Opportunities 

Research and Training Programs for 2013-2014

NIAID Division of Intramural Research

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health

NIAID

NIAID

Opportunities 

Research and Training Programs for 2013-2014

NIAID Division of Intramural Research

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health

NIH Publication No. 13-4948

January 2013
Contents

NIAID Division of Intramural Research Organizational Chart . . . . . . . .1 

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

About DIR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Unparalleled Opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

World-Class Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

International Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

The Edge of Scientific Discovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

DIR Training Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Postdoctoral Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Predoctoral Training for Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Clinical Training Opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Allergy and Immunology Training Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Infectious Diseases Training Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

NIAID Transition Program in Clinical Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Loan Repayment Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 

General Loan Repayment Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 

AIDS Loan Repayment Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Clinical Research Loan Repayment Program for 

Individuals from Disadvantaged Backgrounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 

General Requirements for Loan Repayment Programs . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Tenure and Tenure Track at NIAID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Timeline for Nontenured Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

DIR Laboratories and Branches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Comparative Medicine Branch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Cytokine Biology Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Emerging Viral Pathogens Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Laboratory of Allergic Diseases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Laboratory of Host Defenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Laboratory of Human Bacterial Pathogenesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

Laboratory of Immunogenetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

Laboratory of Immunology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 

Laboratory of Immunoregulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

Laboratory of Infectious Diseases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Laboratory of Intracellular Parasites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64

Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

Laboratory of Molecular Immunology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73

Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76

Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81

Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87

Laboratory of Systems Biology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92

Laboratory of Viral Diseases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96

Laboratory of Virology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101

Laboratory of Zoonotic Pathogens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105

Research Technologies Branch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108

Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110

Acronyms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

Photo Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118

ii NIAID Research and Training 
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 1

NIAID Division of Intramural Research Organizational Chart

Cytokine Biology 

Section

Emerging Viral 

Pathogens Section

Laboratory of 

Malaria and Vector 

Research

Laboratory of 

Immunogenetics

Laboratory of 

Persistent Viral 

Diseases

Research 

Technologies Branch

Laboratory of 

Immunoregulation

Laboratory of 

Molecular 

Microbiology

Laboratory of 

Intracellular 

Parasites 

Laboratory of Host 

Defenses

Comparative 

Medicine Branch

Laboratory of 

Human Bacterial 

Pathogenesis

Laboratory of 

Allergic Diseases

Office of Training 

and Diversity

Laboratory of 

Molecular 

Immunology

Laboratory of 

Virology

Rocky Mountain 

Veterinary Branch

Laboratory of 

Immunology

Laboratory of 

Clinical Infectious 

Diseases

Laboratory of 

Parasitic Diseases

Laboratory of 

Zoonotic Pathogens

Laboratory of 

Infectious Diseases

Laboratory of 

Viral Diseases

Laboratory of 

Malaria Immunology 

and Vaccinology

Office of the Director, DIR

Laboratory of 

Systems Biology

Office of Operations 

and Management

Office of Scientific

Management
Introduction 

Training the Next Generation of Scientists

Greetings from the Division of Intramural Research (DIR) at 

the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 

(NIAID) For more than 60 years, DIR has brought 

together exceptional scientists to conduct basic and 

clinical research in immunology, allergy, and infectious diseases

DIR researchers have discovered new pathogens, deciphered 

normal immune system function, identified aberrations underlying 

immunological diseases, and developed FDA-approved vaccines 

and therapies

Today, amazing technological advances in imaging, structural 

biology, and the “-omics” are helping DIR researchers gain a 

much deeper understanding of the immune system and hostpathogen interactions As a result, we are on the precipice of 

game-changing discoveries in several areas and making exciting 

progress in our mission to develop new and improved diagnostics, 

drugs, and vaccines 

Training has long been a central theme at DIR, and we continue 

to seek the best and brightest talent to help us fulfill our mission

We offer a broad spectrum of laboratory and clinical research 

opportunities for applicants at various stages in their careers

Our programs include summer internships, postbaccalaureate 

and postdoctoral training experiences, and accredited medical 

fellowships in allergy and immunology and in infectious diseases

The training environment in DIR is rich with opportunities to work 

side-by-side with renowned scientists and with colleagues from 

every part of the world DIR investigators are leaders in their fields 

and recognized by several prestigious awards Our international 

programs offer trainees the chance to gain invaluable field 

experience in settings where malaria, tuberculosis, and tropical 

diseases are endemic

DIR trainees have access to outstanding research facilities, 

including high-containment laboratories; advanced 

instrumentation; a robust animal program; and the NIH Clinical 

Center, the world’s largest hospital devoted exclusively to clinical 

investigation

But what really sets DIR apart is our focus on the individual 

trainee We invest in your career development through mentored 

research experiences, skill-building workshops, grant-writing 

seminars, special interest groups, scientific lectures, and 

individual counseling Our goal is to make you highly competitive 

for tenure-track positions at NIAID and at other top-tier research 

institutions across the country and around the world

We hope that you will take the time to learn more about DIR 

laboratories and investigators and that you will consider our training 

programs as you plan the next step in your scientific career

2 Introduction 

Karyl S Barron, M D

Deputy Director 

Division of Intramural 

Research, NIAID

Kathryn C Zoon, Ph D

Director 

Division of Intramural 

Research, NIAID
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 3

About DIR 

Since its beginnings in 1887, when it was a one-person lab 

housed in the attic of the Staten Island Marine Hospital 

in New York, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has 

grown to 27 institutes and centers and a budget of more 

than $30 billion The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious 

Diseases (NIAID) is one of the largest institutes at NIH

The Division of Intramural Research (DIR) is a major component of 

NIAID Our purpose is to make scientific discoveries that promote 

the development of new vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics 

that improve human health In pursuit of this goal, DIR’s research 

goals are as follows: 

n Expand knowledge of immune-system components and functions

n Define mechanisms responsible for abnormal immune functions,

such as immunodeficiency, allergy, and autoimmunity

n Understand the biology of infectious agents (viruses, bacteria, 

fungi, and parasites) and the host response to infection

n Develop strategies to prevent and treat immunologic, allergic, 

and infectious diseases

DIR scientists study all aspects of infectious diseases, including 

the causative agent, vectors, and pathogenesis in human and 

animal hosts Clinical research also is integral to the mission of 

DIR, allowing key lab discoveries to be translated rapidly into 

methods of disease prevention, diagnosis, or treatment DIR 

researchers are conducting more than 120 clinical trials at the 

NIH Clinical Center on the Bethesda, Maryland, campus and at 

collaborating U S and international sites

Unparalleled Opportunities 

DIR is home to a vibrant research community of more than 125 

principal investigators who lead research groups composed of 

staff scientists, physicians, fellows, technical personnel, and 

students DIR principal investigators are distinguished in their 

fields, recognized with numerous awards, and include several 

members of the U S National Academy of Sciences and the 

Institute of Medicine Trainees, both pre- and postdoctoral 

physicians and scientists, constitute the largest staff group in DIR

The atmosphere within DIR is one of collegiality, open exchange 

of ideas, and collaboration Exceptional research facilities provide 

investigators with access to state-of-the-art instrumentation in 

imaging, proteomics, genomics, structural biology, and cell 

analysis, as well as animal genetics Taken together, DIR is a 

superb scientific setting for research and an unsurpassed training 

ground for new researchers

DIR scientists study all 

aspects of infectious 

diseases, including the 

causative agent, vectors, 

and pathogenesis in human 

and animal hosts. Clinical 

research also is integral 

to the mission of DIR, 

allowing key lab discoveries 

to be translated rapidly 

into methods of disease 

prevention, diagnosis, or 

treatment. 

“

“
World-Class Facilities 

DIR has 19 laboratories and 2 free-standing sections that conduct 

peer-reviewed research It also has several branches that focus 

on new research technologies and animal care Most DIR labs are 

located on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland, and in nearby 

Rockville, Maryland Our other Maryland facilities are located in 

Frederick, nearly 40 miles north of the main NIH campus

DIR also has a large research campus in Hamilton, Montana, 

known as the Rocky Mountain Laboratories The campus features 

a new building with BSL-2, BSL-3, and BSL-4 laboratory space

Other research amenities available to DIR employees and trainees 

include the following: 

n The NIH Clinical Center, the world’s largest hospital devoted 

exclusively to clinical investigation 

n State-of-the-art technology development facilities for protein 

chemistry, flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, electron 

microscopy, genomics, and bioinformatics 

n Flow cytometry, cell sorting, and multiphoton confocal 

microscopy technology in a BSL-3 environment, with trained 

staff to operate the instrumentation safely 

n Small-group and individual training in the use of specialized 

instrumentation and the development of research applications 

n In-house facilities to design, conduct, and analyze results from 

microarray experiments for all species, including microbial 

pathogens 

n Development and breeding of transgenic and knockout mice 

n The Comparative Medicine Branch, which manages all aspects 

of research involving laboratory animals 

n Computer networking and teleconferencing facilities, including 

satellite linkage to DIR-supported facilities at international sites 

International Research 

DIR is a leader in global research Its International Centers for 

Excellence in Research (ICER) program, launched in 2002, 

is a model for developing and sustaining research programs 

in resource-poor countries Through partnerships with local 

scientists, NIAID has developed core programs at the ICER 

sites—currently located in Mali, Uganda, and India—and, over 

time, has facilitated the expansion of research capacity by training 

young scientists, improving laboratory and clinical infrastructure, 

and enhancing information technology capabilities

The ICER program builds on experience gained from NIAID’s 

long-standing malaria research collaboration with scientists in 

Mali Initially, the collaboration focused on the genetics of malaria 

mosquitoes, but it has expanded significantly over the years Today, 

Malian researchers collaborate with NIAID scientists on multiple 

projects, including studies on mosquito vectors, malaria drug 

4 About DIR
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 5

resistance, and candidate malaria vaccines; research on 

neglected tropical diseases such as filariasis and leishmaniasis; 

and, more recently, other vector-borne diseases, including 

relapsing fever and Lassa fever In addition to these activities, 

several extramural researchers supported by NIAID are involved 

at the Mali ICER in collaborative research and training in malaria, 

leishmaniasis, and HIV/tuberculosis co-infection

The ICER site in Uganda, which includes a state-of-the-art field 

laboratory in the Rakai district and facilities at Makerere University 

in Kampala and the Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe, 

conducts basic and clinical research on HIV and other sexually 

transmitted infections, including studies on viral pathogenesis, 

transmission kinetics, treatment, and prevention More recently, 

NIAID scientists and counterparts at the Uganda ICER initiated 

collaborative studies on malaria in children and pregnant mothers

The ICER site in India, located at the Tuberculosis Research 

Centre in Chennai, conducts collaborative studies on filariasis 

and, more recently, on tuberculosis-filarial and HIV-filarial coinfections

In addition to its ICER sites, DIR has collaborative research 

programs under way at several international sites, including the 

following: 

n Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo—filoviruses

n Khon Kaen and Bangkok, Thailand—nontuberculous 

mycobacteria and immune deficiency

n Lima, Peru—neurocysticercosis

n Masan, Seoul, and Taejon, South Korea—tuberculosis

n Phnom Penh and Pursat, Cambodia—malaria

n Zhengzhou, China—tuberculosis

The Edge of Scientific Discovery 

DIR has long been at the forefront of research on immunologic, 

allergic, and infectious diseases DIR scientists discovered 

the Lyme disease bacterium, the Norwalk virus responsible for 

epidemic gastrointestinal disease, several chemokine receptors, 

and the cytokine interleukin 4 DIR scientists have developed 

vaccines for hepatitis A and E and rotavirus, and they are 

currently conducting clinical studies of more than a dozen vaccine 

candidates for malaria, dengue, and viral respiratory infections

DIR laboratory and clinical research on rare immune system 

diseases led to the discovery of autoimmune lymphoproliferative 

syndrome and its underlying genetic basis, the discovery 

of the gene mutation responsible for Job’s syndrome, and 

the development of gene therapies for severe combined 

immunodeficiency and chronic granulomatous disease

For more than 25 years, DIR scientists have made important 

observations about the pathogenesis of HIV/AIDS, including 

the recent identification of another cellular receptor for HIV DIR 

researchers also have made great strides in the development of 

therapies for drug-susceptible and drug-resistant tuberculosis, 

with promising treatments currently in advanced clinical trials
DIR Training Programs 

NIAID offers several training opportunities, including 

Summer Internship Programs in Biomedical Research, 

postbaccalaureate and postdoctoral programs, and 

medical rotations and fellowships

The DIR Office of Training and Diversity (OTD) offers research 

experiences for scientists at all levels and serves as a focal point 

for training at NIAID’s laboratories in Maryland and in Hamilton, 

Montana

Mentored research opportunities range from postdoctoral and 

clinical research fellowships to graduate partnership programs 

and postbaccalaureate traineeships

NIAID research trainees participate in OTD’s numerous career 

development activities, such as an annual fellows retreat, skillbuilding workshops, and grant-writing seminars OTD also 

emphasizes mentoring and individual career counseling, as well 

as conflict resolution to ensure a robust and competitive research 

program

OTD is committed to increasing the participation at NIAID of 

populations underrepresented in biomedical research through two 

primary programs An annual outreach program, Intramural NIAID 

Research Opportunities (INRO), seeks talented undergraduate 

and doctoral students interested in NIAID’s research and 

training programs The OTD Sponsorship Program supports 

underrepresented scientists through individual mentorship, a 

special seminar series, and other events to ensure inclusion and 

diversity at NIAID

6 DIR Training Programs 

Wendy J Fibison, Ph D

Associate Director 

Office of Training and Diversity

Quick Reference 

DIR Office of Training and Diversity 

Wendy J. Fibison, Ph.D., 

Associate Director 

Quarters 15 F1 

6 North Court, MSC 2663 

Bethesda, MD 20892-1350 

wfibison@niaid.nih.gov

www.niaid.nih.gov/about/organization/

dir/Pages/otd.aspx 

INRO Program 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/training/inro

Applications are open from August 15 to 

October 15.
Postdoctoral Training 

DIR has several options for those interested in postdoctoral 

laboratory research training Our programs consist of a minimum 

of two to three years of research in one of the DIR labs, and Ph D

and M D candidates can apply

Available appointments differ slightly in their requirements for 

citizenship and postdoctoral experience, but all have the same 

starting point: finding the best research fit for you Start by reading 

the descriptions of the labs and investigators in this book and 

determining which lab or investigator is conducting research in 

your area of interest

Appointment Mechanisms 

If you are selected for an NIAID DIR postdoctoral program, 

you may be appointed under one of several mechanisms, 

depending on the availability of funding, type of research, and 

your qualifications These appointment mechanisms include the 

following: 

n Postdoctoral Fellowship, including the NIH Intramural 

Research Training Award (IRTA), requires that you be a U S

citizen or permanent resident with a doctoral degree and five 

or fewer years of postdoctoral experience

n Research Fellowship is for highly experienced postdoctoral 

scientists (generally more than five years of postdoctoral 

experience) who seek further research training and professional 

development

n NIH Visiting Program (VP) offers scientists who are not 

U S citizens the opportunity to receive further training or to 

conduct research in their specialties Appointments include the 

Postdoctoral Fellowship (VP), which requires that you have a 

doctoral degree and five or fewer years of relevant postdoctoral 

experience 

Other Appointments 

n Adjunct Investigator appointment is possible if you have outside 

funding and want to enhance your research capabilities in a DIR 

laboratory U S citizenship is not required

n Special Volunteer appointment is suitable if you have funding 

from a foundation or private grant and wish to conduct research 

in an NIAID lab

n Guest Researcher appointment allows you to use NIH facilities, 

equipment, and resources for your research and training; 

however, you cannot provide services to NIH

NIAID Malaria Infection Biology Research and Training Program

The NIAID Malaria Infection Biology Research and Training 

Program seeks young scientists finishing their Ph D in immunology, 

parasitology, or closely related fields to study the interface of 

malaria and the host immune response Graduate students also are 

encouraged to consider this program for their thesis work

How to Apply 

Postdoctoral Opportunities 

Visit www.training.nih.gov/career_services/

postdoc_jobs_nih, search “NIAID,” and 

complete an online application for the 

program that interests you.

OR 

After reading this book, send the following 

information to the NIAID lab chief or 

investigator with whom you are interested in 

working: 

n A cover letter describing your background, 

research interests, career goals, and the 

special training or experience you are 

seeking Include the date you can begin 

training, home address, home and office 

telephone numbers, fax number, and email 

address

n A copy of your curriculum vitae and 

bibliography Representative publications 

are welcome

If you would like your application to be 

distributed to more than one lab, send this 

information to the following contact: 

Wendy J Fibison, Ph D , 

Associate Director 

Office of Training and Diversity 

Quarters 15 F1, 6 North Court, MSC 2663 

Bethesda, MD 20892-1350 

wfibison@niaid.nih.gov 

Malaria Infection Biology Research and 

Training Program

Visit www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/training/mib

program for a full description of the program

Submit a curriculum vitae; a short description 

of your thesis research and interest in 

malaria infection biology; and two letters 

of recommendation, one from your thesis 

advisor, to the following contact: 

Susan K Pierce, Ph D , Director

NIAID Malaria Infection Biology Research 

and Training Program

spierce@nih.gov

2013 – 2014 Opportunities 7
8 DIR Training Programs 

How to Apply 

Learn more about predoctoral training

programs by visiting the following 

websites:

n Postbaccalaureate IRTA 

www.training.nih.gov/programs/

postbac_irta

n Graduate Partnerships Program 

www.training.nih.gov/programs/gpp 

n NIH-Oxford-Cambridge Scholarship 

Program

oxcam.gpp.nih.gov

n Technical IRTA 

www.training.nih.gov/programs/tech_irta

n Summer Internships 

www.training.nih.gov/programs/sip

Complete an online application for the 

program in which you are interested

OR 

After reading this book, send the following

information to the NIAID lab chief or 

investigator with whom you are interested 

in working: 

n A cover letter describing your background, 

research interests, career goals, and the 

special training or experience you are 

seeking Include the date you can begin 

training, home address, home and office 

telephone numbers, fax number, and email 

address

n A copy of your curriculum vitae and 

bibliography Representative publications 

are welcome

If you would like your application to be 

distributed to more than one lab, send this 

information to the following contact: 

n Wendy J Fibison, Ph D , 

Associate Director 

Office of Training and Diversity 

Quarters 15 F1, 6 North Court, MSC 2663 

Bethesda, MD 20892-1350 

wfibison@niaid.nih.gov

Predoctoral Training for Students 

n Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award 

(IRTA) provides the opportunity to postpone your application 

to graduate or medical school so you can get an introduction 

to biomedical research To qualify, you must be a U S

citizen, have graduated from a fully accredited U S college 

or university, and have held the degree for no more than two 

years Also, you must intend to apply to graduate or medical 

school in biomedical research during your time at NIAID 

n Graduate Partnerships Program links NIH to national and 

international universities in the training of graduate students

You have the academic environment of a university and the 

breadth and depth of research at NIH This includes the 

NIH-Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program, an accelerated, 

international doctoral program in partnership with the 

Universities of Oxford and Cambridge in the United Kingdom

It is open to exceptional students in the field of biomedical 

research Students admitted to the program typically design an 

innovative Ph D project, with co-mentorship by at least one NIH 

and one university principal investigator

n Technical IRTA is for applicants with a bachelor’s or master’s 

degree in a biomedical research field It is a two-year program 

designed to help you develop the advanced skills and 

techniques necessary to be a highly trained research support 

professional

n Summer Internships in an NIAID laboratory can enhance 

your knowledge and understanding of the world of biomedical 

research and help you plan your academic goals DIR offers 

10- to 12-week summer internships for high school, college, 

graduate, and medical students An online application for 

the following summer is available in early November The 

application deadline is March 1
Clinical Training Opportunities

NIAID offers three-year ACGME-approved fellowship 

programs in infectious diseases and in allergy and 

immunology These programs aim to develop clinical 

and basic research skills in physicians who are wellgrounded in clinical medicine and are pursuing a career in 

biomedical research

Before beginning a fellowship, applicants must have completed 

three years of residency training in an approved internal medicine 

program (or in pediatrics for the allergy and immunology training 

program) in the United States or Canada Qualified individuals 

may apply for a student loan repayment program that currently 

repays up to $35,000 per year of eligible student debt

The three-year NIAID programs consist of one year of clinical 

responsibilities and two years in research All trainees spend 

up to six months of the first year caring for patients at the NIH 

Clinical Center All NIAID patients participate in research protocols 

conducted by DIR investigators

Patients enter the Clinical Center with various diseases, including 

the following: 

n Autoimmune diseases 

n Genetic and acquired immunodeficiencies 

n Disorders of neutrophil and monocyte function 

n Severe, acute, and chronic viral infections, including herpes 

simplex, Epstein-Barr virus, and HIV 

n Eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases 

n Hypereosinophilic syndromes 

n Allergic diseases, including asthma, anaphylaxis, and mast cell 

disorders 

n Parasitic diseases 

n Mycoses 

During the remainder of clinical training, fellows join traditional 

consultation services and didactic rotations at NIH and other 

medical institutions in the surrounding area Following clinical 

training, fellows conduct research in any one of the intramural 

laboratories at NIAID or in other NIH laboratories or programs

2013 – 2014 Opportunities 9
How to Apply 

Applicants to the allergy and immunology 

and infectious diseases training programs 

should follow the instructions in ERAS at 

www.aamc.org/students/eras/start.htm. 

