Alexey Khodjakov, PhD

Cellular and Molecular Basis of Diseases - Mitosis

We seek to reveal the molecular mechanisms that enact error-free segregation of chromosomes during cell division. Advanced microscopy and laser ablations allow us to probe the behavior of individual chromosomes and spindle poles.

Haider A. Khwaja, PhD

Environmental Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratory

We conduct multidisciplinary research to understand water and indoor and outdoor air pollution and their impact on human health.

Pascal Lapierre, PhD

Bioinformatics and Statistics Core

My specific area of expertise within the Bioinformatics Core is bacterial genomics, evolution and phylogeny.

David A. Lawrence, PhD

Neuroimmunology and Immunotoxicology

We study the immunological aspect of the system biology effects from genetic susceptibilities and environmental stress defined as the exposome on autoimmune diseases, immune deficiencies, and neurodegenerative and neurobehavioral illnesses.

William T. Lee, PhD

Immunological Memory and Diagnostic Immunology

The goal of our research is to characterize the differences between antigenically naive (virgin) and memory T helper cells at the developmental, phenotypic and functional levels.

María C López, PhD

Clinical and Experimental Immunology

Our work strives to further the knowledge of the mechanisms behind mucosal immune alterations that can lead to food allergies and malnutrition.

Nicholas J. Mantis, PhD

Chief, Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology

We study how serum and mucosal antibodies protect mammalian hosts from microbial pathogens and toxins. We are interested in next-generation vaccines and adjuvants to combat biothreat agents and enteric diseases.

Paul Masters, PhD

Molecular Genetics of Coronaviruses

We use genetics and molecular biology to learn how coronaviruses, a family of RNA viruses including the agents that cause SARS and MERS, replicate their genetic material and assemble into virions during infection.

Kathleen A. McDonough, PhD

Director, Division of Infectious Disease

We study gene regulation in the context of bacterial pathogenesis, with a focus on two pathogens: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes TB, and Yersinia pestis, the etiologic agent of bubonic and pneumonic plague.

Kimberlee Musser, Ph.D.

Kimberlee A. Musser, PhD

Clinical Director, Wadsworth Center David Axelrod Institute

We develop molecular diagnostic assays and reference testing for the detection and characterization of pathogenic bacteria and mycobacteria and to predict antibiotic resistance using real-time PCR and whole genome sequencing.

Dilip Nag, PhD

Arbovirus Laboratory

We study mosquito-borne arboviruses, focusing on vertical transmission and persistent arboviral infections in mosquitoes. We are also interested in determining the role of RNA-RNA recombination in virus evolution.

Anil K. Ojha, PhD

Mycobacterial Persistence and Pathogenesis

We investigate the influence of biofilm growth on the mechanisms of pathogenesis, persistence and drug tolerance in mycobacterial pathogens, with particular emphasis on Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Joseph Orsini, PhD

Deputy Director, Newborn Screening Program

We focus on simplifying and automating published low-volume newborn screening tests in order to transform them into high-volume assays.

Jon Paczkowski, Ph.D.

Jon Paczkowski, PhD

Microbial Signal Transduction and Cell-cell Communication

We seek to understand bacterial communication by investigating how bacteria interpret autoinducers and elicit appropriate gene expression, and, more globally, to understand how all organisms decode environmental stimuli.

Janice D. Pata, Ph.D.

Janice D. Pata, PhD

Polymerases, Mutations, and the Evolution of Antimicrobial Drug Resistance

We study the molecular mechanisms by which multiple DNA polymerases replicate bacterial genomes completely, with high accuracy and tolerance for DNA damage, yet also create mutations that give rise to antibiotic resistance.

Navjot (Vimi) Singh, Ph.D.,

Navjot (Vimi) Singh, PhD

Deputy Director, Division of Scientific Cores

We develop and apply cutting-edge NGS methodologies—spanning short-read, long-read, and RNA sequencing—to enhance biomedical research, pathogen detection, antimicrobial resistance, and public health surveillance.

Kirsten St. George, PhD

Chief, Laboratory of Viral Diseases

We develop viral detection and characterization assays and investigate new molecular chemistries and platforms. Research includes rhinovirus infection in transplant recipients, drug-resistant influenza and adenovirus evolution.

Haixin Sui, PhD

Cellular and Molecular Basis of Diseases - Structural Cell Biology

We study the structural basis of macromolecular assemblies and organelles in epithelial cells for sensing or responding to extracellular environmental changes. Our approach involves a variety of customized methods in advanced electron microscopy.