic brain injury. Our lab primarily focuses around novel device development and therapies,
including viral vectors for glioblastoma treatment and small molecular stimulators for stroke recovery.
Nisha Garg, PhDPathogenesis, 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, MDView 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, PhDPathogenesis, 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, PhDView 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, MDView 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, PhDPathogenesis, structural biology/imaging, experimental
pathology. View Department of Pathology profile » My research focuses
on the study of the molecular mechanisms involved in replication and pathogenesis of RNA viruses. Specifically, I use X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy in conjunction with RNA engineering to understand the structure and function
of viral RNA elements in the context of virus infection.
Keerthi Gottipati, PhDViral RNA structure, Cryo-Electron Microscopy, RNA engineering, X-ray crystallography. View PubMed » My research focuses on the study of the molecular mechanisms involved in replication and pathogenesis of RNA viruses. Specifically, I use X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy in conjunction with RNA engineering to understand the
structure and function of viral RNA elements in the context of virus infection.
Andrew Grant, MDView 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.
Gregory Gray, MD, MPH, FIDS
View Department
of Internal Medicine profile » Gregory C. Gray MD, MPH, FIDSA is an infectious disease epidemiologist and Professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. He is affiliated with three Departments: Internal Medicine (Infectious
Diseases), Microbiology and Immunology, and Preventive Medicine & Population Health. Website: www.utmb.edu/one-health
Tapas Hazra, PhDView 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.
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, PhDHIV/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, PhDView 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, PhDVaccine 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-CView 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-BCView 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, PhDView 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, MDView
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, PhDView 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, PhDView 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, MPHView 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, PhDView 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.
Michael Kueht, MDMy research interests include management of immunosuppression in solid organ transplantation and the physiology and immunology of end stage liver and kidney disease. Bio Sketch | CV
Jun-Ho La, DVM, PhDView 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.
Alan Lee Landay, PhD
Dr. Alan Landay is Vice President
of Team Science and Professor in the Departments of Internal Medicine and
Microbiology and Immunology at University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston. He has been involved in HIV research for over
42 years. Dr. Landay has published over 580 peer
reviewed papers focused on basic and clinical studies of HIV with an emphasis
role of immune activation, inflammation and microbiome in HIV pathogenesis,
therapy, aging, and cure research.
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, PhDView 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 Lee, PhDProfessor Emeritus
Sunhee Lee, PhDMycobacterium 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.
Minghua Li, PhDEmerging and re-emerging viruses, virus-host interactions, innate immunity to viral infection. View Department of Pathology profile
»
We are interested in identifying host proteins that control viral infection and understanding how viruses manipulate host cellular pathways
for productive replication. The goal of our research is to investigate the mechanisms by which viruses and host cells interact and inform the development of novel host-directed therapeutics.
Hua Liu, PhDMy research interests are: 1) to understand the role of Sirt6 in retinal neurovascular degeneration in aging-related diseases such as glaucoma and Alzheimer's disease; 2) to understand virus-host interaction in the retina during Zika virus (ZIKV)
infection.
CV