In addition to what is included in the application package, DIR requests the following: 

n A personal statement describing the 

program to which you wish to apply, your 

background, your research interests, your 

career goals, and the special training or 

experience you are seeking at NIH 

n Copies of your medical school/graduate 

school transcripts 

Allergy and Immunology 

Training Program 

Candidates should apply for the program 

12 months prior to entry in July The application deadline in ERAS is September 15

Applicants must be on track to complete 

an ACGME-approved residency in internal 

medicine or pediatrics at the time they enter 

the program Interviews are held between 

November and April

Kelly D Stone, M D , Ph D , Director 

Allergy and Immunology Training Program 

10 Center Drive, MSC 1899, 

Room 12C103 

Bethesda, MD 20892-1899 

301-435-0993 

301-480-5757 (fax) 

stonek@niaid.nih.gov

Infectious Diseases 

Training Program

Applications are accepted only via ERAS

The program participates in the National 

Resident Matching Program Interviews are 

held from September to October prior to 

the match Programs and applicants to the 

match submit final selections in the fall of the 

year prior to the start date of the fellowship 

Ericka Thomas, Program Coordinator 

Infectious Diseases Training Program 

10 Center Drive, MSC 1899,

Room 12C103

Bethesda, MD 20892

301-496-3461

301-402-0050 (fax)

thomaser@niaid.nih.gov

Allergy and Immunology Training Program 

The Allergy and Immunology Training Program is designed to 

train fellows in the care of children and adults with immunologic 

diseases, including allergy, immunodeficiency, and autoimmune 

diseases Fellows have a well-rounded clinical experience in 

their first year of training and subsequently develop a research 

program to advance the care of these patients

The program accepts applications from residents in internal 

medicine or pediatrics who have completed training in the 

United States or Canada and who are not J-1 visa holders H-1 

visa holders may apply Applications for the program are made 

through the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS), 

and the program participates in the National Resident Matching 

Program

Trainees who wish to become board-eligible in allergy and 

immunology are required to do the following: 

n Complete inpatient and outpatient rotations at the NIH Clinical 

Center, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, the Johns 

Hopkins Hospital, and Children’s National Medical Center 

during their first year of training

n Participate in monthly continuity clinics during their second year 

of training

n Provide allergy and immunology consultation to the NIH Clinical 

Center

n Attend the core basic and clinical immunology conferences and 

case conferences of the training program

n Attend monthly journal clubs

n Take American Board of Allergy and Immunology certification 

preparatory courses

Infectious Diseases Training Program 

The Infectious Diseases Training Program accepts applications 

from residents in internal medicine who have completed training in 

the United States or Canada and who are not J-1 visa holders H-1 

visa holders may apply

Three years of residency training are required Applicants who 

wish to pursue the ABIM Research Pathway, and who have the 

approval of the director of their respective internal medicine 

residency program, may apply for a fellowship to begin after 

two years of residency Applicants accepted under the ABIM 

Research Pathway must spend four years in fellowship to be 

eligible for certification in both internal medicine and infectious 

diseases

The first year of the training program is entirely clinical and 

comprises 11 months of rotations at NIH and five outside sites

In addition to the NIH Clinical Center, fellows rotate at Johns 

10 Clinical Training Opportunities
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 11

Hopkins Hospital, George Washington University Medical Center, 

Georgetown University Medical Center, and Washington Hospital 

Center Fellows also rotate on the NIAID Inpatient Ward and 

spend two to three weeks at a private-practice infectious diseases 

clinic Fellows receive formal and informal training in hospital 

epidemiology and diagnostic microbiology

Fellows are required to attend a weekly continuity clinic and 

participate in teaching conferences during the first two years of 

the training program Fellows take the IDSA Infectious Diseases 

In-Training Examination during their first and second years and 

are eligible to take the Infectious Diseases Board Examination in 

their third year (fourth year for ABIM Research Pathway fellows)

NIAID Transition Program in Clinical Research

The NIAID Transition Program in Clinical Research provides 

opportunities for physicians to gain clinical and translational 

research experience in association with a DIR laboratory

NIAID conducts a national search to identify participants for 

this program Participants are appointed as assistant clinical 

investigators Applicants must have an M D or an M D /Ph D , be 

board-eligible or board-certified in a subspecialty (or equivalent), 

and qualify for credentialing from the NIH Clinical Center

Candidates may choose the laboratory in which they will 

carry out their program, contingent upon approval from the 

lab chief and the DIR Director Appointments are for three to 

five years; accepted participants will be reviewed throughout 

their appointments by a committee composed of DIR senior 

investigators with clinical research interests Participants also will 

be paired with a senior clinical investigator who will serve as a 

mentor

The application package must include a curriculum vitae/

bibliography, three letters of reference sent directly from the 

referee to NIAID, a two-page research proposal, and a letter of 

support from the accepting NIAID lab chief Submit application 

materials to the following address: NIAIDDIRSearch@niaid.nih.

gov.

For questions about the program, contact Karyl S Barron, M D , 

at kbarron@niaid.nih.gov. 

Competitive candidates will be asked to present their research 

accomplishments and plans to the search committee Visit 

www.niaid.nih.gov/about/organization/dir/pages/

clinicalresearchtransition.aspx for more information

Selection Process 

Candidates are selected for interviews on 

the basis of their clinical and/or research 

credentials and research interests Interview 

visits to the NIH campus are designed 

to introduce potential trainees to NIH 

preceptors and to provide the candidates 

with the opportunity to explore the nature of 

the research they might conduct A selected 

candidate is offered a position that may be 

based on a number of funding mechanisms, 

depending on availability of funding, the 

type of research to be conducted, and the 

qualifications of the candidate
Loan Repayment Programs 

F

ellows accepted into the infectious diseases or allergy 

and immunology training program and who have 

substantial student loans are eligible to apply for loan 

repayment There are competitive and noncompetitive 

repayment programs

General Research Loan Repayment Program 

The NIH General Research Loan Repayment Program (General 

LRP), authorized by Congress in 1993, was established to attract 

highly qualified professionals, particularly physicians, to conduct 

research at NIH Unlike previously authorized LRPs that targeted 

specific areas or types of research, such as AIDS or clinical 

research, this program supports research in a variety of scientific 

disciplines

The General LRP may repay up to a maximum of $35,000 per 

year toward participants’ outstanding eligible education loans

In return, participants must sign a contract agreeing to conduct 

qualified research activities as NIH employees for a minimum of 

three years Continuation contracts for additional years may be 

entered

In addition, fellows employed by NIH in subspecialty and 

residency training programs accredited by ACGME are eligible 

for $17,000 in loan repayment plus tax reimbursement

AIDS Research Loan Repayment Program 

AIDS research at NIAID encompasses work on the etiological 

agent, pathogenesis, therapeutics, vaccine development, 

cofactors predisposing to HIV infection and AIDS, and 

epidemiology and natural history of HIV infection AIDS research 

will continue to require dedicated, well-trained basic and clinical 

scientists This loan repayment program was instituted to permit 

qualified postdoctoral physicians and scientists to enter this area 

of research In exchange for loan repayment benefits, researchers 

must agree to participate in AIDS research for a minimum of two 

years Continuation contracts for additional years may be entered

12 Loan Repayment Programs 

Fellows accepted into the 

infectious diseases or allergy 

and immunology training 

program and who have 

substantial student loans 

are eligible to apply for 

loan repayment.

“

“
Quick Reference 

NIH Loan Repayment Programs 

866-849-4047 

www.lrp.nih.gov

2013 – 2014 Opportunities 13

Clinical Research Loan Repayment 

Program for Individuals from 

Disadvantaged Backgrounds 

The NIH Clinical Research Loan Repayment Program (CR-LRP) 

is designed to recruit highly qualified health professionals from 

disadvantaged backgrounds to serve as clinical researchers

Eligibility requirements for the CR-LRP are the same as those 

for the other LRPs, with two additional criteria: 1) You must be 

from a disadvantaged background, and 2) You must be awarded 

clinical privileges by the Clinical Center Medical Board or other 

credentialing board upon NIH employment

An individual from a disadvantaged background is defined as 

one who comes from a family with an income below low-income 

thresholds or from an environment that inhibited (but did not 

prevent) him or her from obtaining the knowledge, skill, and 

ability required to enroll in and graduate from a health professions 

school The income level considers family size and Bureau of 

the Census statistics, with annual adjustments for changes 

in the Consumer Price Index The Department of Health and 

Human Services adjusts this level for use in all health professions 

programs and publishes this information periodically in the 

Federal Register

General Requirements for Loan Repayment 

Programs

n You must be a U S citizen, U S national, or permanent resident 

of the United States

n You must have a health professional doctoral degree (Ph D , 

M D , D O , D D S , D M D , Pharm D , or equivalent doctoral 

level degree) or a PA , B S N , or A D N degree from an 

accredited institution

n You must have qualifying educational debt in excess of 20 

percent of your annual NIH base salary on the expected date 

of program eligibility
Tenure and Tenure Track at NIAID 

T

he primary purpose of an NIH fellowship is to provide timelimited research training, clinical training, and/or career 

development opportunities to postdoctoral scientists At 

the end of the training period, the majority of fellows will 

leave NIH to pursue careers at institutions in the United States 

or abroad Longer appointment positions may be available 

through tenure-track or tenured positions Opportunities for such 

appointments arise when research in a specific area is needed to 

fulfill the NIAID mission

Tenure at NIAID consists of a permanent position and a long-term 

commitment of salary, personnel, and the research resources 

needed to conduct an independent research program within the 

scope of the NIAID mission Scientists at NIAID obtain tenure 

in one of two ways: 1) The scientist is recruited from a national 

search for a tenured position after compiling an extensive 

research record at another institution or at NIH, or 2) The 

scientist successfully competes for and completes a tenure-track 

appointment at NIAID and is advanced to tenure

Following nationwide recruitment efforts, candidates for both 

tenured and tenure-track positions are selected by a search 

committee and a recommending official and approved by the NIH 

Deputy Director of Intramural Research While traditional tenure 

and tenure-track positions are created by the hiring laboratory, 

DIR’s new Clinical Tenure-Track Program will periodically conduct 

searches for outstanding clinical researchers Selected clinical 

tenure-track candidates are then matched to an NIAID laboratory

Tenure-track investigators in basic research are given seven 

years to establish themselves as independent scientists before 

being evaluated for tenure; clinical tenure-track candidates 

are given up to nine years At the midpoint, the NIAID Board of 

Scientific Counselors (BSC) reviews the candidate’s and the lab’s 

performance and qualifications for tenure and decides whether 

the candidate should continue in tenure track or advance for an 

accelerated tenure decision The BSC reviews the candidate’s 

performance again at the completion of the tenure-track period 

and decides if the candidate should be recommended for tenure

If a candidate is recommended for tenure by the BSC and the 

NIAID Promotion and Tenure Committee or by a search committee, 

and if the DIR Director concurs, the request is forwarded for 

approval to the NIH Central Tenure Committee, which is chaired 

by the NIH Deputy Director for Intramural Research

14 Tenure and Tenure Track at NIAID
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 15

Timeline for Nontenured Staff 

T

he initial fellowship appointment is for a period of two to 

three years This may be renewed at the request of the 

host laboratory, if it is mutually beneficial to do so It is 

the usual policy of NIH that postdoctoral trainees should 

not remain at NIH for more than five years The overall limitation 

is eight years, regardless of appointment mechanism, unless the 

postdoctoral trainee is approved for tenure track or a permanent 

appointment

15

DIR Laboratories and Branches
18 Comparative Medicine Branch

Research Support Activities 

The Comparative Medicine Branch (CMB) assists NIAID’s intramural scientists by ensuring that the 

animals they use receive high-quality care, thereby limiting the impact of these factors on their research 

The Laboratory Animal Medicine Section and Laboratory Animal Sciences Section provide guidance 

to the Institute’s intramural scientists who use animals in research projects Support functions include 

the following:

n Managing containment facilities for infectious 

disease research performed at animal biosafety 

levels 1-3 

n Assisting with the development, annual review, 

and renewal of animal study proposals 

n Purchasing animals 

n Importing and exporting animals to and from

locations throughout the world 

n Overseeing intramural contracts and interand intra-agency agreements involving animals 

CMB’s Infectious Disease Pathogenesis Section provides necropsy, histopathology, and analytic 

pathology support The section members include a pathologist specializing in infectious diseases and 

histotechnologists with expertise in immunohistochemistry In addition to routine support, the section 

provides digital scanning of stained slides, training in necropsy and sample collection, and assistance in 

experiment design

CMB’s Assisted Reproduction Technology, Cryopreservation Unit provides embryo rederivation; embryo, 

sperm, and ovarian cryopreservation; in vitro fertilization; and embryo manipulation-microinjection 

(transgenic production, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and recombinant embryonic stem cells)

CMB maintains a gnotobiotic animal facility: 12 bio-exclusion units designed to keep mice from 

becoming colonized with any adventitious microorganisms Breeding colonies and mice on study are 

maintained in semi-rigid isolators provided with HEPA-filtered air and autoclaved food, bedding, and 

supplies Strict standard operating procedures are followed to maintain the mice in a germ-free state

Projects are approved by a Gnotobiotic Users Committee

Randy Elkins, D V M ; Diplomate, 

ACLAM; Chief 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/cmb 

301-496-0560 

Comparative Medicine Branch

n Diagnosing, characterizing, and treating 

diseases

n Controlling adventitious infectious agents 

n Selecting and properly administering 

anesthetics and analgesics 

n Overseeing the construction and renovation of 

animal facilities and assisting with planning for 

future animal-related requirements

n Tracking animal cage information through an 

interactive website
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 19

Dr Elkins obtained his D V M in 1974 from the University of Missouri, 

College of Veterinary Medicine He completed a one-year internship 

in large animal surgery at the University of California, School of 

Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital Following 

several years of clinical practice in California, he completed a residency 

in comparative pathology at the U S Army Medical Research Institute of 

Infectious Diseases in Frederick, Maryland

He joined the NIAID Laboratory of Infectious Diseases as a senior staff 

veterinarian in 1992 and was promoted to head of its Experimental Primate 

Virology Section in 1997 In 2000, Dr Elkins was appointed DIR Associate 

Director for Nonhuman Primate Research and, in 2001, DIR Associate 

Director for Laboratory Animal Resources and Animal Program Director He 

became specialty board-certified by the American College of Laboratory 

Animal Medicine in 1996

Randy Elkins, D V M ; Diplomate, ACLAM 

Associate Director for Laboratory Animal 

Resources, DIR

Director, Animal Program, DIR 

Chief, Comparative Medicine Branch 

Chief, Infectious Disease Pathogenesis Section, CMB

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/cmb

relkins@niaid.nih.gov 

Major Areas of Research 

n Biostability of research models 

and issues related to animal 

welfare 

n Adventitious infections and 

inherent disease conditions of 

laboratory animals 

n Nonhuman primate-modeled 

infectious diseases and vaccine 

development support
20 Cytokine Biology Section

Research Activities 

The Cytokine Biology Section (CBS) conducts basic and 

translational research on human interferons (IFNs) Our 

studies examine the structure and function of human 

IFN-alphas using a variety of methods, including protein 

engineering, gene expression microarrays, proteomics, and 

bioassays

CBS is composed of an interactive group of Ph D , M D , 

and interdisciplinary scientists who work in a state-of-the-art 

building The laboratory program aims at the following: 

n Identifying the structure and function of both naturally 

occurring and protein-engineered human IFN-alphas

n Examining the interaction of IFN-alpha with its receptor

n Studying the signal transduction pathways of IFN-alphas 

using gene expression microarrays and proteomics

n Studying the biological effects of IFN-alphas in cell culture 

and animal models

Kathryn C Zoon, Ph D , Chief 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/cytokinebiology

301-496-3006

Cytokine Biology Section
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 21

Dr Zoon obtained her B S cum laude and her Ph D in biochemistry 

from the Johns Hopkins University Her research focuses on the 

structure and function of human IFNs She is an associate editor 

of the Journal of Interferon Research and author or co-author of more than 

100 publications She was past president of the International Society for 

Interferon and Cytokine Research (2000-2001), served on the board of 

directors for the Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES) 

and the International Association of Biologicals, and was the first vice 

president of FAES

Prior to joining NIAID in June 2004, Dr Zoon was principal deputy director 

of the Center for Cancer Research at the National Cancer Institute, director 

of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research at the FDA, and a 

member of the NIH Scientific Directors She has received numerous awards 

and is a member of the Institute of Medicine

Kathryn C Zoon, Ph D

Director, DIR 

Chief, Cytokine Biology Section 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/cytokinebiology 

kzoon@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research 

n Production and characterization of 

protein-engineered human IFNs

n Interaction of Type I human IFNs 

with the Type I human IFN receptor

n Signal transduction mechanisms 

and biological activities of human 

IFNs

n The antiviral and antiproliferative 

activities of human IFNs
22 Emerging Viral Pathogens Section

Peter Jahrling, Ph D , Chief 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/

emergingViralPathogens

301-631-7201 

Emerging Viral Pathogens Section

Research Activities 

The Emerging Viral Pathogens Section (EVPS) conducts 

basic research to elucidate the pathophysiological 

processes associated with infections with viral hemorrhagic 

fevers and other Category A pathogens In addition to 

developing animal models by using authentic microbial 

agents, EVPS develops treatment strategies that include 

vaccines, antimicrobials, immunoprophylaxis, and inhibitors 

of the coagulation cascade and cytokine storm to reverse 

the consequences of viral infection Pathogen discovery also 

is a component of EVPS activities

Countermeasure development and improved medical 

outcomes are the objectives of this research initiative

Generic solutions to broad classes of microbial agents 

should emerge from an understanding of disease processes

Thus, EVPS will assess a broad spectrum of diseases, 

including newly discovered pathogens, for commonalities 

amenable to generic intervention strategies
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 23

Dr Jahrling received his Ph D in medical microbiology from Cornell 

Medical College Upon graduation, he served as an Army officer 

at the U S Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases 

(USAMRIID) where he specialized in viral hemorrhagic fevers requiring 

biosafety level-4 containment After fulfillment of his military obligation, Dr

Jahrling converted to civilian status and was eventually appointed scientific 

advisor for USAMRIID In 2005, Dr Jahrling accepted appointments as chief 

scientist of the NIAID Integrated Research Facility in Frederick, Maryland, 

and chief of the Emerging Viral Pathogens Section

Peter Jahrling, Ph D

Chief, Emerging Viral Pathogens Section 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/

emergingViralPathogens 

jahrlingp@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research 

n Development of animal models for 

human diseases involving Category A 

viral pathogens

n Evaluation of immunization strategies 

and therapeutic interventions 

based on antiviral drugs, passive 

immunization, and targeted reversal of 

pathophysiological processes

n Isolation and characterization of viral 

agents associated with previously 

uncharacterized diseases
24 Laboratory of Allergic Diseases

Research Activities 

The Laboratory of Allergic Diseases (LAD) conducts basic 

and clinical research on immunologic diseases, with an 

emphasis on disorders of immediate hypersensitivity LAD 

is composed of an interactive group of Ph D s , M D s , 

research nurses, technicians, and administrative staff, who 

work in contemporary laboratories adjacent to NIAID’s clinical 

facilities

Scientific personnel are engaged in basic and translational 

research aimed at elucidating events in mast-cell-dependent, 

IgE-mediated allergic inflammatory reactions, including 

anaphylaxis, eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases, and 

systemic mast cell disorders Studies are focused on the role 

of mast cells, basophils, eosinophils, and T lymphocytes and 

their cytokines Research objectives include the following:

n Study the growth, differentiation, and activation of mast 

cells, basophils, and eosinophils

n Elucidate signal transduction pathways in inflammation

n Understand the biological manifestations of effector-cell 

activation in tissues

n Perform clinical/translational research directed at 

understanding the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation

n Find novel immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory 

approaches to the treatment of allergic and immunologic 

disorders

Dean D Metcalfe, M D , Chief 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lad

301-496-2165 

Sections and Units 

Mast Cell Biology Section 

Dean D. Metcalfe, M.D. 

Molecular Signal Transduction Section 

Kirk M. Druey, M.D. 

Allergic Inflammation Unit

Joshua D. Milner, M.D.

Inflammation Immunobiology Section

Helene F. Rosenberg, M.D., Ph.D. 

Laboratory of Allergic Diseases
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 25

Dr Metcalfe received his M D at the University of Tennessee and an 

M S in microbiology at the University of Michigan, where he also 

did a residency in internal medicine Dr Metcalfe then trained in 

allergy and immunology during a fellowship at NIAID, followed by training in 

rheumatology while a fellow in immunology at the Robert Brigham Hospital 

in Boston In 1995, he was appointed as the first chief of the newly created 

Laboratory of Allergic Diseases at NIAID He is a past president of the 

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) and a 

past chair of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology Dr Metcalfe is 

a fellow of AAAAI and a member of the Association of American Physicians, 

Collegium Internationale Allergologicum, and American Clinical and 

Climatological Association

Dean D Metcalfe, M D

Chief, Laboratory of Allergic Diseases 

Chief, Mast Cell Biology Section, LAD 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lad/

mastCellBiologySection 

dmetcalfe@niaid.nih.gov 

Major Areas of Research 

n Identification of mutations and polymorphisms in human disease that 

affect the mast cell compartment

n Characterization of key signaling 

pathways in human mast cells that 

control mast cell responses

n Application of this information to 

the diagnosis and treatment of 

anaphylaxis and other allergic and 

immunologic diseases

Dr Druey obtained his M D from Rush Medical College in Chicago

In 1992, following a residency in internal medicine at the New York 

Hospital/Cornell Medical Center, Dr Druey became a postdoctoral 

fellow in the NIAID Laboratory of Immunoregulation He joined the Laboratory of Allergic Diseases in 1997 to become chief of the Molecular Signal 

Transduction Section

Kirk M Druey, M D

Chief, Molecular Signal Transduction Section, LAD 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lad/

molecularSignalTransductionSection

kdruey@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research 

n Basic signaling mechanisms of 

G-protein-coupled receptors 

(GPCRs)

n Leukocyte trafficking in allergic 

inflammation

n GPCR-induced bronchial 

contraction/relaxation

n Systemic capillary leak syndrome
26 Laboratory of Allergic Diseases

Dr Milner graduated with an S B in biology from the Massachusetts 

Institute of Technology in 1995 and an M D with distinction in 

immunology from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 2000

He was the recipient of the Pediatric Scientist Development Program 

Fellowship and did his fellowship in allergy and immunology at NIAID He 

completed a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr William Paul, examining issues 

of mouse T-cell receptor repertoires He was in the NIAID Clinical Research 

Transition Program immediately prior to being named chief of the Allergic 

Inflammation Unit as a clinical tenure-track investigator

Joshua D Milner, M D

Chief, Allergic Inflammation Unit, LAD

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lad/

allergicInflammation

jdmilner@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Investigation of defects in T-cell 

receptor signaling and repertoires

n Clinical and pathophysiologic 

analysis of patients with known 

genetic diseases associated 

with atopy

n Search for novel genetic diseases 

associated with atopy

Dr Rosenberg was awarded M D and Ph D degrees from the joint 

program at the Rockefeller University and Cornell University Medical 

College in 1984 and 1985, respectively Following postdoctoral 

research at Harvard University, she joined NIH in 1991 and became a 

section chief in 2002

Helene F Rosenberg, M D , Ph D

Chief, Inflammation Immunobiology Section, LAD 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lad/

inflammationImmunobiologySection

hrosenberg@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research 

n Eosinophils, eosinophil 

ribonucleases, and their role in 

innate immune responses

n Inflammatory responses to and 

novel immunomodulatory therapies 

for severe respiratory virus infection

n Diversity and biology of eosinophil 

and other RNase A family 

ribonucleases
Xathryn C. Zoon, Ph.D.

Xirector

Xivision of Intramural 

Xesearch, NIAID

2013 – 2014 Opportunities 27

Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases

Steven M Holland, M D , Chief

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lcid

301-402-7684 

Sections and Units 

Immunopathogenesis Section

Steven M. Holland, M.D.

Antibacterial Host Defense Unit

Robert S. Munford, M.D.

Tuberculosis Research Section

Clifton E. Barry III, Ph.D.

Clinical Mycology Section

John E. Bennett, M.D.

Bacterial Pathogenesis Unit

Sandip Datta, M.D.

Molecular Microbiology Section

Kyung (June) Kwon-Chung, Ph.D.

Fungal Pathogenesis Unit

Michail S. Lionakis, M.D., Sc.D.

Translational Mycology Unit

Peter Williamson, M.D., Ph.D.

Research Activities 

The Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases (LCID) 

conducts clinical and basic studies of important human 

infectious and immunologic diseases Sections of the 

laboratory focus on mycobacterial, bacterial, and fungal 

infections, as well as the acquired and congenital immune 

disorders associated with infection susceptibility and 

resistance The program integrates clinical, cellular, and 

molecular investigation, including animal models and human 

natural history and therapeutic trials

The defining feature of LCID is the focus on patients to 

develop a comprehensive understanding of natural history, 

pathogenesis, pathophysiology, and management of 

diseases

Training of physicians and scientists is central to the LCID 

mission The NIAID Infectious Diseases Training Program 

and the NIH Clinical Center Infectious Disease Consultation 

Service are located in LCID and are involved in all aspects 

of clinical and laboratory activities The integration of these 

programs into LCID is critical to the reciprocal education of 

basic scientists and clinical fellows alike

The major themes of the laboratory center on infections that 

are recurrent or chronic, as these provide insight into both 

host and pathogen
28

Robert S Munford, M D

Senior Clinician and Deputy Chief, Laboratory of 

Clinical Infectious Diseases

Chief, Antibacterial Host Defense Unit, LCID

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lcid/AHDS

munfordrs@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Immune defects of phagocytes: 

GATA2 deficiency, nontuberculous 

mycobacterial infections, chronic 

granulomatous disease, hyper IgE 

syndrome, leukocyte adhesion 

deficiency

n Cytokines and their receptors in 

pathogenesis and therapy 

n Susceptibility to disseminated 

mycobacterial infections

n Mechanisms of mycobacterial 

pathogenesis

n Mechanisms of airway dysfunction 

leading to mycobacterial and fungal 

infection

Dr Holland received his M D from the Johns Hopkins University 

School of Medicine in 1983, where he stayed as a resident in 

internal medicine, assistant chief of service in medicine, and fellow 

in infectious diseases He came to NIH in 1989 as a National Research 

Council fellow in the Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, working on 

transcriptional regulation of HIV In 1991, Dr Holland joined the Laboratory 

of Host Defenses, shifting his research to the host side, with a focus on 

phagocyte defects and their associated infections His work centered on 

the pathogenesis and management of chronic granulomatous disease, as 

well as other congenital immune defects affecting phagocytes, including 

those predisposing to mycobacterial diseases In 2004, he became chief 

of LCID

Steven M Holland, M D

Chief, Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases

Chief, Immunopathogenesis Section, LCID

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lcid/immunopathSec

smh@nih.gov

Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases

Major Areas of Research

n Immunosuppression after LPS 

exposure in animals 

n How human cells regulate the 

production of acyloxyacyl hydrolase

n How LPS and other molecules 

induce macrophages to accumulate 

and retain triglycerides 

n How triglyceride retention contributes 

to pathological outcomes 

Dr Munford received his B A in history from Vanderbilt University 

and his M A in animal physiology from Oxford University before 

attending Harvard Medical School After training in internal 

medicine at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, he served as an 

epidemic intelligence officer at the CDC, did postdoctoral research at the 

Rockefeller University, and completed an infectious disease fellowship at 

Massachusetts General Hospital He worked for many years as a physicianscientist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas 

before moving to NIH in 2009 His interest in bacterial lipopolysaccharides 

(LPS) began when he investigated an outbreak of meningococcal disease 

in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1972 His lab’s major research goal has been to 

understand how animals inactivate these highly stimulatory molecules
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 29

Dr Barry received his Ph D in organic and bio-organic chemistry in 

1989 from Cornell University He joined NIAID following postdoctoral 

research at Johns Hopkins University In 1998, he was tenured as 

chief of the Tuberculosis Research Section His multidisciplinary laboratory 

includes chemists, biologists, and clinicians dedicated to improving 

chemotherapy for tuberculosis patients Dr Barry is a member of several 

editorial boards, has authored more than 120 research publications on 

tuberculosis, and is the most cited researcher in the field, according to 

ScienceWatch

Clifton E Barry III, Ph D

Chief, Tuberculosis Research Section, LCID 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lcid/

tuberculosisresearchsection 

cbarry@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Tuberculosis drug discovery 

n Mechanism of action of anti-TB 

agents 

n Drug resistance in Mycobacterium 

tuberculosis 

n Chemical biology of the interaction 

between TB and humans 

n Clinical trials of therapies in drugresistant TB patients 

n Molecular imaging of chemotherapy 

and clinical trials in TB patients 

n Advanced diagnostic solutions for TB

Dr Bennett received his B S in chemistry (cum laude) from Stanford 

University He earned his M D (Alpha Omega Alpha) from the Johns 

Hopkins University School of Medicine Dr Bennett is board-certified 

in internal medicine and infectious disease His other honors include master 

in the American College of Physicians; former president of the Infectious 

Diseases Society of America; charter president of the Greater Washington 

Infectious Diseases Society; member of the American Society for Clinical 

Investigation and the American Association of Physicians; co-editor of 

seven editions of Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases; and 

consultant to the CDC, American College of Physicians-American Society of 

Internal Medicine, U S Public Health Association, FDA, and Department of 

Defense

John E Bennett, M D

Chief, Clinical Mycology Section, LCID

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lcid/

clinicalMycologySection

jbennett@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research 

n Molecular mechanisms of azole 

resistance in Candida species

n Cryptococcosis in previously 

normal patients

n Idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia

n Clinical trials of antifungal agents
30

Major Areas of Research

n Host defense against bacteria

n Development of adaptive immunity 

after bacterial infection

n Interaction of innate and adaptive 

immune systems after bacterial 

infection

Dr Datta received his M D from the University of California, San 

Francisco, in 1996 He then completed his residency in internal 

medicine and fellowship in infectious diseases at the University of 

California, San Diego (UCSD), including postdoctoral training with Dr Eyal 

Raz Dr Datta was appointed as assistant professor of medicine at UCSD 

in 2004 In February 2008, he joined LCID as tenure-track chief of the newly 

formed Bacterial Pathogenesis Unit

Sandip K Datta, M D

Chief, Bacterial Pathogenesis Unit, LCID

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/

lcid/bacPathogenSection

dattas@niaid.nih.gov

Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases

Dr Kwon-Chung received her B S and M S in biology from Ewha 

Womans University in Seoul, South Korea, prior to receiving a 

Fulbright Scholarship to pursue her doctoral work in the bacteriology 

department at the University of Wisconsin, Madison After receiving her 

Ph D , she joined the Medical Mycology Section of the NIAID Laboratory of 

Microbiology as a visiting fellow She became a senior investigator in the 

NIAID Laboratory of Clinical Investigation in 1973 and has been the chief of 

the Molecular Microbiology Section since 1995

Kyung (June) Kwon-Chung, Ph D

Chief, Molecular Microbiology Section, LCID 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lcid/

molecularmicrobiologysection 

jkchung@niaid.nih.gov 

Major Areas of Research 

n Virulence determinants of Cryptococcus 

neoformans and Aspergillus fumigatus

n Mechanism by which C. neoformans 

invades the brain

n Mechanism by which cryptococci adapt 

to the brain environment and produce 

fulminating disease

n Signaling mechanism involved in the 

cryptococcal invasion of human brain 

microvascular endothelial cells

n Relationship between cryptococcal 

adaptation to azole drugs and azole 

therapy failure

n Identification of genes differentially 

expressed in spores and hyphae upon 

exposure to human neutrophils

n Construction of isogenic strains for 

genetic analysis

n Pathogenic difference between A. 

fumigatus and A. nidulans in chronic 

granulomatous disease patients
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 31

Michail S Lionakis, M D , Sc D

Chief, Fungal Pathogenesis Unit, LCID

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lcid/

fungalPathogenesis

lionakism@mail.nih.gov

Dr Lionakis obtained his M D and Sc D from the University of Crete in 

Greece In 2002, he worked as a research fellow at the University of 

Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) under the mentorship 

of Dimitrios Kontoyiannis After completing his clinical training in internal 

medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and in infectious diseases at NIAID, 

Dr Lionakis joined the Laboratory of Molecular Immunology (LMI) in 2008 

and began work on fungal immunology under the mentorship of Dr Philip 

Murphy In 2010, he was recruited as an assistant clinical investigator in 

the NIAID Transition Program in Clinical Research and established the LMI 

Clinical Mycology Unit In 2012, Dr Lionakis was recruited as a tenuretrack investigator and established the Fungal Pathogenesis Unit within the 

Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases

Major Areas of Research

n Role of chemotactic factors in host 

defense against invasive candidiasis

n Role of innate immune cells in 

antifungal host defense 

n Genetic susceptibility to infection in 

mice and patients with candidiasis

n Organ-specific immunity in invasive 

candidiasis

n Susceptibility to chronic mucocutaneous 

candidiasis in patients with autoimmune 

polyendocrinopathy-candidiasisectodermal dystrophy syndrome

Dr Williamson received his M D /Ph D from Boston University in 1987 

and completed a residency in internal medicine at Georgetown 

University before coming to NIH for a fellowship in infectious 

diseases In 1995, Dr Williamson joined the faculty at the University of 

Illinois at Chicago as an assistant professor of medicine in the section of 

infectious diseases After progressing to the rank of professor of medicine, 

pathology, microbiology, and immunology, Dr Williamson returned to NIH to 

head the Translational Mycology Unit in the Laboratory of Clinical Infectious 

Diseases

Peter Williamson, M D , Ph D

Chief, Translational Mycology Unit, LCID

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lcid/

TranslationalMycology

peter.williamson2@nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Cryptococcus in meningeal infections 

n Regulation of autophagy by Cryptococcus

in latent and active infections

n TOR-dependent regulation of autophagicassociated phagocytosis in macrophages

n Genetic susceptibility to infections by 

Cryptococcus and Candida albicans

n Transcriptional profiling of primary 

immune deficiencies and autoimmune 

diseases

n Early markers of cryptococcal disease 

and immune reconstitution syndrome 
32 Laboratory of Host Defenses

Research Activities 

The Laboratory of Host Defenses (LHD) studies the immune 

functions essential for host defense against infection LHD 

also studies the genetics and pathophysiology of inherited 

primary immune deficiencies These abnormalities may be 

associated with recurrent infections and/or dysfunctions of 

immune homeostasis, which the lab investigates in clinical 

protocols

LHD clinical investigations aim to develop new diagnostic 

and therapeutic approaches to the management or 

correction of immune dysfunction in patients These 

investigations include the following:

n Discovery of the gene mutations causing primary immune 

deficiencies and autoimmune disorders

n Detection and treatment of associated infections

n Determination of the basis for excessive inflammation and 

associated autoimmune symptoms

n Use of cytokines, monoclonal antibodies, gene transfer 

technologies, and other therapeutics to modify or 

correct immune function, prevent infection, and reduce 

inflammation

n Application of gene therapy and allogeneic or autologous 

stem cell and immune cell transplantation for the 

correction of disorders of immune function

Harry L Malech, M D , Chief 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lhd

301-480-6916 

Sections and Units 

Genetic Immunotherapy Section 

Harry L. Malech, M.D. 

Clinical Pathophysiology Section

John I. Gallin, M.D.

Molecular Defenses Section

Thomas L. Leto, Ph.D.

Mucosal Immunity Section

Warren Strober, M.D 

Human Immunological Diseases Unit

Helen C. Su, M.D., Ph.D.

Laboratory of Host Defenses
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 33

Dr Malech received his medical degree from Yale University in 

1972 He completed clinical residency training at the University of 

Pennsylvania, followed by basic research postdoctoral fellowship 

training at NIH After completing clinical fellowship training in infectious 

diseases at Yale, he remained there as an assistant and then associate 

professor until 1986 He then returned to NIH as a senior investigator

He currently is chief of the Laboratory of Host Defenses and its Genetic 

Immunotherapy Section 

Harry Malech, M D

Chief, Laboratory of Host Defenses 

Chief, Genetic Immunotherapy Section, LHD 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lhd/

geneticImmunotherapySection

hmalech@nih.gov

Dr Gallin received his medical training at Cornell University Medical 

College, followed by residency in internal medicine at Bellevue 

Hospital in New York City In 1971, he first came to NIH as a clinical 

associate In 1974, he served as senior chief resident in medicine at Bellevue 

Hospital before returning to NIH in 1976 as a senior investigator Dr Gallin 

has served as scientific director of the NIAID intramural research program 

(1985–1994) and as chief of the Laboratory of Host Defenses (1991–2003)

Since 1994, Dr Gallin has been director of the NIH Clinical Center Dr

Gallin is a master of the American College of Physicians and a member of 

the Association of American Physicians, the American Society of Clinical 

Investigation, the American Association of Immunologists, and the Institute of 

Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences

John I Gallin, M D 

Director, NIH Clinical Center

Chief, Clinical Pathophysiology Section, LHD 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lhd/

clinicalPathophysiologySection

jgallin@cc.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research 

n Inflammation 

n Phagocyte dysfunction

Major Areas of Research 

n Gene therapy using ex vivo

transduction of autologous CD34+ 

hematopoietic stem cells

n Allogeneic transplantation using 

hematopoietic stem cell grafts

n Chronic granulomatous disease

n X-linked severe combined immune 

deficiency

n Leukocyte adhesion deficiency

n WHIM syndrome

n Acute and chronic graft-versus-host 

disease

n Biology of engraftment of 

hematopoietic stem cells and the role 

of the CXCR4 chemokine receptor

n Excessive inflammation and 

associated autoimmune symptoms 

with primary immune deficiencies

n Induced pluripotent stem cells used 

to model human immune deficiencies 

and for development of novel treatments
Thomas L Leto, Ph D

Chief, Molecular Defenses Section, LHD

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lhd/

molecularDefensesSection 

tleto@nih.gov

Warren Strober, M D

Chief, Mucosal Immunity Section, LHD 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lhd/

mucosalImmunitySection

wstrober@niaid.nih.gov

34 Laboratory of Host Defenses

Dr Leto received his Ph D in biochemistry from the University of 

Virginia for studies on mechanisms of cell membrane assembly

He followed this work with postdoctoral studies at Yale University 

on membrane cytoskeleton interactions Dr Leto joined NIAID in 1988 and 

became a senior investigator in the Laboratory of Host Defenses in 1996

Major Areas of Research 

n Nox family NADPH oxidases

n Reactive oxygen-dependent 

innate immune mechanisms in 

phagocytic cells and on mucosal 

surfaces

n Role of reactive oxygen in health 

and disease

Dr Strober obtained his medical degree from the University of 

Rochester and completed an internship and residency at Strong 

Memorial Hospital He has served as the deputy scientific director 

of NIAID and as the interim scientific director of the National Institute of 

Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Dr Strober is the recipient 

of numerous awards, including the Distinguished Achievement Award of 

the American Gastroenterological Association and the U S Public Health 

Service Distinguished Achievement Medal He has served as chair of the 

American Board of Allergy and Immunology and as president of the Society 

for Mucosal Immunity

Major Areas of Research 

n Basic studies of mucosal immunity, 

mucosal inflammation, and 

inflammatory bowel diseases

n Studies of immunodeficiency 

such as common variable 

immunodeficiency and hyper-IgM 

syndrome

n Studies of the immunobiology of 

interleukin 12 

n Studies of innate immunity in the 

mucosal immune system
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 35

Dr Su received her M D and Ph D from Brown University She 

completed training in pediatrics at St Louis Children’s Hospital, 

Washington University, and subspecialty training in allergy and 

immunology at NIAID After postdoctoral training with Dr Michael Lenardo 

in the NIAID Laboratory of Immunology, she joined the Laboratory of Host 

Defenses in 2007 as a tenure-track clinical investigator

Major Areas of Research 

n Defining the molecular 

mechanisms of new inherited 

human immunological diseases

n Understanding DOCK8 function in 

health and disease

Helen Su, M D , Ph D

Chief, Human Immunological Diseases Unit, LHD

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lhd/

humanImmunologicalDiseasesUnit

hsu@niaid.nih.gov
36

Frank R DeLeo, Ph D , Acting Chief 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lhbp

406-363-9448

Sections and Units 

Pathogen-Host Cell Biology Section

Frank R. DeLeo, Ph.D.

Pathogen Molecular Genetics Section

Michael Otto, Ph.D.

Laboratory of Human Bacterial Pathogenesis

Research Activities 

The Laboratory of Human Bacterial Pathogenesis (LHBP) 

studies the molecular basis of human bacterial pathogenesis 

in its broadest sense Research projects currently focus on 

Staphylococcus-host interactions, with special emphasis 

on the virulence mechanisms of community-associated 

methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

LHBP scientists study mechanisms of staphylococcal 

virulence, innate immune responses to pathogenic bacteria, 

and the role of neutrophils in host defense In addition, 

mechanisms of immune evasion, such as the formation 

of biofilms, are a major area of investigation Genomewide strategies are used, such as high-throughput DNA 

sequencing and expression-array analysis LHBP goals are 

as follows:

n Understand the fundamental molecular mechanisms of 

bacterial pathogen-host interactions

n Develop new strategies to control bacterial infections

n Identify host genetic factors influencing disease character

n Define the cell biology of pathogen-host interactions

Laboratory of Human Bacterial Pathogenesis
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 37

Dr DeLeo received his Ph D in microbiology from Montana State 

University in 1996, studying the molecular basis of superoxide 

generation by human neutrophils He did his postdoctoral training 

in the area of innate immunity and infectious disease in the department of 

medicine at the University of Iowa (1996-2000) Dr DeLeo joined the staff 

at NIAID’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories in 2000 He currently serves on the 

editorial boards of Infection and Immunity, Apoptosis, and PLoS Pathogens.

Frank R DeLeo, Ph D

Acting Chief, Laboratory of Human Bacterial Pathogenesis 

Chief, Pathogen-Host Cell Biology Section, LHBP

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lhbp/

pathogenhostcellbiologysection

fdeleo@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research 

n Neutrophil biology and function

n Interaction of MRSA and human 

neutrophils

n Staphylococcus aureus virulence 

mechanisms

n Clinically related research 

performed in collaboration with DIR 

laboratories in Bethesda, Maryland

Dr Otto received his M S in biochemistry in 1993 from the 

University of Tuebingen, Germany In 1998, he earned his Ph D

in microbiology from the same institution Dr Otto joined the 

Laboratory of Human Bacterial Pathogenesis in July 2001 as a principal 

investigator In 2008, he became a tenured senior investigator and moved 

his laboratory to the NIH Bethesda campus

Major Areas of Research 

n Physiology of staphylococcal 

biofilms and biofilm-associated 

infection

n Molecular basis of immune evasion 

mechanisms in staphylococci: 

exopolymers, proteases, toxins, 

antimicrobial peptide resistance

n Community- and hospitalassociated MRSA: virulence 

determinants and epidemiology

n Gene regulatory processes during 

pathogen-host interaction

Michael Otto, Ph D

Chief, Pathogen Molecular Genetics Section, LHBP 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lhbp/

pathogenMolecularGeneticsSection

motto@niaid.nih.gov
38 Laboratory of Immunogenetics

Susan K Pierce, Ph D , Chief

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lig

301-496-9589

Sections and Units

Lymphocyte Activation Section

Susan K. Pierce, Ph.D.

Autoimmunity and Functional Genomics Section

Silvia Bolland, Ph.D.

Receptor Cell Biology Section

John E. Coligan, Ph.D. 

Malaria Infection Biology and Immunity Unit

Peter D. Crompton, M.D., M.P.H

Chemotaxis Signal Section

Tian Jin, Ph.D.

Molecular Pathology Section 

Victor V. Lobanenkov, Ph.D.

Molecular and Cellular Immunology Section

Eric O. Long, Ph.D.

T-Cell Tolerance and Memory Section

Polly Matzinger, Ph.D.

Virology and Cellular Immunology Section

Herbert C. Morse III, M.D.

Structural Immunology Section

Peter D. Sun, Ph.D.

Laboratory of Immunogenetics

Research Activities 

Research in the Laboratory of Immunogenetics (LIG) focuses broadly on the cellular and molecular 

mechanisms that underlie the receptor-mediated activation of immune cells LIG researchers aim to 

understand immune-cell activation in autoimmune diseases, with particular focus on systemic lupus 

erythematosus; in infectious diseases, with emphasis on malaria; and in lymphoid tumors, with a view 

toward identifying targets for the development of therapies and vaccines

Research encompasses a wide spectrum of experimental approaches, from the structural 

determination of immune-cell receptors to genetic analysis of autoimmune phenotypes, live cell 

imaging of the behavior of chemotactic receptors, and field studies in Africa Research programs 

focus on identifying genes that confer susceptibility and resistance to autoimmune disease and 

understanding how they function; determining the molecular basis of the initiation of receptor signaling 

in the activation of B cells and NK cells and in chemotaxis; understanding the structural basis of NKcell recognition of their target cells; and determining the mechanisms involved in the generation and 

maintenance of immunological memory in malaria

Laboratory members are highly interactive, creating a unique environment in which structural biology, 

molecular biology, cell biology, and infection biology interface 
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 39

Silvia Bolland, Ph D

Chief, Autoimmunity and Functional Genomics 

Section, LIG

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lig/

autoimmunityFunctionalGenomicsSection

sbolland@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Regulation of the antigen-driven 

initiation of B-cell-receptor 

signaling

n Generation and maintenance of 

immunological memory in malaria

Dr Pierce became chief of the NIAID Laboratory of Immunogenetics 

in 1999 Prior to joining NIAID, she was a member of the faculty 

at Northwestern University, where she held the Cook Chair in 

the Biological Sciences She earned her Ph D in immunology from the 

University of Pennsylvania in 1976

Susan K Pierce, Ph D

Chief, Laboratory of Immunogenetics

Chief, Lymphocyte Activation Section, LIG

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lig/

lymphocyteactivationsection

spierce@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Identification of new genetic 

modifiers of systemic autoimmune 

disease 

n Dose effect of Toll-like receptor 

genes and its role in autoimmune 

pathologies 

n Inhibitory signaling pathways 

mediated by the IgG Fc receptor 

(Fc gamma RIIB) and the 

phosphoinositol 5-phosphatase 

(SHIP) 

Dr Bolland received her Ph D in molecular biology from the University 

of Cantabria, Spain, and received postdoctoral training at Harvard 

and the Rockefeller University She joined the NIAID Laboratory 

of Immunogenetics in September 2001 She is the recipient of an S L E

Foundation Career Development Award and a Novel Research Grant Award 

from the Lupus Research Institute
40 Laboratory of Immunogenetics

Major Areas of Research

n Regulation of expression and 

function of the human NKG2D/

DAP10 and CD16 receptors 

expressed by NK and T cells 

n Understanding the biological 

processes that regulate the 

intracellular transport and release 

of NK cell cytolytic and cytokinebearing granules 

n Determination of the ligands and 

function of orphan lymphoid/

myeloid cell inhibitory receptors 

Dr Coligan received his Ph D from Indiana University and did 

postdoctoral research at the City of Hope Research Institute 

near Los Angeles After two years as an assistant professor at 

Rockefeller University, he was a founding member of the Laboratory of 

Immunogenetics He has served as head of the Biological Resources 

Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Structure In 1998, he joined the 

Laboratory of Allergic Diseases and became chief of the Receptor 

Cell Biology Section In 2007, this section moved to the Laboratory of 

Immunogenetics

John E Coligan, Ph D

Chief, Receptor Cell Biology Section, LIG

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lig/

receptorCellBiologySection 

jcoligan@niaid.nih.gov

Peter D Crompton, M D , M P H

Chief, Malaria Infection Biology and Immunity Unit, LIG

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lig/

malariainfectionbiologyandimmunology

pcrompton@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Mechanisms of naturally acquired 

immunity to malaria 

n Antibody responses to Plasmodium 

falciparum infection 

n B- and T-cell biology of 

P. falciparum infection 

n Regulation of P. falciparum-induced 

inflammation 

n Systems immunology of human 

malaria 

Dr Crompton received his M D and M P H from the Johns Hopkins 

Schools of Medicine and Public Health in 2000 He then completed 

a residency in internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital/

Harvard University before going on to a fellowship in infectious diseases at 

NIAID in 2004 After a year of clinical training at NIAID, he earned a diploma 

in tropical medicine and hygiene at the London School of Hygiene and 

Tropical Medicine before joining the NIAID Laboratory of Immunogenetics 

(LIG) in 2005 to pursue research on the human immune response to 

malaria In 2010, he became a tenure-track investigator and chief of the 

Malaria Infection Biology and Immunity Unit within LIG Dr Crompton is 

certified in internal medicine and infectious disease by the American Board 

of Internal Medicine In 2012, Dr Crompton was awarded a Presidential 

Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 41

Major Areas of Research

n Mechanisms underlying 

GPCR-mediated chemotaxis in 

Dictyostelium discoideum 

n Mechanisms involved in 

chemotaxis of immune and 

cancer cells 

Dr Jin received his B S in biology from Peking University, China, 

in 1984 and his Ph D from the department of biochemistry at the 

Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Rutgers-UMDNJ in 1994

From 1994 to 2000, he was a postdoctoral fellow in the department of 

biological chemistry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Dr

Jin was appointed instructor in the department of cell biology and anatomy 

at Johns Hopkins in 2001 In July 2001, he joined the NIAID Laboratory of 

Immunogenetics as a tenure-track investigator In 2009, he became a senior 

investigator 

Tian Jin, Ph D

Chief, Chemotaxis Signal Section, LIG

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lig/

chemotaxisSignalSection

tjin@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Three classes of CTCF/BORIS 

binding in epigenetic regulation 

n Regulation of BORIS and its 

targets in cellular and viral 

genomes 

n Translational research of BORIS 

repressors and of anti-BORIS 

immune responses directed to 

cancer diagnostics, therapy, and 

anti-tumor vaccination

Dr Lobanenkov received an M A in nuclear physics from the Institute 

of Physics in 1977 and a Ph D in experimental oncology from the 

Cancer Research Center, Moscow, in 1981 He was molecular 

carcinogenesis team leader in the All-Union Cancer Center of the former 

U S S R and a visiting scholar at the Royal Cancer Hospital, London, 

until 1990, where he discovered avian CTCF He was invited to the Fred 

Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle as a foreign faculty-inresidence funded by NIH grants In 1999, he became chief of the Molecular 

Pathology Section in the Laboratory of Immunopathology; identified CTCF 

in Drosophila, mice, and man; and characterized the novel BORIS+CTCF 

gene family universally involved in epigenetic regulation of mammalian 

cellular and viral genomes His section, which moved to the Laboratory of 

Immunogenetics in 2012, works to understand how genome-wide, CTCF/

BORIS-binding sequences regulate different functions, including inter- and 

intra-chromosomal 3D DNA-looping interactions, mono-allelic expression 

of imprinted and non-imprinted genes, X-chromosome inactivation, and 

regulation of stem/germ cell-specific promoters associated with targeted 

DNA demethylation

Victor V Lobanenkov, Ph D

Chief, Molecular Pathology Section, LIG 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lig/

molecularpathologysection

vlobanenkov@niaid.nih.gov
42 Laboratory of Immunogenetics

Major Areas of Research

n Danger model of immunity

n Tissue-based class control

n Immune tolerance and activation

Dr Matzinger obtained her Ph D in biology from the University of 

California-San Diego for the study of T-cell tolerance Following 

four years of postdoctoral research at Cambridge University and 

six years at the Basel Institute of Immunology, Switzerland, she joined the 

Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology in 1989 She became a 

section chief in 1995 Her research focuses on the fundamental principles 

by which the immune system operates and is based on the “danger” model 

of immunity and its extension, the tissue-control model In 2013, her section 

joined the Laboratory of Immunogenetics

Polly Matzinger, Ph D

Chief, T-Cell Tolerance and Memory Section, LIG

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lig/

tcelltolerancememorysection

pmatzinger@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Signaling pathways for activation 

and inhibition of NK cells 

n Live imaging of NK-cell 

immunological synapses

n Endosomal signaling by 

internalized receptors

Dr Long obtained a Ph D from the University of Geneva, Switzerland, 

and trained as a postdoctoral fellow at the National Cancer Institute

As a junior faculty member at the University of Geneva, he isolated 

the first molecular clones for MHC class II After joining NIAID in 1983, he 

described new processing pathways for antigen presentation to CD4 T 

cells He became chief of the Molecular and Cellular Immunology Section 

in 1988 In 1995, his group identified a family of inhibitory receptors on 

NK cells Since then, his lab has defined signaling pathways for granule 

polarization and degranulation, as well as inhibitory mechanisms that 

control NK-cell cytotoxicity

Eric O Long, Ph D

Chief, Molecular and Cellular Immunology Section, 

LIG

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lig/

molecularCellularImmunologySection

elong@nih.gov
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 43

Major Areas of Research

n Structural immunology 

n Structure and function of NK-cell 

receptors 

n Structural mechanisms of HIV 

and host interactions 

Dr Sun obtained his Ph D from the Molecular Biology Institute, 

University of Oregon, for the study of structure and thermostability of 

the phage T4 lysozyme using X-ray crystallography He then joined 

the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases for 

his postdoctoral training in 1991, focusing on the structure and function 

of cytokines In particular, he determined the crystal structure of a human 

transforming growth factor, TGF-beta 2 He joined NIAID in 1994

Peter D Sun, Ph D

Chief, Structural Immunology Section, LIG

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lig/

structuralImmunologySection

psun@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Hematopoietic development and 

function in health and disease

n Pathogenesis of autoimmune and 

inflammatory diseases

n Mechanisms of lymphoma/

leukemia development 

Dr Morse graduated from Harvard Medical School and completed 

his internship and residency at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital 

in Boston Following postdoctoral studies, he joined the NIAID 

Laboratory of Viral Diseases in 1980 and became chief of the Laboratory of 

Immunopathology (LIP) in 1985 In 2011, LIP merged with the Laboratory of 

Immunogenetics, and Dr Morse became chief of the Virology and Cellular 

Immunology Section

Herbert C Morse III, M D

Chief, Virology and Cellular Immunology Section, LIG

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lig/

virologycellularimmunologysection

hmorse@niaid.nih.gov
44 Laboratory of Immunology

Research Activities 

The major research activities of Laboratory of Immunology (LI) scientists focus on the basic genetics, 

molecular biology, cell biology, and cellular immunology of the immune system How dysregulation of 

the immune system results in autoimmune diseases and what strategies might be valuable for vaccine 

development are important topics of interest Specific areas of current investigation are as follows:

n Structure of pattern recognition receptors

n miRNA regulation of immune cell function

n T-cell development, differentiation, and plasticity

n Transcriptional regulation of lymphocyte differentiation

n Regulation of primary and secondary immune responses

n Cytokine biology, transcriptional networks, and signaling mechanisms

n Programmed cell death and autophagy

n Biology of regulatory T cells and control of autoimmunity

n Role of T regulatory cells in chronic infection

n Induction of T-cell tolerance and treatment of autoimmunity

n Lymphocyte dynamics

n Structure and function of viral immunoevasins

n Analysis of genetically determined defects in human T-cell death

William E Paul, M D , Chief 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/li

301-496-5046

Sections and Units 

Cytokine Biology Unit

William E. Paul, M.D.

T-Cell Development Section

B.J. Fowlkes, Ph.D.

Molecular Development of the Immune System Section

Michael J. Lenardo, M.D.

Molecular Biology Section

David H. Margulies, M.D., Ph.D.

Integrative Immunobiology Unit

Stefan A. Muljo, Ph.D.

Cellular Immunology Section

Ethan M. Shevach, M.D.

Structural Immunobiology Unit

Tsan Sam Xiao, Ph.D.

Molecular and Cellular Immunoregulation Unit

Laboratory of Immunology

Jinfang (Jeff) Zhu, Ph.D.
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 45

Major Areas of Research

n Cytokines: characterization, 

regulation of production, mode of 

action, and mechanism of receptor 

function 

n Regulation of lymphocyte 

activation, differentiation, and 

proliferation 

n Lymphocyte dynamics in health 

and in chronic infection, including 

HIV 

n Immunologic memory and 

strategies for vaccine development 

 

Chief of the Laboratory of Immunology (LI) since 1970, Dr Paul served 

as director of the NIH Office of AIDS Research and as NIH Associate 

Director for AIDS Research from 1994 to 1997 He is the founding editor 

of the Annual Review of Immunology and is a member of the editorial boards 

of Immunity and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. He is 

a member of the National Academy of Sciences, its Institute of Medicine, and 

the Association of American Physicians He also is a fellow of the American 

Academy of Arts and Sciences He was president of the American Association 

of Immunologists and the American Society for Clinical Investigation His 

honors include the Founders Prize, Texas Instruments Foundation; Life 

Sciences Award, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology; 

Abbott Laboratories Award in Clinical and Diagnostic Immunology; and 

the Max Delbruck Medal Dr Paul is the recipient of honorary degrees from

the State University of New York, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the 

University of Rome La Sapienza, and the National University of Athens, among 

others He is an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of 

Medicine and a Raymond and Beverly Sackler Senior Professor by Special 

Appointment at Tel Aviv University

William E Paul, M D

Chief, Laboratory of Immunology

Chief, Cytokine Biology Unit, LI

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/li/

generalImmunologySection

wpaul@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n T-cell development 

n Thymic selection

n T-lineage commitment

After receiving an M S from the Medical College of Virginia for studies 

in Drosophila genetics, Dr Fowlkes conducted research on cancer 

at the National Cancer Institute and on immunology at NIAID She 

received her Ph D for studies on thymocyte differentiation at the George 

Washington University She joined the NIAID Laboratory of Cellular and 

Molecular Immunology in 1987, was tenured as a senior investigator 

in 1990, and was appointed chief of the T-Cell Development Section in 

1992 Since 1999, she has served as adjunct professor of genetics and of 

microbiology/immunology at the George Washington University She serves 

on numerous editorial and scientific advisory boards and is a recipient 

of a Roche Basic Science Award, NIH Merit Award, and the American 

Association of Immunology Investigator Award for outstanding contributions 

to immunology In 2013, her section joined the Laboratory of Immunology

B J Fowlkes, Ph D

Chief, T-Cell Development Section, LI 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/li/

tcelldevelopmentsection

bfowlkes@nih.gov
46 Laboratory of Immunology

David H Margulies, M D , Ph D

Chief, Molecular Biology Section, LI

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/li/

molecularBiologySection

dmargulies@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Genetic diseases of immune 

homeostasis and autoimmunity

n Non-apoptotic mechanisms of cell 

death

n Development of novel 

immunodiagnostics and 

immunotherapeutics

n Physiology of Mg2

+ as a second 

messenger in signal transduction

Michael J Lenardo, M D

Chief, Molecular Development of the Immune 

System Section, LI

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/li/

molecularDevelopmentImmuneSystemSection

mlenardo@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n MHC class I and class II molecules: 

structure, function, interactions with 

ligands, and mechanism of antigen 

processing and presentation

n Viral immunoevasins and related 

molecules encoded by the 

cytomegaloviruses that are structurally 

related to MHC-I molecules

n T-cell receptors: structure, function, 

and interactions with MHC and with 

coreceptors CD8 and CD4

n NK cell receptors: structure, function, 

and interactions with MHC-I molecules 

and with viral immunoevasins

n Molecular mechanisms of 

autoimmunity and drug-induced 

hypersensitivity

Dr Margulies received his A B from Columbia University in 1971, 

followed by his M D and Ph D from the Albert Einstein College 

of Medicine in 1978 He trained in internal medicine at Columbia/

Presbyterian Medical Center from 1978 to 1980 and came to NIH in 

1980, working first as a research associate in the Laboratory of Molecular 

Genetics at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child 

Health and Human Development and then moving to the Laboratory of 

Immunology (LI) at NIAID as an investigator Since 1987, he has been a 

senior investigator and chief of the Molecular Biology Section of LI, where 

his laboratory has studied fundamental aspects of the molecular basis of 

cell-cell communication in the immune response, with particular emphasis 

on viral immunity, autoimmunity, and drug hypersensitivity

Dr Lenardo graduated with a B A from the Johns Hopkins University 

and an M D from Washington University, St Louis He performed 

clinical work in internal medicine and research at the University 

of Iowa and received postdoctoral training at the Whitehead Institute for 

Biomedical Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology He 

established an independent research unit in the Laboratory of Immunology 

in 1989 and became a senior investigator and section chief in 1994

Dr Lenardo serves on several editorial boards and has given numerous 

lectures around the world on his work on the molecular regulation of immune 

homeostasis His work focuses on lymphocyte apoptosis, autoimmunity, and 

HIV pathogenesis He was the creator and former director of the NIH-OxfordCambridge Scholars program for doctoral training
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 47

Major Areas of Research

n Roles of thymic-derived regulatory 

T cells and peripherally induced 

regulatory T cells in immune 

responses

n Role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in 

the immune response to infectious 

agents

n Mechanisms of action of Foxp3+

Tregs

n Studies on human Foxp3+ Tregs

Dr Shevach received his M D from Boston University in 1967

Following clinical training, he joined the Laboratory of Immunology 

as a senior staff fellow in 1972, was appointed a senior investigator 

in 1973, and became a section chief in 1987 Dr Shevach served as editorin-chief of the Journal of Immunology from 1987 to 1992 and editor-in-chief 

of Cellular Immunology from 1996 to 2007 He received the 2004 William B

Coley Award for Distinguished Research in Basic and Tumor Immunology

Ethan M Shevach, M D

Chief, Cellular Immunology Section, LI

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/li/

cellularImmunologySection

eshevach@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Non-coding RNAs: characterization 

under physiological and pathological conditions, regulation of 

production, mechanisms of action, 

identification of cognate targets 

n Gene expression and its regulation 

in hematopoietic stem cells and 

during cellular differentiation 

n Application of small RNAs for 

modulating or enhancing immune 

responses 

n MicroRNA expression profiling to 

identify novel biomarkers 

Dr Muljo joined the Laboratory of Immunology (LI) in July 2008 

to head the Integrative Immunobiology Unit He earned his 

Ph D from the Graduate Program in Immunology at the Johns 

Hopkins University School of Medicine Part of his dissertation work was 

performed at the department of molecular and cell biology in the division 

of immunology and pathogenesis, University of California, Berkeley This 

was followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the Immune Disease Institute 

(formerly the Center for Blood Research) at Harvard Medical School

Stefan A Muljo, Ph D

Chief, Integrative Immunobiology Unit, LI

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/li/iiu

Stefan.Muljo@nih.gov
48 Laboratory of Immunology

Major Areas of Research

n Diversity and plasticity of T helper 

(Th) subsets 

n Transcriptional regulation of Th-cell 

lineage-specific genes 

n Cellular/molecular requirements for 

the development of distinct 

Th subsets 

n Transcriptional regulation in other 

immune cells 

Jinfang (Jeff) Zhu, Ph D

Chief, Molecular and Cellular Immunoregulation 

Unit, LI

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/li/

molecularCellularImmunoregulation

jfZhu@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Structural studies of innate immune 

receptors for nucleic acids 

n Mechanisms of inflammasome 

activation by ligands from host and 

microbial sources 

n Innate signaling mechanisms 

mediated by adapter molecules

Tsan Sam Xiao, Ph D

Chief, Structural Immunobiology Unit, LI

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/li/

structuralimmunobiology

xiaot@niaid.nih.gov

Dr Xiao received his Ph D in molecular biophysics from the University 

of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, where he studied 

essential signal-transducing molecules involved in Drosophila innate 

immunity and development Following his postdoctoral research on integrins 

at Harvard Medical School, he joined the Laboratory of Immunology in the 

spring of 2006

Dr Zhu received his bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from the 

department of biology, NanKai University, Tianjin, China, and his 

Ph D in biochemistry and molecular biology from the Shanghai 

Institute of Biochemistry (now known as Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry 

and Cell Biology), Chinese Academy of Sciences He joined the Laboratory 

of Immunology (LI) first as a visiting fellow and then as a staff scientist 

studying CD4 T-cell differentiation He became a principal investigator in 

LI in October 2011 He investigates heterogeneity and plasticity of immune 

cells and their functions during normal and pathological immune responses 

at cellular and molecular levels His focus is on the induction and functions 

of transcription factor complexes during development, lineage commitment, 

and maintenance of immune cells, particularly CD4 T helper cells 
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 49

Research Activities 

The major theme of the Laboratory of Immunoregulation (LIR) continues to be the elucidation 

of cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating the human immune response in health and 

disease A major component of these efforts is the study of the immunopathogenic mechanisms 

of HIV infection and disease progression

Our investigation of host factors involved in the evolution of HIV disease indicates that HIV 

pathogenesis is a multifactorial and multiphasic process LIR investigates the following important 

aspects of this process:

n Regulation of HIV replication by endogenous cytokines and chemokines 

n Regulation of expression of HIV coreceptors 

n HIV envelope-mediated intracellular signaling events responsible for immune dysfunction 

n Role of a latent, inducible reservoir of HIV-infected cells in the pathogenesis of HIV disease 

and its implications for antiretroviral therapy 

n Contribution of HIV-infected T cells, B cells, dendritic cells, monocytes/macrophages, and 

multipotent progenitor cells to disease pathogenesis 

n Role of immunomodulation in immune reconstitution during antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection 

LIR researchers conduct clinical trials to determine the safety and efficacy of drugs for the 

treatment of HIV infection and its complications and the development of methods for immunologic 

reconstitution in HIV-infected individuals Studies of the epidemiology and pathogenesis of HIV 

infection and other sexually transmitted diseases are both domestic and international

Anthony S Fauci, M D , Chief 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lir

301-496-1124 

Sections and Units 

Immunopathogenesis Section

Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.

HIV-Specific Immunity Section

Mark Connors, M.D.

Clinical Research Section

Richard Davey, M.D.

B-Cell Molecular Immunology Section

John H. Kehrl, M.D.

Clinical and Molecular Retrovirology Section

H. Clifford Lane, M.D.

Viral Pathogenesis Section

Paolo Lusso, M.D., Ph.D.

International HIV/STD Section

Thomas C. Quinn, M.D. 

Steven J. Reynolds, M.D., M.P.H.

HIV Pathogenesis Unit

Laboratory of Immunoregulation

Irini Sereti, M.D.
50

Major Areas of Research

n Cellular immune response to HIV

n Mechanisms of immunologic 

control of HIV in rare patients 

(long-term nonprogressors or elite 

controllers)

n Mechanisms of broad crossneutralization of HIV

Dr Connors received his M D from Temple University and was 

trained in pediatrics at Tufts New England Medical Center He joined 

the NIAID Laboratory of Infectious Diseases in 1989 to study the 

immune response to respiratory syncytial virus He was trained in infectious 

diseases at the NIH Clinical Center and at the Children’s Hospital of 

Philadelphia He joined the NIAID Laboratory of Immunoregulation in 1994 

to study the human immune response to HIV Dr Connors has published a 

series of discoveries that have laid the framework for current understanding 

of immunologic control of HIV in some rare patients and loss of immunologic 

control in the majority of HIV-infected patients

Mark Connors, M D

Chief, HIV-Specific Immunity Section, LIR

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lir/

HIVSpecificImmunit

mconnors@nih.gov

Dr Fauci received his A B from the College of the Holy Cross and his 

M D from Cornell University Medical College He then completed an 

internship and residency at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical 

Center In 1968, Dr Fauci came to NIH as a clinical associate in the NIAID 

Laboratory of Clinical Investigation In 1980, he was appointed chief of the 

Laboratory of Immunoregulation, a position he still holds Dr Fauci became 

director of NIAID in 1984 He serves as one of the key advisors to the White 

House and U S Department of Health and Human Services on global AIDS 

issues and on initiatives to bolster medical and public health preparedness 

against emerging infectious disease threats such as pandemic influenza

Anthony S Fauci, M D

Director, NIAID

Chief, Laboratory of Immunoregulation

Chief, Immunopathogenesis Section, LIR

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lir/

immunopathogenesisSection

afauci@niaid.nih.gov

Laboratory of Immunoregulation

Major Areas of Research

n Roles of latently infected, resting 

CD4+ T cells, B cells, and innate 

immunity in the pathogenesis and 

treatment of HIV disease 

n Role of HIV envelope signaling 

in viral replication and immune 

dysfunction 

n Therapeutic strategies for 

management of hepatitis C/HIV 

co-infection 

n Novel approaches to the inhibition 

of HIV binding and entry into CD4+ 

T cells 

n Novel approaches to the treatment 

of recently acquired and chronic 

HIV infection
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 51

John H Kehrl, M D

Chief, B-Cell Molecular Immunology Section, LIR

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lir/

bcellmolecularimmunologysection 

jkehrl@niaid.nih.gov.

Dr Davey received his M D from Columbia University and trained 

in internal medicine at Boston University Hospital and in infectious 

diseases at NIAID He joined the NIAID intramural AIDS program 

in 1987

Richard Davey, M D

Deputy Clinical Director, NIAID

Chief, Clinical Research Section, LIR

rdavey@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Treatments for HIV infection 

and the consequences of those 

treatments

n Studies of immune function, 

immunodeficiency, and 

pathogenesis of HIV disease

n Studies of the natural history, 

pathogenesis, and treatment 

of influenza infection and other 

emerging infectious diseases 

Dr Kehrl graduated from Wayne State Medical School, completed his 

medical residency in internal medicine at Yale New Haven Hospital, 

and held fellowships in both infectious diseases and allergyimmunology in the Laboratory of Immunoregulation (LIR) He is currently 

a tenured senior investigator and a member of the research officers group 

in the Commissioned Corps of the U S Public Health Service He was 

appointed chief of the LIR B-Cell Molecular Immunology Section in 1993

Under his supervision, the laboratory has gained international recognition 

for its studies of human and murine B lymphocytes and the function and 

regulation of heterotrimeric G-protein signaling in lymphocytes and other 

cell types

Major Areas of Research

n G-protein signaling and the role of 

RGS proteins 

n Lymphocyte trafficking 

n Cell migration 

n Autophagy and inflammasomes
52 Laboratory of Immunoregulation

Major Areas of Research

n Pathogenesis of human viral 

diseases, with particular focus 

on HIV-1 and T-lymphotropic 

herpesviruses 

n Viral receptors and coreceptors 

n Role of chemokines and other 

endogenous factors in HIV-1 

disease 

n Characterization of highly 

conserved functional regions of 

the HIV-1 envelope as potential 

vaccine targets 

n Novel approaches to the 

development of HIV-1 entry 

inhibitors 

Dr Lusso received his M D from the University of Turin and his 

Ph D from the Ministry of Scientific and Technologic Research in 

Rome He is a board-certified specialist in internal medicine and 

in infectious diseases He came to NIH in 1986 to work in the Laboratory 

of Tumor Cell Biology under Dr Robert C Gallo at the National Cancer 

Institute He returned to Italy in 1994, where he created the Laboratory 

of Human Virology at the San Raffaele Scientific Institute in Milan and 

became associate professor of infectious diseases at the University of 

Cagliari In 2006, he again joined NIH, where he became chief of the Viral 

Pathogenesis Section in the NIAID Laboratory of Immunoregulation He is 

an executive editor of Current HIV Research. In 2004, he was elected as a 

member of the European Molecular Biology Organization

Paolo Lusso, M D , Ph D

Chief, Viral Pathogenesis Section, LIR

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lir/

viralpathogenesis/pages/lusso.aspx

plusso@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Pathogenesis of HIV infection 

emphasizing mechanisms of 

immunodeficiency

n Immunologic approaches to 

therapy for HIV infection

Dr Lane received his M D from the University of Michigan in 1976

He then completed an internship and residency at the University of 

Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor In 1979, Dr Lane came to NIH as a 

clinical associate in the Laboratory of Immunoregulation (LIR) In 1985, he 

was appointed deputy clinical director of NIAID; in 1989, he became the 

chief of the Clinical and Molecular Retrovirology Section of LIR, a position 

he still holds In 1991, Dr Lane became clinical director of NIAID and, in 

2006, became NIAID Deputy Director for Clinical Research and Special 

Projects He is currently on the editorial boards of the Journal of Acquired 

Immune Deficiency Syndromes and the American Journal of Medicine.

H Clifford Lane, M D

Clinical Director, NIAID

Chief, Clinical and Molecular Retrovirology 

Section, LIR

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lir/

ClinicalandMolecularRetrovirology 

clane@niaid.nih.gov
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 53

Thomas C Quinn, M D , M Sc

Chief, International HIV/STD Section, LIR

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lir/

internationalHIVSTD

tquinn@jhmi.edu

Dr Quinn obtained his M D from Northwestern University He was a 

research associate in infectious diseases in the NIAID Laboratory of 

Parasitic Diseases and completed a fellowship in infectious diseases 

at the University of Washington Since 1981, he has been assigned to 

the Division of Infectious Diseases at Johns Hopkins University, where he 

became a professor of medicine in 1991 Dr Quinn is a member of the 

Institute of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences and is a fellow 

of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Major Areas of Research

n Definition of epidemiologic 

features of HIV-1 and HIV-2 

infections in developing countries 

and the United States

n Assessment of biomedical 

interventions to control HIV 

n Assessment of the frequency of 

Chlamydia trachomatis infections 

using noninvasive sensitive 

nucleic-acid amplification assays

n Evaluations of interventions to 

control blinding trachoma in 

sub-Saharan Africa

Steven J Reynolds, M D , M P H

Senior Clinician, International HIV/STD Section, LIR

sjreynolds@niaid.nih.gov

Dr Reynolds received his M D from McGill University in 1994 and 

was certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of 

Canada in medical microbiology and infectious diseases in 2000

He completed his M P H at Johns Hopkins University in 2002 and joined 

NIAID in 2003, when was posted full-time to the U S embassy in Kampala, 

Uganda He has lived in Uganda since 2003, where he oversees clinical 

and laboratory research activities for the NIAID International Centers for 

Excellence in Research Program In addition to his research activities, he 

provides HIV care and treatment at both the Rakai Health Sciences Program 

and the Infectious Diseases Institute in Kampala 

Major Areas of Research

n Understanding the impact of 

antiretroviral therapy on both rural and 

urban populations in Uganda 

n Developing optimal laboratory 

monitoring strategies to improve 

treatment outcomes of patients 

receiving antiretroviral treatment

n Conducting clinical trials to delay HIV 

disease progression among individuals 

co-infected with HIV and herpes

simplex virus-2 

n Investigating the etiology of accelerated 

liver fibrosis among HIV-infected 

individuals in Uganda
54 Laboratory of Immunoregulation

Major Areas of Research

n Pathogenesis of HIV infection 

emphasizing mechanisms of 

immune reconstitution in advanced 

HIV infection 

n Pathogenesis of idiopathic CD4 

lymphocytopenia (ICL) 

n Immune-based therapeutic 

strategies of HIV infection and ICL 

Dr Sereti received her M D from the University of Athens, Greece, in 

1991 She did research for one year in Dr Greg Spear’s laboratory 

at Rush Presbyterian Hospital in Chicago and then completed an 

internship, residency, and chief residency in medicine at Northwestern 

University In 1997, Dr Sereti came to NIH as a clinical associate in the 

Laboratory of Immunoregulation She became a staff clinician in 2003 She 

was appointed to a clinical tenure-track position in 2009

Irini Sereti, M D

Chief, HIV Pathogenesis Unit, LIR

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lir/

HIVPathogenesis/Pages/sereti.aspx

isereti@niaid.nih.gov
55

Research Activities 

Established in 1942, the Laboratory of Infectious Diseases (LID) has a long history of vaccine 

development and identification of new agents of viral diseases LID is noted for undertaking 

high-risk, high-reward programs that require extraordinary time and resource commitments, such 

as programs to develop vaccines for viral hepatitis, severe childhood respiratory diseases, and 

viral gastroenteritis

Clinical studies complement LID research, including the evaluation of candidate vaccines in 

clinical trials, human studies of influenza pathogenesis and immune correlates for protection 

against the virus, and research on severe virus infections in people without known immune 

deficiency Specific areas of investigation include the following:

n Vaccines for respiratory viruses, gastrointestinal viruses, hepatitis C, flaviviruses, and 

herpesviruses 

n Pathogenesis of and host immune response to viral infections 

n Microarray analysis of liver biopsies and central nervous system tissue to study host 

responses to viral hepatitis and neurotropic flaviviruses, respectively 

n New antiviral agents 

n Monoclonal antibodies to emerging and select agents 

n Pandemic, seasonal, and animal influenza 

n Evolution of norovirus, rotavirus, and influenza 

n Identification of herpesvirus receptors 

n Paramyxovirus vectors 

n Virus discovery

Jeffrey I Cohen, M D , Chief

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lid

301-496-5265

Sections and Units 

Medical Virology Section

Jeffrey I. Cohen, M.D.

RNA Viruses Section

Peter L. Collins, Ph.D.

Hepatic Pathogenesis Section

Patrizia Farci, M.D.

Caliciviruses Section

Kim Y. Green, Ph.D.

Rotavirus Molecular Biology Section

John T. Patton, Ph.D.

Neurotropic Flaviviruses Section

Alexander G. Pletnev, Ph.D. 

Emerging Respiratory Viruses Section

Kanta Subbarao, M.B.B.S., M.P.H.

Viral Pathogenesis and Evolution Section

Laboratory of Infectious Diseases

Jeffery K. Taubenberger, M.D., Ph.D.

2013 – 2014 Opportunities 
56 Laboratory of Infectious Diseases

Major Areas of Research

n Molecular biology, immunobiology, and 

pathogenesis of human respiratory 

pathogens

n Development of novel attenuating 

mutations that are introduced by 

reverse genetics into RSV; HPIV1, 

2, and 3; and HMPV to produce live, 

attenuated vaccine candidates

n Evaluation of candidate live vaccines in 

clinical studies with collaborators 

n Studies with mutants of pneumonia 

virus of mice to characterize viral 

infection and host responses 

n Development of vaccine vectors based 

on HPIV and avian paramyxoviruses 

for use against highly pathogenic 

emerging viruses 

Dr Collins received a Ph D in 1981 from the University of Connecticut

He conducted postdoctoral research at the University of North 

Carolina from 1981 to 1984 He later joined the Laboratory of 

Infectious Diseases, where he received tenure in 1990 He serves on the 

editorial boards of the Journal of Virology, Virology, and Virus Research.

Peter L Collins, Ph D

Chief, RNA Viruses Section, LID

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lid/rnaviruses

pcollins@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Pathogenesis of human virus 

infections in vitro and in vivo 

n Identification of cellular proteins that 

interact with herpesviruses 

n Development of vaccines against 

human herpesviruses 

n Studies of new compounds to inhibit 

herpesvirus infections 

Dr Cohen received his M D from Johns Hopkins University and was 

a resident in medicine at Duke University Following a medical staff 

fellowship at NIH, he was a clinical fellow in infectious diseases at 

the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and an instructor in medicine 

at Harvard University He returned to NIH, where he was the chief of the 

Medical Virology Section in the Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases

In June 2010, Dr Cohen became chief of the Laboratory of Infectious 

Diseases

Jeffrey I Cohen, M D

Chief, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases

Chief, Medical Virology Section, LID

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lid/

medicalvirologysection

jcohen@niaid.nih.gov
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 57

Major Areas of Research

n Molecular epidemiology 

n Animal models of norovirus 

disease 

n Vaccines and antiviral inhibitors 

n Basic replication mechanisms of 

noroviruses and other caliciviruses 

Dr Green earned her Ph D from the University of Tennessee Center 

for Health Sciences in Memphis She joined the NIAID Laboratory of 

Infectious Diseases in 1986 and has focused on the study of viruses 

associated with gastroenteritis In recent years, her research program has 

addressed the role of noroviruses in human disease, with an emphasis on 

the development of prevention and control strategies

Kim Y Green, Ph D

Chief, Caliciviruses Section, LID

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lid/

caliciviruses

kgreen@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Pathogenesis of acute and chronic 

viral hepatitis 

n Molecular mechanisms of liver 

fibrosis progression and regression 

n Role of liver cirrhosis in the 

pathogenesis of hepatocellular 

carcinoma 

n Role of neutralizing antibodies 

in the prevention and control of 

hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection 

n HCV evolution and clinical outcome 

n Search for new hepatitis agents 

Dr Farci earned her M D at the University of Cagliari Medical School, 

Italy, and then became a board-certified specialist in infectious 

diseases and gastroenterology at the same university She was 

trained at the department of gastroenterology of the Molinette Hospital in 

Torino under Dr Mario Rizzetto and at the department of medicine of the 

Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine in London under Professor Sheila 

Sherlock In 1989, she joined the laboratory of Dr Robert H Purcell as a 

visiting scientist In 1992, she became associate professor of medicine 

and, in 2000, full professor of medicine and director of the liver unit and of 

the postgraduate school of gastroenterology at the University of Cagliari In 

2007, she returned to LID, where in 2010 she became chief of the Hepatic 

Pathogenesis Section

Patrizia Farci, M D

Chief, Hepatic Pathogenesis Section, LID

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lid/

hepaticPathogenesis

pfarci@niaid.nih.gov
58 Laboratory of Infectious Diseases

Major Areas of Research

n Study of pathogenesis of flavivirus 

infection in the central nervous 

system 

n Development of novel approaches 

to restrict flavivirus neurotropism 

n Generation of attenuated vaccine 

candidates against disease caused 

by highly virulent neurotropic 

flaviviruses and evaluation of 

their safety, immunogenicity, and 

efficacy in animal models 

n Evaluation of safety and 

immunogenicity of live, attenuated 

vaccine candidates in clinical trials 

Dr Pletnev earned his Ph D in chemistry in 1983 from the Russian 

Academy of Sciences, studying RNA polymerases Following 

postdoctoral research at the Novosibirsk Institute of Bioorganic 

Chemistry, he served as chief of its laboratory of radiochemistry and 

laboratory of molecular virology from 1984 to 1993 He became a professor 

of molecular biology in 1993 In 1990, he received his doctorate of sciences 

degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from the Russian Academy 

of Sciences He joined the Laboratory of Infectious Diseases in 1993 as a 

visiting scientist and became a senior investigator in 2005

Alexander G Pletnev, Ph D , D Sc

Chief, Neurotropic Flaviviruses Section, LID

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lid/nfs

apletnev@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Structures, functions, and 

interactions of viral proteins 

involved in rotavirus (RV) genome 

packaging and replication 

n How RVs antagonize host cell 

interferon responses 

n Diversity and evolutionary 

dynamics of circulating human RVs 

n Reverse-genetic strategies to aid 

studies of RV biology and to create 

live, attenuated vaccine candidates

Dr Patton received his Ph D in 1980 from Virginia Polytechnic 

Institute and State University Following postdoctoral training at the 

University of North Carolina, he joined the faculty of the University of 

South Florida In 1987, Dr Patton moved to the University of Miami School 

of Medicine, where he remained until 1996, when he took a position in the 

NIAID Laboratory of Infectious Diseases

John T Patton, Ph D

Chief, Rotavirus Molecular Biology Section, LID

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lid/rotavirus

jpatton@niaid.nih.gov
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 59

Major Areas of Research

n Identification and prioritization 

of potential pandemic strains of 

influenza to target for vaccine 

development 

n Generation of attenuated vaccine 

viruses by reassortment or 

plasmid-based reverse genetics 

n Evaluation of candidate vaccine 

viruses in animal models 

n Clinical evaluation of suitable 

candidate vaccines to establish 

safety, immunogenicity, and 

infectivity of live, attenuated 

vaccines 

Dr Subbarao received her M B B S in 1982 from the Christian 

Medical College, Vellore, University of Madras, India, and 

completed a residency in pediatrics at Cardinal Glennon Memorial 

Hospital for Children at St Louis University She completed a fellowship in 

pediatric infectious diseases and earned her M P H in epidemiology from 

the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center After postdoctoral 

training in the Laboratory of Infectious Diseases (LID), she served on the 

faculty at McGill University, Montreal, and subsequently served as chief 

of the molecular genetics section of the influenza branch at the CDC Dr

Subbarao joined LID as a senior investigator in 2002

Kanta Subbarao, M B B S , M P H

Chief, Emerging Respiratory Viruses Section, LID

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lid/ERVS

ksubbarao@niaid.nih.gov

Jeffery K Taubenberger, M D , Ph D

Chief, Viral Pathogenesis and Evolution Section, LID

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lid/VPES

taubenbergerj@niaid.nih.gov

Dr Taubenberger received a B S in biology from George Mason 

University in 1982 He earned his medical degree in 1986 and 

his Ph D in 1987, both from the Medical College of Virginia He 

completed a residency in pathology at the National Cancer Institute and 

holds dual board certifications in anatomic pathology and in molecular 

genetic pathology from the American Board of Pathology and the American 

Board of Medical Genetics Prior to coming to NIAID in 2006, he served 

as chair of the department of molecular pathology at the Armed Forces 

Institute of Pathology in Washington, DC, a position he had held since 

1994 Dr Taubenberger’s research interests include influenza virus biology, 

evolution, pathophysiology, and surveillance He also has clinical interests 

in the development and implementation of molecular diagnostic assays for 

neoplasia and infectious diseases

Major Areas of Research

n Influenza pathogenesis

n Animal models of influenza 

infection

n Influenza virus genomics and 

evolution

n Viral surveillance

n Archaevirology

n Influenza diagnostics

n Clinical influenza research
60

Harlan D Caldwell, Ph D , Chief 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/licp

406-363-9333 

Sections and Units 

Chlamydial Pathogenesis Section

Harlan D. Caldwell, Ph.D.

Immunity to Pulmonary Pathogens Section

Catharine (Katy) Bosio, Ph.D.

Host-Parasite Interactions Section 

David W. (Ted) Hackstadt, Ph.D.

Coxiella Pathogenesis Section 

Robert A. Heinzen, Ph.D.

Salmonella Host-Cell Interaction Section 

Olivia Steele-Mortimer, Ph.D.

Laboratory of Intracellular Parasites

Research Activities 

The Laboratory of Intracellular Parasites (LICP) investigates 

the biology, pathogenesis, and immunity of intracellular 

prokaryotic pathogens such as Chlamydia trachomatis, 

Chlamydia pneumoniae, Francisella tularensis, Coxiella 

burnetii, and Salmonella typhimurium. These agents 

are important causes of sexually transmitted diseases, 

preventable blindness, and chronic heart disease, and 

they are Category A and B bioterrorism agents The longterm goal of the laboratory is the development of new and 

effective control strategies against infection with intracellular 

pathogens

Modern biological, molecular, and immunological tools 

are employed to understand pathogen ligand-receptor 

interactions, pathogen vesicle maturation and trafficking, 

parasite manipulation of host-cell signal-transduction 

pathways, and host immune response to infection Pathogen 

and host gene expression are being analyzed at the 

transcriptome and proteome levels under experimental 

conditions that manifest both acute and persistent infection 

environments to profile novel genes that function in the 

pathogenesis of infection Animal models of infection are 

being used to define immune effector mechanisms that 

function in adaptive immunity and to test promising vaccine 

candidates

Laboratory of Intracellular Parasites 
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 2013 – 2014 Opportunities 61

Catharine (Katy) Bosio, Ph D

Chief, Immunity to Pulmonary Pathogens Section, 

LICP

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/licp/

immunitypulmonarypathogens

bosioc@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Immunity to chlamydial infection D n Chlamydia vaccine design 

r Caldwell received his Ph D in pathobiology from the University of 

Washington in 1976 After completing a senior research fellowship in 

the department of medicine at the University of Washington in 1978, 

Dr Caldwell joined the faculty of the University of California, San Francisco, 

as an assistant professor of microbiology and immunology In 1980, he was 

recruited to NIH as a tenure-track investigator in the Laboratory of Microbial 

Structure and Function He became a tenured investigator in 1986 and 

chief of the Laboratory of Intracellular Parasites in 1990 He is a recipient 

of the NIH Director’s Award, NIH Merit Award, and PHS Superior Service 

Award He was appointed to the NIH Senior Biomedical Research Service 

in 1997 Dr Caldwell is a member of the editorial board of Infection and 

Immunity and a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology He is an 

internationally recognized leader in the fields of chlamydial pathogenesis 

and immunology

Harlan D Caldwell, Ph D

Chief, Laboratory of Intracellular Parasites

Chief, Chlamydial Pathogenesis Section, LICP

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/licp/

chlamydialPathogenesisSection

hcaldwell@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Innate immunity to F. tularensis

n Vaccine development for 

pneumonic tularemia 

n Modulation of human cells by 

F. tularensis

Dr Bosio graduated from Washington State University cum laude with 

a B Sc in 1993 Following completion of her Ph D at Colorado State 

University in 1998, Dr Bosio completed postdoctoral fellowships at 

the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research and at the U S Army 

Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases, studying innate immunity 

to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Francisella tularensis, Marburg virus, 

and Ebola virus Prior to joining NIAID in 2007, Dr Bosio was an assistant 

professor at Colorado State University in the department of microbiology, 

immunology, and pathology Dr Bosio’s laboratory studies the host 

response to pulmonary pathogens, with special emphasis on virulent 

F. tularensis and dendritic cells, macrophages, and monocytes
62

Robert A Heinzen, Ph D

Chief, Coxiella Pathogenesis Section, LICP

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/licp/

coxiellaPathogenesisSection

rheinzen@niaid.nih.gov

David W (Ted) Hackstadt, Ph D

Chief, Host-Parasite Interactions Section, LICP

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/licp/

hostParasiteInteractionsSection

thackstadt@niaid.nih.gov

Laboratory of Intracellular Parasites 

Dr Hackstadt received his Ph D from Washington State University

He did his postdoctoral work in the NIAID Laboratory of Microbial 

Structure and Function Dr Hackstadt then assumed an associate 

professorship in the departments of pathology and microbiology at the 

University of Texas Medical School in Galveston In 1990, he returned to 

NIAID, where he was appointed chief of the Host-Parasite Interactions 

Section, awarded tenure in 1995, and appointed to the NIH Senior 

Biomedical Research Service in 2005 He currently serves on the editorial 

boards of Traffic, Cellular Microbiology, and Infection and Immunity. He is 

a past president of the American Society for Rickettsiology and was 

elected a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology in 2005

Major Areas of Research

n Chlamydia interactions with host 

cells

n Vesicle trafficking pathways

n Biology of Rickettsia

Dr Heinzen received his Ph D in microbiology from Washington 

State University in 1991 After completing an Intramural Research 

Training Award fellowship in the NIAID Laboratory of Intracellular 

Parasites (LICP) in 1996, Dr Heinzen joined the faculty of the molecular 

biology department at the University of Wyoming, where he was awarded 

tenure in 2002 Dr Heinzen was recruited to NIAID in 2003 as head of the 

new Coxiella Pathogenesis Section in LICP, where he was awarded tenure 

in 2010 and promoted to senior investigator Dr Heinzen has served on the 

executive council for the American Society for Rickettsiology In 2011, he 

was elected fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology in recognition 

of his studies on Coxiella and Rickettsia pathogenesis

Major Areas of Research

n Genomics and genetic systems 

n Developmental biology 

n Host interactions
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 63

Olivia Steele-Mortimer, Ph D

Chief, Salmonella Host-Cell Interaction Section, LICP

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/licp/

salmonellaHostCellInteractionSection

omortimer@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Host-cell proteins involved in 

invasion

n Biogenesis of the Salmonellacontaining vacuole

Dr Steele-Mortimer received her Ph D in cell biology from the 

European Molecular Biology Laboratory in 1994 From 1995 to 1999, 

she did postdoctoral research on Salmonella-host cell interactions 

in the laboratory of Dr B Brett Finlay at the University of British Columbia, 

followed by one year at Washington University, St Louis, with Dr Phillip D

Stahl She came to NIH in 2001 and became a tenured senior investigator in 

2007 Dr Steele-Mortimer is an associate editor of Microbial Pathogenesis 

and is a member of the editorial board of Traffic.
64 Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research

Research Activities

The Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research (LMVR) 

is dedicated to studies of malaria and insect vectors of 

infectious diseases Research groups in the laboratory 

maintain an array of local and overseas activities that 

investigate disease-transmitting insects and broad areas 

of malaria biology and pathogenesis Basic discoveries 

from these investigations support searches for new drug 

treatments, diagnostic tools, and vaccines The LMVR 

environment is highly collaborative and organized to foster 

research teamwork by experts in various disciplines of the 

biological, physical, and medical sciences

Thomas E Wellems, M D , Ph D , Chief

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lmvr

301-402-1274 

Sections and Units 

Malaria Genetics Section

Thomas E. Wellems, M.D., Ph.D.

Mosquito Immunity and Vector Competence Section

Carolina V. Barillas-Mury, M.D., Ph.D.

Apicomplexan Molecular Physiology Section

Sanjay Desai, M.D., Ph.D.

Malaria Pathogenesis and Human Immunity Unit

Rick M. Fairhurst, M.D., Ph.D.

International Studies of Malaria and 

Entomology Section

Robert W. Gwadz, Ph.D.

Malaria Immunology Section

Carole A. Long, Ph.D.

Malaria Cell Biology Section

Louis H. Miller, M.D.

Vector Biology Section

José Ribeiro, M.D., Ph.D.

Malaria Functional Genomics Section

Xin-zhuan Su, Ph.D.

Vector Molecular Biology Section

Jesus G. Valenzuela, Ph.D.

Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 65

Major Areas of Research

n Interactions between Plasmodium 

parasites, the gut microbiota, and 

mosquito midgut epithelial cells

n Immune pathways that mediate 

antiplasmodial responses

n Hemocyte differentiation and 

immune memory in mosquitoes

n Plasmodium evasion of the 

mosquito immune system

Dr Barillas-Mury received her B S in biology from the Universidad del 

Valle de Guatemala in 1981, her M D from Universidad Francisco 

Marroquín de Guatemala in 1985, and her Ph D in biochemistry 

from the University of Arizona in 1992 From 1992 to 1993, she did 

postdoctoral training at the University of Arizona She then went to Harvard 

University in 1994 and the European Molecular Lab until 1998 She was an 

assistant professor in the department of microbiology, immunology, and 

pathology at Colorado State University from 1998 to 2003 She joined the 

Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research in 2003 and became a senior 

investigator in 2010

Carolina V Barillas-Mury, M D , Ph D

Chief, Mosquito Immunity and Vector Competence 

Section, LMVR

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lmvr/

mosquitoimmunityvectorcompetenceunit

cbarillas@niaid.nih.gov

Dr Wellems received his M D and Ph D from the University of 

Chicago He completed his internal medicine residency at the 

Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania He joined the NIAID 

Division of Intramural Research in 1984 He has directed the Malaria 

Genetics Section since 1991 and served as chief of the Laboratory of 

Malaria and Vector Research since 2002 Dr Wellems is a member of the 

U S National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine He is a 

past president of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 

and serves on a number of advisory committees for foundations and publicprivate partnerships, including the Medicines for Malaria Venture

Major Areas of Research

n Antimalarial drug responses and 

factors that affect clinical outcomes 

after treatment

n Malaria protection conferred by 

human hemoglobinopathies and 

red blood cell polymorphisms

n Antigenic variation by Plasmodium 

falciparum parasites

n Molecular mechanisms of 

malaria parasite infectivity and 

pathogenesis

Thomas E Wellems, M D , Ph D

Chief, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research

Chief, Malaria Genetics Section, LMVR

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lmvr/

malariaGeneticsSection

twellems@niaid.nih.gov
66 Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research

Major Areas of Research

n Unusual parasite ion channels, 

such as the plasmodial surface 

anion channel (PSAC), required 

for parasite survival within human 

erythrocytes

n Identification of PSAC’s gene(s) 

with molecular, genetic, and 

biochemical approaches

n Characterization of PSAC’s 

functional properties 

n Novel, high-affinity PSAC 

antagonists that may be targets 

for new antimalarial drugs

Dr Desai received his M D and Ph D from Washington University in 

St Louis Following an internal medicine residency and infectious 

diseases fellowship at Duke University Medical Center, he joined 

NIAID’s Division of Intramural Research His work focuses on the molecular 

and cellular biology of malaria parasites

Sanjay A Desai, M D , Ph D

Chief, Apicomplexan Molecular Physiology Section, 

LMVR

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lmvr/

apicomplexanMolecularPhysiologySection 

sdesai@niaid.nih.gov

Rick M Fairhurst, M D , Ph D

Chief, Malaria Pathogenesis and Human 

Immunity Unit, LMVR

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lmvr/

malariapathhumaniu

rfairhurst@niaid.nih.gov

Dr Fairhurst received his M D and Ph D in molecular biology from 

the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Following an 

internal medicine residency and an infectious diseases fellowship 

at UCLA Medical Center, he joined NIAID’s Division of Intramural Research 

in 2001 Dr Fairhurst focuses his laboratory’s work on elucidating the 

mechanisms of malaria pathogenesis, human genetic resistance to malaria, 

acquired immunity to malaria, and parasite resistance to the artemisinin 

class of antimalarial drugs He travels frequently to malaria-endemic areas 

of Mali and Cambodia Dr Fairhurst serves as president of the American 

Committee on Molecular, Cellular, and Immunoparasitology, a subcommittee 

of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Recently, he 

was appointed deputy director of the NIH M D -Ph D Partnership Training 

Program In 2011, Dr Fairhurst received NIAID’s Outstanding Mentor of the 

Year Award

Major Areas of Research

n Mechanisms of malaria protection 

conferred by red blood cell 

polymorphisms and naturally 

acquired immune responses

n Mechanisms of malaria 

pathogenesis associated with the 

sequestration of parasitized red 

blood cells in host microvessels

n Mechanisms of malaria parasite 

resistance to artemisinin and other 

antimalarial drugs
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 67

Robert W Gwadz, Ph D

Chief, International Studies of Malaria and 

Entomology Section, LMVR

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lmvr/

internationalstudiesmalariaentomologysection

rgwadz@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Antimalarial drugs

n Malaria vaccines

n Vector biology and malaria 

transmission

n Training opportunities in Africa 

and Cambodia

Dr Gwadz received his Ph D from the University of Notre Dame in 

1970 for studies on the reproductive physiology of mosquitoes He 

was a postdoctoral fellow in tropical public health at the Harvard 

University School of Public Health before joining NIH in 1972 He served 

as head of the Medical Entomology Program in the NIAID Laboratory of 

Parasitic Diseases until 1995 In the Laboratory of Malaria and Vector 

Research (LMVR), he is responsible for the development and operation of 

the Malaria Research and Training Center in Bamako, Mali, and the new 

LMVR malaria research program in Cambodia In recognition of his work in 

establishing a program of cooperative research on vector-borne diseases 

in the Middle East, Dr Gwadz was named an Honorary Fellow of the 

Hebrew University of Jerusalem, an Honorary Member of the Board of the 

Ain Shams University (Cairo) Center for Study of Tropical Diseases, and an 

Honorary Fellow of the Egyptian Society of Parasitologists 

Carole A Long, Ph D

Chief, Malaria Immunology Section, LMVR

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lmvr/

malariaimmunologysection

clong@niaid.nih.gov

Dr Long received her B A from Cornell University and her Ph D in 

microbiology and immunology from the University of Pennsylvania

She completed postdoctoral training at the University of 

Pennsylvania She was a professor of microbiology and immunology at 

Drexel University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, teaching medical 

and graduate students and conducting research on malaria parasites The 

goal of her section is to provide a detailed picture of innate and adaptive 

humoral and cellular immune responses to blood stages of malaria 

parasites and to apply these insights to new vaccine approaches to the 

disease

Major Areas of Research

n Mechanisms responsible for the 

acquisition of immunity to malaria 

parasites in Malian children

n Immune responses to malaria 

blood-stage antigens in those living 

in malaria-endemic areas

n Comparing malaria-specific 

immune responses of Malian 

children to defined red blood cell 

polymorphisms 

n Development of standardized 

assays to evaluate antibodies to 

various blood-stage and sexualstage malaria parasite proteins 

n Use of proteomic approaches and 

aptamer technology to search for 

novel vaccine candidates
68 Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research

Major Areas of Research

n Role of vector saliva in blood 

feeding by arthropods

n Discovery and determination 

of mode of action of novel 

anti-clotting, anti-platelet, 

immunomodulatory, and 

vasodilatory agents

n Expression of novel proteins and 

peptides with known and unknown 

function

n Development of tools for 

transcriptome annotation

Dr Ribeiro received his M D from the State University of Rio de 

Janeiro and his Ph D from the Biophysics Institute of the Federal 

University of Rio de Janeiro He was an assistant and associate 

professor at the Harvard School of Public Health and professor in the 

department of entomology at the University of Arizona before joining NIAID 

in 1996 His work focuses on the role of vector saliva in blood feeding by 

arthropods, where a great diversity of pharmacologically active compounds 

and new targets for vaccination against vector-borne diseases have been 

uncovered Dr Ribeiro has served for many years in the Tropical Diseases 

Research Program of the World Health Organization and as editor and 

reviewer for several journals

José M C Ribeiro, M D , Ph D

Chief, Vector Biology Section, LMVR

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lmvr/

vectorBiologySection

jribeiro@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Mechanism by which malaria 

parasites invade erythrocytes 

(including the study of parasite 

ligands and erythrocyte receptors)

n Mechanism of antigenic variation

n Molecular basis for cerebral 

malaria

Dr Miller received his B S from Haverford College in Pennsylvania, 

his M S from Columbia University, and his M D from Washington 

University in St Louis He then served as a medical resident at 

Montifiore Hospital, New York, and as an intern and resident at Mount 

Sinai Hospital He is a member of the Association of American Physicians, 

American Society of Clinical Investigation, American Society of Tropical 

Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH), Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and 

Hygiene, National Academy of Sciences, and the Institute of Medicine

In 2011, he received the ASTMH Walter Reed Medal for distinguished 

accomplishment in the field of tropical medicine

Louis H Miller, M D

Chief, Malaria Cell Biology Section, LMVR

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lmvr/

malariacellbiologysection

lmiller@niaid.nih.gov
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 69

Major Areas of Research

n Functional transcriptomic 

approaches to characterizing 

vector salivary proteins 

n Development of natural models 

of leishmaniasis to study the 

impact of immune responses 

to sand fly salivary proteins in 

parasite transmission, early events 

of pathogenesis, and adaptive 

immunity

n Human cellular immune responses 

to sand fly salivary proteins in 

volunteers and people living in 

leishmaniasis-endemic areas

n Development of biomarkers 

for vector exposure using 

immunogenic salivary proteins 

Dr Valenzuela received his Ph D in biochemistry from the University 

of Arizona in 1995 He joined the NIAID Laboratory of Parasitic 

Diseases in 1996, became a research fellow in 1999, and became a 

tenure-track investigator in the Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research 

in October 2002 Dr Valenzuela became a senior investigator in October 

2009

Jesus G Valenzuela, Ph D

Chief, Vector Molecular Biology Section, LMVR

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lmvr/

vectormolecularbiologyunit

jvalenzuela@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Plasmodium genetics and 

genomics

n Mechanisms of antimalarial drug 

resistance and virulence

n Plasmodium gene regulation and 

expression

Dr Su received his Ph D in parasitology from the University of 

Georgia in 1990 He joined NIAID’s Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases 

in 1992 and became an investigator in the Laboratory of Malaria and 

Vector Research in 2001 He became a senior investigator in 2006

Xin-zhuan Su, Ph D

Chief, Malaria Functional Genomics Section, LMVR

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/

lmvr/malariafunctionalgenomicssection

xsu@niaid.nih.gov
70

Patrick E Duffy, M D , Chief

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lmiv

301-443-4605

Sections and Units 

Vaccine Development Unit, Pathogenesis and 

Immunity Section

Patrick Duffy, M.D.

Molecular Pathogenesis and Biomarkers Section

Michal Fried, Ph.D.

Human Immune Regulation Section

Michael Walther, Ph.D., M.Sc.

Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology

Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology

Research Activities 

The Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology (LMIV) was commissioned 

in 2009 to conduct basic and applied research relevant to malaria immunology and 

vaccine development, to pursue novel vaccine concepts, to produce prototype 

malaria vaccines, and to conduct early-phase clinical trials of promising vaccine 

candidates Our overarching goal is to develop malaria vaccines that will reduce 

severe disease and death among African children and pregnant women and will 

eliminate malaria from low-transmission areas of the world

LMIV has an organizational structure that encompasses both basic discovery and 

product development within a small, integrated team Discovery sections within 

LMIV conduct basic research on malaria pathogenesis and immunology, with an 

emphasis on studies in humans who are naturally or experimentally infected with 

malaria parasites In parallel, the Vaccine Development Unit conducts a variety of 

activities, including antigen selection and preclinical studies that move multiple 

vaccine candidates from concept to clinical trials efficiently and rapidly Together, 

the discovery sections and development unit form a research and testing enterprise 

that can rapidly translate ideas into proof of concept trials and then capture basic 

information about human immunity and responses to infection during human clinical 

trials Objectives of the lab are as follows:

n Enhance our basic understanding of malaria pathogenesis and immunity in 

humans

n Develop strategies for anti-infection, anti-disease, and transmission-blocking 

vaccines

n Produce and formulate antigens suitable for human testing

n Develop assays and perform animal trials that define the potential for protection

n Conduct clinical trials to test vaccines in the United States and in malariaendemic areas
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 71

Dr Duffy is chief of the Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and 

Vaccinology Before taking this position in November 2009, he served 

as malaria program director at Seattle Biomedical Research Institute 

(SBRI) and affiliate professor of global health at the University of Washington

His research is focused on understanding the pathogenesis and immunology 

of malaria in humans He leads the Pregnancy Malaria Initiative to develop a 

malaria vaccine for pregnant women, a Grand Challenges in Global Health 

consortium project to understand immunity to severe malaria in African 

children, and a consortium of laboratories identifying novel vaccine targets 

against liver-stage malaria parasites He recently established the Malaria 

Clinical Trials Center for experimental malaria infections of humans in Seattle 

and for several years led the SBRI-Tanzania Malaria Research Training 

Program for young African scientists He received his medical degree 

from Duke University, his internal medicine training at Walter Reed, and his 

postdoctoral training in molecular vaccine development at NIH

Patrick E Duffy, M D

Chief, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology

Chief, Pathogenesis and Immunity Section, LMIV

Chief, Vaccine Development Unit, LMIV

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lmiv

duffype@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research 

n Pregnancy malaria: conserved 

surface antigens and mechanisms 

of disease

n Liver-stage malaria: antigen 

discovery and models of immunity

n Severe malaria in children: 

epidemiology and pathogenesis

n Process development of vaccine 

candidates for commercial viability

n Preclinical evaluation of vaccine 

candidates

n Clinical trials in the United States 

and abroad

n Immunologic assay development

Dr Fried earned her Ph D in molecular parasitology at Hebrew 

University (Israel) and M Sc in biochemistry at Ben-Gurion University

She has performed groundbreaking work on the molecular basis of 

placental malaria and described the model of protective immunity that is the 

basis of the current effort to develop a pregnancy malaria vaccine The model 

of pregnancy malaria has been expanded to longitudinal studies of severe 

malaria in African children

Michal Fried, Ph D

Chief, Molecular Pathogenesis and Biomarkers 

Section, LMIV

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lmiv/

pages/molpathogenesibiomarkers.aspx

friedm@mail.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research 

n Correlates of immunity: parasite 

adhesion phenotypes, parasite 

antigens, and antigen-specific 

antibodies

n Disease biomarkers: pathway 

analysis of host response and 

disease comparison

n Identifying targets of preerythrocytic immunity
72 Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology

Dr Walther joined the Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and 

Vaccinology in 2010 as chief of the Human Immune Regulation 

Section Prior to this position, he was senior immunologist at the 

Malaria Research Program of the UK Medical Research Council laboratories 

in The Gambia His education includes medical training at the University of 

Bonn, Germany, with specializations in general medicine, tropical medicine, 

and emergency medicine; an M Sc in tropical medicine and international 

health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; and a 

Ph D and the venia legendi in tropical medicine and infectious disease 

immunology (equivalent to an associate professorship) from the University 

of Bonn

Michael Walther, Ph D , M Sc

Chief, Human Immune Regulation Section, LMIV

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lmiv/

pages/humanimmunereg.aspx

waltherrc@mail.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Role of immune regulatory 

components induced by malaria 

in the outcome of subsequent 

malaria infections, using 

samples from field studies

n Induction requirements of 

malaria-induced immune 

regulatory components in vitro

n Clinical testing of adjunctive 

treatment for severe malaria
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 73

Research Activities 

The Laboratory of Molecular Immunology (LMI) studies innate 

and adaptive immune system function in health and disease 

and is especially interested in delineating mechanisms that 

control specific leukocyte movement A major focus at the 

molecular level is the chemokines and other chemoattractants 

and their G protein-coupled receptors

LMI scientists also pursue studies of mucosal immunology in 

the gut, reovirus and rotavirus infection, and mouse models of 

inflammatory bowel disease They explore the basic properties 

of neutrophils, macrophages, naïve and memory T cells, and 

dendritic cells, as well as genetic risk factors for complex 

immune-mediated diseases

In LMI, studies on the molecular pathogenesis of infectious and 

immunologic/inflammatory diseases, including HIV/AIDS, West 

Nile virus infection, Listeria infection, fungal infection, sepsis, 

atherosclerosis, psoriasis, and primary immunodeficiency, aim 

to identify novel therapeutic targets and vaccine strategies

Philip M Murphy, M D , Chief

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lmi

301-496-8616

Sections and Units 

Molecular Signaling Section

Philip M. Murphy, M.D.

Inflammation Biology Section

Joshua M. Farber, M.D.

Mucosal Immunobiology Section

Brian L. Kelsall, M.D.

Immune Activation Section

Ulrich K. Siebenlist, Ph.D.

Laboratory of Molecular Immunology
74 Laboratory of Molecular Immunology 

Dr Murphy obtained an A B from Princeton University in 1975 and 

an M D from Cornell University Medical College in 1981 He trained 

in internal medicine at New York University from 1981 to 1985, 

serving as chief resident from 1984 to 1985, and in infectious diseases at 

NIAID from 1985 to 1988 He began his research career as a medical staff 

fellow in the Bacterial Diseases Section of the NIAID Laboratory of Clinical 

Investigation in 1986 and was promoted to senior investigator with tenure in 

the Laboratory of Host Defenses (LHD) in 1992 In 1998, he was promoted 

to the Senior Biomedical Research Service and named chief of the LHD 

Molecular Signaling Section In 2003, Dr Murphy’s research group was 

reorganized as part of the new Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, where 

he served first as acting chief from 2003 to 2006 and then as chief from 2006 

to the present

Philip M Murphy, M D

Chief, Laboratory of Molecular Immunology

Chief, Molecular Signaling Section, LMI

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lmi/

molecularsignalingsection

pmurphy@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research 

n Host defense and inflammation

n G-protein-coupled 

chemoattractant receptors

n Genetic risk factors in infectious 

and immune-mediated diseases

Dr Farber obtained his M D from Johns Hopkins University, where 

he did clinical training in internal medicine and infectious diseases

Dr Farber’s postdoctoral training in bench research was both at NIH 

and at Johns Hopkins Dr Farber joined the NIAID Laboratory of Clinical 

Investigation in 1993, became a senior investigator in 2000, and moved to 

the Laboratory of Molecular Immunology at its inception in 2004

Joshua M Farber, M D

Chief, Inflammation Biology Section, LMI

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lmi/

inflammationbiology

jfarber@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Chemokines and their receptors in 

health and disease
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 75

Dr Kelsall received his B A in human biology from Stanford University 

in 1982 In 1986, he earned his M D from Case Western Reserve 

University School of Medicine He did postdoctoral training in internal 

medicine at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center from 1986 to 1989 

and in infectious diseases at the University of Virginia Medical Center from 

1989 to 1992 In 1992, Dr Kelsall came to NIH, completed fellowship training

in mucosal immunology in 1996, and became a senior investigator in 2003

His research focuses on the regulation of immune responses in the intestine, 

in particular the role that unique intestinal dendritic cell and macrophage 

populations play in the induction of immunity to intestinal viral pathogens and 

mucosal vaccines and in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease

Brian L Kelsall, M D

Chief, Mucosal Immunobiology Section, LMI

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lmi/

mucosalimmunitysection

bkelsall@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research 

n Antigen presentation by mucosal 

dendritic cells and the regulation of 

mucosal immune responses

n Regulation of IL-12 production

n Innate and adaptive immunity to 

intestinal viral infection

n Genetic susceptibility to intestinal 

inflammation in mouse models of 

inflammatory bowel disease

Dr Siebenlist received his Ph D at Harvard University, studying 

protein-DNA interactions with Nobel Laureate Dr Walter Gilbert

As a postdoctoral fellow in Dr Philip Leder’s laboratory at both 

NIH and Harvard Medical School, Dr Siebenlist studied immunoglobulin 

gene structures and the regulation of the myc oncogene He then joined 

the NIAID Laboratory of Immunoregulation as chief of the Immune 

Activation Section In 2013, his section joined the Laboratory of Molecular 

Immunology Dr Siebenlist has made many significant contributions to 

the present understanding of the regulation and function of NF-kappa B 

transcription factors, which serve as master regulators of numerous immune 

responses

Ulrich Siebenlist, Ph D

Chief, Immune Activation Section, LMI 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lmi/

immuneactivationsection

usiebenlist@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research 

n Normal functions of NF-kappa B 

transcription factors and their regulators 

n Dysregulated functions of NF-kappa 

B transcription factors in disease

n Identification of factors/regulators that may 

serve as targets for therapeutic intervention

n Functions of the IL-17 cytokine family in 

host defenses

n Functions and mechanisms of action of 

IL-17 cytokines in specific inflammatory 

and autoimmune diseases 

n Molecular dissection of the signaling 

pathways engaged by IL-17 cytokines and 

development of therapeutic reagents to 

block specific signaling paths in disease
76 Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology

Malcolm A Martin, M D , Chief 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lmm

301-496-4012

Sections and Units

Viral Pathogenesis and Vaccine Section

Malcolm A. Martin, M.D.

Jason M. Brenchley, Ph.D.

Viral Budding Unit

Fadila Bouamr, Ph.D.

Nonhuman Primate Virology Section

Vanessa M. Hirsch, D.V.M., D.Sc.

Viral Biology Section

Christine A. Kozak, Ph.D.

Viral Biochemistry Section

Klaus Strebel, Ph.D.

Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology

Research Activities 

When it was established in 1981, the Laboratory of Molecular 

Microbiology (LMM) investigated the structure, function, and 

regulation of a diverse group of microorganisms including 

RNA and DNA viruses, aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, and 

mycoplasmas Currently, the main focus of LMM scientists 

is murine and primate retroviruses, with the principal area of 

research activity involving HIV-1 Fundamental investigations 

of viral gene regulation, protein structure and function, 

and particle assembly are integrated with studies of the 

determinants of immunologic protection against HIV and 

viral pathogenesis Major research areas are as follows:

n Studies of the synthesis, processing, and assembly of 

retroviral-encoded proteins into progeny virions 

n Exploration of the structure and function relationship 

of retroviral accessory proteins synthesized during 

productive and chronic viral infections 

n Understanding the regulation of retroviral gene activity 

and how viral encoded proteins dysregulate normal 

cellular processes 

n Development of animal models for investigations of viral 

pathogenesis, the identification of potentially useful 

antiviral agents, and the development of protective 

vaccines
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 77

Dr Martin received an M D from Yale University School of Medicine in 

1962 and, following two years of clinical training in internal medicine 

at the University of Rochester, joined NIH as a research associate

He initially investigated the replication and gene regulation of SV40 and 

polyomaviruses and subsequently studied endogenous murine and human 

retroviral sequences Since 1984, his research program has focused on HIV

Dr Martin was appointed chief of the Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology 

when it was established in 1981 He is a member of the National Academy 

of Sciences and the recipient of numerous scientific awards

Malcolm A Martin, M D

Chief, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology

Chief, Viral Pathogenesis and Vaccine Section, LMM

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lmm/

viralpathogenesisvaccinesection

mmartin@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Studies of primate and murine 

retroviral biology and genetics in cell 

culture systems and animal models

n Assessment of SIV and SIV/HIV 

chimeric virus (SHIV) acute infections 

in macaque monkeys 

n Development of R5-tropic SHIVs 

as challenge viruses in vaccine 

experiments

n Use of R5-tropic SHIVs to investigate 

the development of cross-reacting, 

anti-HIV-1, neutralizing antibodies 

in virus-infected and vaccinated 

nonhuman primate models 

Dr Brenchley received a master’s degree from Idaho State University in 

1999 and received a Ph D from the University of Texas Southwestern 

Medical Center at Dallas in 2003 He joined NIH as a research fellow, 

studying immunopathogenesis and mucosal immunology in HIV-infected 

individuals Since 2008, he has been an investigator in the Laboratory of 

Molecular Microbiology

Jason M Brenchley, Ph D

Senior Investigator, Viral Pathogenesis and 

Vaccine Section, LMM

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lmm/

viralpathogenesisvaccinesection/pages/brenchley.aspx

jbrenchl@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Immunopathogenesis in nonhuman 

primate models of HIV

n Microbial translocation and immune 

activation

n Mucosal immunology and 

mechanisms of microbial 

translocation
78 Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology

Major Areas of Research

n AIDS pathogenesis 

n Evolution and origins of primate 

lentiviruses 

n HIV vaccine development 

Dr Hirsch received her D V M from the University of Saskatchewan 

in 1977 and did a residency in pathology at the same institution, 

becoming board-certified by the American College of Veterinary 

Pathologists in 1984 She earned her D Sc from Harvard School of Public 

Health in 1988 She was a research assistant professor at Georgetown 

University until 1992, when she joined the NIAID Laboratory of Infectious 

Diseases, transferring to the Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology in 1999 

and becoming tenured in 2002

Vanessa M Hirsch D V M , D Sc

Chief, Nonhuman Primate Virology Section, LMM

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lmm/

nonhumanprimatevirology

vhirsch@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Recruitment and function of 

cellular factors that facilitate virus 

separation from cells and structurefunction studies of proteins 

involved in these processes 

n New host factors involved in virus 

release 

n Role of ubiquitin in virus egress 

and membrane scission and other 

important cellular processes

n Virus assembly and trafficking to 

sites of virus budding 

Dr Fadila Bouamr received her Ph D from Victor Segalen Bordeaux 

University in 1997 She performed her postdoctoral research with 

Dr Carol Carter at the State University of New York at Stony Brook 

and with Dr Steve Goff at Columbia University She joined the Laboratory of 

Molecular Microbiology in December 2004

Fadila Bouamr, Ph D

Chief, Viral Budding Unit, LMM

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lmm/

pages/viralbudding.aspx

bouamrf@niaid.nih.gov
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 79

Major Areas of Research

n Genetics of resistance to mouse 

retroviruses

n Naturally occurring mouse 

retroviruses

Dr Kozak received her Ph D in biology from Yale University in 1977

After a postdoctoral fellowship at NIAID under Dr Wallace Rowe, 

she joined the Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology (LMM) in 1984

In 1992, Dr Kozak became chief of the Viral Biology Section in LMM She 

is an associate editor for several journals, has served on the Committee on 

Standardized Nomenclature for Mice, was chair of the Mouse Chromosome 

5 Committee for 10 years, and has authored more than 400 research 

publications on mouse retroviruses and mouse genetics

Christine A Kozak, Ph D

Chief, Viral Biology Section, LMM

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lmm/

viralBiologySection

ckozak@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Biological and biochemical 

functions of HIV accessory proteins 

n Characterization of cellular factors 

involved in Vif and Vpu function 

n Characterization of innate immune 

defense mechanisms

Dr Strebel received his Ph D in microbiology in 1985 from the 

University of Heidelberg, Germany After postdoctoral research 

in Germany on foot-and-mouth disease protein processing and 

maturation, he joined the NIAID Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology 

(LMM) in 1986 as a postdoctoral fellow to work on molecular mechanisms 

of HIV-1 replication He was awarded tenure in 1998 and, since 2000, has 

been chief of the Viral Biochemistry Section within LMM

Klaus Strebel, Ph D

Chief, Viral Biochemistry Section, LMM

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lmm/

viralBiochemistrySection

kstrebel@niaid.nih.gov

2013 – 2014 Opportunities 81

 

Alan Sher, Ph D , Chief

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lpd

301-496-3535

Sections and Units 

Immunobiology Section

Alan Sher, Ph.D.

Clinical Parasitology Section, Helminth Immunology Section

Thomas B. Nutman, M.D.

T-Lymphocyte Biology Unit

Daniel L. Barber, Ph.D.

Mucosal Immunology Section

Yasmine Belkaid, Ph.D.

Molecular Parasitology Unit

Michael Grigg, Ph.D.

Eosinophil Pathology Unit

Amy D. Klion, M.D.

Microbial Pathogenesis Section

Stephen H. Leppla, Ph.D

Gastrointestinal Parasites Section

Theodore E. Nash, M.D.

Intracellular Parasite Biology Section

David L. Sacks, Ph.D.

Immunopathogenesis Section

Thomas A. Wynn, Ph.D.

Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases

Research Activities 

The Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases (LPD) conducts basic and applied research on the prevention, 

control, and treatment of a variety of parasitic and bacterial diseases of global importance The work of 

the group is largely directed toward the identification of immunological and molecular targets for disease 

intervention The pathogens studied include parasitic protozoa, helminths, intestinal nematodes, and nonparasitic agents Much of this work aims to uncover basic aspects of the host-pathogen interaction in both 

humans and experimental animal models, as well as in the invertebrate vectors that transmit medically 

important parasites A common theme in many of LPD’s research projects is the regulatory environment 

induced in chronic parasitic and bacterial infection and the identification of determinants of host resistance 

and pathology, with a focus on barrier sites

LPD also includes a clinical group that conducts patient-centered research at the NIH Clinical Center 

and international field studies in India, Latin America, and Africa Four new programs focus on genetic 

determinants of virulence in apicomplexan protozoa, the function of the eosinophil in human infectious and 

inflammatory disease processes, the role of commensal microbiota in immune regulation and homeostasis, 

and T-cell regulation in mycobacterial and fungal opportunistic infections

 
82

Major Areas of Research

n Regulation of the host immune 

response to parasitic helminth 

infection 

n Influence of helminth infection 

on expression of non-parasitic 

infections, atopy, and asthma 

n Molecular characterization of 

tissue-invasive helminth parasites 

n Clinical definition and pathogenesis 

underlying parasitic diseases 

n Hypereosinophilic syndromes, from 

pathogenesis to novel therapies

Dr Nutman received his A B from Brown University and his M D

from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine He did an 

internal medicine residency at New York University (Bellevue) and 

postdoctoral training in the Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases (LPD) He is 

board-certified in internal medicine and allergy and immunology He also 

holds a diploma/certificate in tropical medicine and travelers’ health He 

has been at LPD since 1982, where he is currently deputy chief, as well as 

chief of both the Helminth Immunology Section and the Clinical Parasitology 

Section In addition, he is the director of the NIAID International Center for 

Excellence in Research (ICER) located in Chennai, India, as well as director 

of the filariasis unit at the NIAID ICER in Mali He is on numerous advisory 

committees and editorial boards and holds patents related to parasite 

diagnosis and vaccine development He is the author or coauthor of more 

than 400 papers and book chapters and has received multiple awards for 

his work in tropical medicine and immunology

Thomas B Nutman, M D

Deputy Chief, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases 

Chief, Helminth Immunology Section, LPD

Chief, Clinical Parasitology Section, LPD 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lpd/

helminthimmunologysection

tnutman@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Mechanisms of host resistance and 

immune regulation in parasitic and 

mycobacterial infection

n Role of innate pathogen 

recognition in the initiation of 

adaptive immunity and in CD4+ 

T-cell subset effector choice

n Regulatory pathways limiting 

pathogen-induced Th1 

immunopathology

n Immunotherapeutic approaches to 

the treatment of infectious disease

Dr Sher received his Ph D from the University of California-San Diego 

and did his postdoctoral training in the division of parasitology at the 

National Institute for Medical Research in Mill Hill, London In 1980, 

after several years as a research associate and then assistant professor in 

the department of pathology at Harvard Medical School, he joined NIAID as 

a section chief in the Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases (LPD) Sher became 

chief of LPD in 2003 and was promoted to NIH Distinguished Investigator in 

2011 

Alan Sher, Ph D

Chief, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases

Chief, Immunobiology Section, LPD 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/

lpd/immunobiologySection

asher@niaid.nih.gov

Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 83

Yasmine Belkaid, Ph D

Chief, Mucosal Immunology Section, LPD

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lpd/

mucosalimmunology

ybelkaid@niaid.nih.gov 

Daniel L Barber, Ph D

Chief, T-Lymphocyte Biology Unit, LPD

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lpd/tlymphocyte

barberd@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Immunoregulation during infection 

with Mycobacterium tuberculosis 

and opportunistic fungal pathogens 

n Mechanisms of mycobacteriaassociated immune reconstitution 

inflammatory syndrome 

n Role of the PD-1 pathway in the 

regulation of T cell responses

Dr Barber obtained his B S from Rider University and his Ph D

from Emory University in the department of microbiology and 

immunology In 2006, he joined the Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases 

as a postdoctoral fellow in the Immunobiology Section In 2012, Dr Barber 

was awarded a position as an Earl Stadtman Tenure-Track Investigator in 

the Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases

Major Areas of Research

n Role of the microbiota in immunity 

to infection

n Role of dietary metabolites in 

promoting immune regulation and 

immune responses to pathogens 

n Tissue-specific regulatory 

responses to infection

n Leishmania major, Toxoplasma 

gondii, Cryptosporidium, and

Microsporidium spp

Dr Belkaid obtained her Ph D in 1996 from the Pasteur Institute 

in France on innate responses to Leishmania infection In 2002, 

following a postdoctoral fellowship at NIAID on immune regulation 

during Leishmania infection, she joined the Children’s Hospital Research 

Foundation in Cincinnati as an assistant professor She joined the NIAID 

Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases in 2005 Since 2008, she also has served 

as adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania
84

Major Areas of Research

n Identification and characterization 

of new subtypes of 

hypereosinophilic syndromes 

n Elucidation of the role of the 

eosinophil in pathogenesis of 

eosinophilic disorders 

n Assessment of the safety and 

efficacy of chemotherapeutic 

agents targeting eosinophils (or 

their precursors) 

n Prevention of post-treatment 

reactions in loiasis 

Dr Klion earned her B A from Princeton University and her M D

from New York University School of Medicine After completing a 

residency in internal medicine at Johns Hopkins University, she 

was a postdoctoral fellow in the Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases (LPD) 

from 1989 to 1991 She completed her fellowship in infectious diseases at 

the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, where she was 

appointed as an assistant professor in the division of infectious diseases

She returned to LPD in 1997 as a staff clinician She became a tenure-track 

clinical investigator in 2009

Amy D Klion, M D

Chief, Eosinophil Pathology Unit, LPD

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lpd/

eosinophilpathology

aklion@niaid.nih.gov 

Major Areas of Research

n Biology and genetics of virulence 

shifts in protozoan parasite 

populations

n Forward/reverse genetics and 

functional genomic screens 

that identify protozoan parasite 

virulence factors

n Mechanisms of host resistance and 

Toxoplasma pathogenesis

n Structure-function and regulation 

analyses of parasite gene 

families that modulate host 

immunity, infectivity, and parasite 

transmissibility

Dr Grigg earned his B Sc in 1989 from the University of British 

Columbia He obtained his Ph D and D I C in 1994 from the 

Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine at the 

University of London From 1994 to 1997, Dr Grigg was a Howard Hughes 

Medical Institute senior fellow at the University of Washington From 1997 

to 2001, he trained as a postdoctoral scholar in molecular parasitology at 

Stanford University In 2002, he was appointed as an assistant professor 

of medicine, microbiology, and immunology at the University of British 

Columbia In 2006, he joined the Laboratory of Parasitic Disease as a 

tenure-track investigator

Michael E Grigg, Ph D

Chief, Molecular Parasitology Unit, LPD

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lpd/

molecularparasitologyunit

griggm@niaid.nih.gov

Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 85

Major Areas of Research

n Treatment of neurocysticercosis 

n Natural history, disease association, 

morbidity, prevention, and treatment 

of perilesional edema episodes 

associated with calcific cysticercosis 

n Development of model cestodes 

infection 

n Immune response associated with 

treatment of acute inflammatory 

responses 

n Antigenic variation in Giardia, cellular 

biology, and differences among 

Giardia groups/isolates

Dr Nash received his M D from the University of Miami in 1968 

and completed his internship and residency at Duke University In 

1970, he was appointed a fellow in the NIAID Laboratory of Clinical 

Investigation and, in 1973, became a staff fellow in the Laboratory of 

Parasitic Diseases (LPD) After an infectious disease fellowship at the Beth 

Israel-Children’s Hospital in Boston and a fellowship in biological chemistry 

at Harvard University, he returned to LPD as a senior scientist in 1976

Theodore E Nash, M D

Chief, Gastrointestinal Parasites Section, LPD 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lpd/

gastrointestinalParasitesSection

tnash@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Structure-function relationships 

in bacterial protein toxins and the 

roles of toxins and other virulence 

factors in contributing to bacterial 

pathogenesis 

n Bacterial gene regulation, 

interactions of bacteria and toxins 

with animal cells and tissues, the 

effects of toxins on host physiology, 

and the molecular mechanisms of 

toxin action 

n Use of basic research results in the 

design of vaccines and therapeutics

Dr Leppla earned a B S in biology from the California Institute of 

Technology and a Ph D in biochemistry from the University of 

Wisconsin After postdoctoral study at the University of CaliforniaBerkeley and Brown University, he became a research scientist at the 

U S Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases He moved to 

NIH in 1989 and to NIAID in 2003

Stephen H Leppla, Ph D

Chief, Microbial Pathogenesis Section, LPD

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lpd/

microbialpathogenesis

sleppla@niaid.nih.gov
86

Major Areas of Research

n Chronic inflammation and fibrosis 

n Asthma 

n Pulmonary fibrosis 

n Liver fibrosis in schistosomiasis 

n Th2 and Th17 responses in 

inflammatory bowel disease 

Dr Wynn obtained his Ph D from the University of Wisconsin-Madison 

Medical School in the department of microbiology and immunology

He is a member of the American Association of Immunologists and 

the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Dr Wynn is the 

recipient of the Oswaldo Cruz Medal and the NIH Certificate of Merit He 

joined the Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases in 1991 He became a senior 

investigator in 2002

Thomas A Wynn, Ph D

Chief, Immunopathogenesis Section, LPD

Scientific Director, NIH-Oxford-Cambridge Scholars 

Program 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lpd/

immunopathogenesisSection

twynn@niaid.nih.gov 

Major Areas of Research

n Parasite and sand fly molecules 

controlling the development of 

transmissible infections 

n Development and evaluation 

of candidate vaccines against 

leishmaniasis 

n Mechanisms of acquired resistance 

and those controlling persistent 

infection 

n Mechanisms underlying pathogenesis 

and immunosuppression in visceral 

leishmaniasis and development of 

immune-based therapies 

Dr Sacks obtained his Ph D from Harvard University for studies 

on immune responses to chlamydial infections Following a 

postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institute for Medical 

Research in London (Mill Hill) studying immune suppression in African 

trypanosomiasis, he joined the Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases in 1980

He became a senior investigator in 1986

David L Sacks, Ph D

Chief, Intracellular Parasite Biology Section, LPD 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lpd/

intracellularParasiteBiologySection

dsacks@niaid.nih.gov 

Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases
87

Bruce W Chesebro, M D , Chief

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lpvd

406-363-9354

Sections and Units 

TSE/Prion and Retroviral Pathogenesis Section

Bruce W. Chesebro, M.D.

TSE/Prion Cell Biology Section

Gerald S. Baron, Ph.D.

TSE/Prion Biochemistry Section

Byron Caughey, Ph.D.

Retroviral Molecular Biology Section

Leonard H. Evans, Ph.D.

Retroviral Immunology Section

Kim J. Hasenkrug, Ph.D.

Neuroimmunology Unit

Karin Peterson, Ph.D.

TSE/Prion Molecular Biology Section

Suzette A. Priola, Ph.D.

Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases

Research Activities 

The Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases (LPVD) studies 

persistent active, latent viral, and prion disease infections

Investigators place particular emphasis on persistent infections of the nervous system and of the hematopoietic and 

lymphoid systems The laboratory also is studying the roles 

of persistent infection in the development of retrovirusinduced immunosuppression Models being examined 

include prion diseases of various species and murine and 

human retroviruses

The major research goals of the laboratory are to understand 

basic pathogenic mechanisms induced by these infections, 

to study immune or other defense mechanisms used by 

infected individuals against infections, and to develop drug 

therapies capable of reducing or eliminating such infections

2013 – 2014 Opportunities 
88

Dr Baron received his Ph D in biochemistry from the University 

of Victoria, Canada, in 1998, studying genes required for 

intramacrophage growth of the facultative intracellular bacterium 

Francisella tularensis. He conducted his postdoctoral research on prions 

and transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in the laboratory 

of Dr Byron Caughey at NIAID’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories In 2005, he 

established an independent laboratory as a tenure-track investigator

Gerald S Baron, Ph D

Chief, TSE/Prion Cell Biology Section, LPVD

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lpvd/

TSEPrionCellBiologySection

gbaron@niaid.nih.gov

Dr Chesebro received his M D from Harvard Medical School in 

1968 He completed postdoctoral studies at the Karolinska Institute, 

Sweden, in 1967; at Stanford University from 1968 to 1970; and at 

the National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases from 1970 to 1972

He came to NIAID in 1972 and became chief of the Laboratory of Persistent 

Viral Diseases in 1979 He was elected a fellow in the American Academy 

of Microbiology in 2011

Bruce W Chesebro, M D

Chief, Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases

Chief, TSE/Prion and Retroviral Pathogenesis Section, 

LPVD

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lpvd/

TSEPrionRetroviralPathogenesisSection

bchesebro@niaid.nih.gov 

Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases 

Major Areas of Research

n Transmissible spongiform 

encephalopathies, or prion 

diseases

n Retroviral brain diseases

Major Areas of Research

n TSEs (prion diseases) 

n Determining mechanisms of 

infection, intra- and intercellular 

transport of TSE agents, and 

neurodegeneration 

n Defining the nature of the TSE 

agent
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 89

Major Areas of Research

n Mixed retrovirus infections

n Interactions of exogenous 

retroviruses with their endogenous 

counterparts

n Genetic alterations of retroviruses 

and their role in disease

n Retroviral vectors for gene delivery

Dr Evans received his Ph D in biochemistry in 1977 at the Oregon 

Health Sciences University in Portland He did postdoctoral studies 

on the genetic structure of retroviruses in the department of 

molecular and cellular biology at the University of California-Berkeley from 

1977 to 1980 He then joined NIAID’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories, where 

he is currently a senior investigator in the Laboratory of Persistent Viral 

Diseases

Leonard H Evans, Ph D

Chief, Retroviral Molecular Biology Section, LPVD

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lpvd/

retroviralMolecularBiologySection

levans@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n TSEs (prion diseases)

n Prion structure, amplification and 

detection, and disease prevention 

and therapeutics

n Prion protein functions and cell 

biology

n Protein-folding diseases

Dr Caughey received his Ph D in biochemistry from the University of 

Wisconsin-Madison in 1985 and completed postdoctoral studies in 

pharmacology at Duke University Medical Center from 1985 to 1986

He has conducted transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE)/prion 

research in the Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases since 1986

He became a tenured senior investigator in 1994 Dr Caughey is an editor 

for the Journal of Virology.

Byron Caughey, Ph D

Chief, TSE/Prion Biochemistry Section, LPVD

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lpvd/

TSEPrionBiochemistrySection

bcaughey@nih.gov
90 Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases 

Karin E Peterson, Ph D

Chief, Neuroimmunology Unit, LPVD

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lpvd/

neuroimmunologyUnit

petersonka@niaid.nih.gov

Kim J Hasenkrug, Ph D

Chief, Retroviral Immunology Section, LPVD

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lpvd/

retroviralImmunologySection

khasenkrug@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Mechanisms of vaccine protection 

against retroviral infection

n Chronic retroviral infections: 

immunological control, regulatory 

T cells, immunomodulation, and 

therapeutics

n Mechanisms of genetic resistance 

to retroviral disease

Dr Hasenkrug received his Ph D in cell biology from the Albert 

Einstein College of Medicine in 1991 and conducted his 

postdoctoral research in the laboratory of Dr Bruce Chesebro 

at NIAID’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories In 1998, he established an 

independent laboratory to study retroviral immunology and mechanisms of 

vaccine protection A special focus of his work has been the study of the 

establishment and maintenance of chronic infections and virus escape

Dr Hasenkrug serves as an affiliated associate professor at Montana State 

University and the University of Montana and as a scientific advisor for the 

International AIDS Vaccine Initiative

Major Areas of Research

n Influence of innate immune 

responses on 1) the function of 

intrinsic brain cells during viral 

infections, 2) retrovirus infection 

and pathogenesis in the CNS, 

and 3) bunyavirus infection and 

pathogenesis in the CNS

n Autonomous and non-autonomous 

mechanisms of innate-immunityinduced neuronal damage/

protection during viral infections 

of the CNS

Dr Peterson received her Ph D in microbiology and immunology in 

1998 from the University of Missouri Medical School, where she 

studied autoimmunity and the activation of self-reactive T cells

She then went to NIAID’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML) in 1998 as 

a postdoctoral fellow in the Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases and 

applied her skills in immunology toward understanding the mechanisms 

that control the immune response to retrovirus infection During this time, 

she became interested in the immune responses to virus infections in the 

central nervous system (CNS) In 2004, Dr Peterson accepted a position 

as an assistant professor at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary 

Medicine, where she furthered her studies on viral pathogenesis in the CNS 

and also taught classes in immunology and virology In 2008, she returned 

to RML as a tenure-track investigator to study the innate immune responses 

in the CNS and their role in viral pathogenesis
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 91

Dr Priola received her Ph D in microbiology and immunology in 

1990 from the University of California, Los Angeles In 1991, she 

joined NIAID’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories, where she is now a 

senior investigator She currently is chief of the TSE/Prion Molecular Biology 

Section and serves on the editorial boards of both the Journal of Biological 

Chemistry and Virology.

Suzette A Priola, Ph D

Chief, TSE/Prion Molecular Biology Section, LPVD

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lpvd/

tseprionmolecularbiologysection

spriola@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research 

n Prion diseases

n Molecular mechanisms of 

neurodegenerative diseases
92 Laboratory of Systems Biology

Research Activities

Modern technology now allows for the analysis of immune responses 

and host-pathogen interactions at a global level, across scales ranging 

from intracellular signaling networks to individual cell behavior to 

the functioning of a tissue, an organ, and the whole organism The 

challenge is not only to collect the large amounts of data such methods 

permit, but also to organize the information in a manner that enhances 

our understanding of how the immune system operates or how 

pathogens affect their hosts

To do this, it is necessary to develop detailed quantitative models that 

can be used to predict the behavior of a complex biological system, 

whose properties help explain the mechanistic basis for physiological 

and pathological responses to infection or vaccination and can be 

used to design new therapies or vaccines

Achieving this goal requires an interdisciplinary effort, and the 

Laboratory of Systems Biology (LSB) is designed to address this 

challenge

LSB is an integrated group of scientists and support staff, rather 

than a collection of independent laboratories Although it has been 

established within NIAID, it is expected to play a major role in 

fostering the growth of systems biology efforts across NIH, through 

its development of new software tools for complex systems modeling 

and high-throughput screening 

Ronald N Germain, M D , Ph D , Chief

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lsb

301-496-1904

Sections and Units 

Lymphocyte Biology Section

Ronald N. Germain, M.D., Ph.D.

Signaling Systems Unit

Iain Fraser, Ph.D.

Computational Biology Unit

Martin Meier-Schellersheim, Ph.D.

Cellular Networks Proteomics Unit

Aleksandra Nita-Lazar, Ph.D.

Systems Genomics and Bioinformatics Unit

John Tsang, Ph.D.

T-Cell Biophysics Unit

Rajat Varma, Ph.D.

Laboratory of Systems Biology
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 93

Major Areas of Research

n Analysis of the signaling pathway 

interactions in immune cells that 

define context-specific responses to 

pathogens

n Profiling and modeling of the cellular 

response to complex stimuli

n Application of RNAi screening 

technology to the identification of 

signaling network components in 

immune cells

n Design and implementation of highthroughput and high-content assays 

to facilitate computational modeling 

of immune cell behavior and function

Dr Fraser received his B S in biochemistry from Heriot-Watt 

University, Edinburgh, in 1990 and his Ph D in biochemistry from 

Imperial College, University of London, in 1995 He was a Wellcome 

Trust International postdoctoral fellow at the Vollum Institute in Portland, 

Oregon, from 1996 to 1999 He joined the Alliance for Cellular Signaling 

(AfCS) research consortium in 2000 as lead scientist of the molecular 

biology group at the California Institute of Technology and became codirector of the AfCS Molecular Biology Laboratory in 2005 He joined NIAID 

in 2008 as leader of the Molecular and Cell Biology Team, which became 

the Signaling Systems Unit in 2011

Iain D C Fraser, Ph D

Chief, Signaling Systems Unit, LSB

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lsb/Pages/

signalingSystems.aspx

fraseri@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n T-cell receptor signaling in 

response to peptide/MHC molecule 

binding

n Computational modeling of T-cell 

ligand discrimination

n Control of immune cell migration 

and cell-cell interaction in vivo by 

structural and chemical cues

n Intravital imaging, analysis, and 

modeling of immune cell dynamics

Dr Germain received his Sc B and Sc M from Brown University in 

1970 and his M D and Ph D from Harvard Medical School and 

Harvard University in 1976 From 1976 to 1982, he served as 

an instructor, assistant professor, and associate professor of pathology 

at Harvard Medical School From 1982 to 1987, he worked as a senior 

investigator in the Laboratory of Immunology (LI) In 1987, he was 

appointed chief of the Lymphocyte Biology Section of LI In 1994, Dr

Germain was named deputy chief of LI In 2006, he became director of the 

NIAID Program in Systems Immunology and Infectious Disease Modeling, 

which became the Laboratory of Systems Biology in 2011

Ronald N Germain, M D , Ph D

Chief, Laboratory of Systems Biology

Chief, Lymphocyte Biology Section, LSB

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lsb/pages/germain.aspx

rgermain@niaid.nih.gov
94

Major Areas of Research

n Protein modifications involved in 

cell signaling

n Absolute quantification of 

molecular representation and 

interaction

Dr Nita-Lazar received her Ph D in biochemistry in 2003 from the 

University of Basel for studies performed at the Friedrich Miescher 

Institute for Biomedical Research, where she analyzed protein 

glycosylation using mass spectrometry methods After postdoctoral training 

at Stony Brook University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where 

she continued to investigate post-translational protein modifications and 

their influence on cell signaling, she joined the NIAID Program in Systems 

Immunology and Infectious Disease Modeling, now the Laboratory of 

Systems Biology, in April 2009

Aleksandra Nita-Lazar, Ph D

Chief, Cellular Networks Proteomics Unit, LSB

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lsb/Pages/

cellularnetworksproteomics.aspx 

nitalazarau@niaid.nih.gov 

Major Areas of Research

n Computational modeling and 

simulation of intra- and intercellular 

signaling processes

n Exploration of how intracellular 

reaction-diffusion processes 

determine cellular communication 

and behavior 

n Investigation of T-cell proliferation, 

differentiation, and death to identify 

mechanisms of T-cell homeostasis 

and the reasons for its failure after 

HIV/SIV infection 

n Development of interfaces 

between proteomic databases and 

computational modeling tools

Dr Meier-Schellersheim obtained a master’s degree in physics in 

1997 and a Ph D in 2001 from the University of Hamburg His 

research focuses on building a bridge between experimental and 

computational cell biology through the development and application of 

modeling tools that combine graphical interfaces with the capability to 

perform spatially and temporally highly resolved simulations, even for 

models of complex cellular signaling processes

Martin Meier-Schellersheim, Ph D

Chief, Computational Biology Unit, LSB

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lsb/

computationalBiology

mms@niaid.nih.gov

Laboratory of Systems Biology
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 95

Major Areas of Research

n Translating ligand engagement to 

immune responses

n Diversity in T-cell receptor (TCR) 

proximal signals dictated by 

receptor-ligand interaction affinity

n Connecting proximal TCR signaling 

to transcription-factor activation

n Positive and negative regulation 

of TCR signaling via atypical Rho 

GTPase, RhoH

n Biology of the common gamma 

chain family of cytokine receptors

Dr Varma received his Ph D in cell biology from the National Center 

for Biological Sciences, India, where he studied the organization of 

GPI-anchored proteins in living cells using FRET microscopy His 

postdoctoral training took place at the Skirball Institute for Biomolecular 

Medicine, New York University, where he described TCR microclusters as 

sites of signaling He joined the NIAID Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular 

Immunology in the winter of 2007 and transitioned to the Laboratory of 

Systems Biology in the spring of 2012

Rajat Varma, Ph D

Chief, T-Cell Biophysics Unit, LSB

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lsb/Pages/varma.aspx

varmarajat@niaid.nih.gov 

Major Areas of Research

n Systems immunology

n Computational approaches to 

integrate diverse data types to 

obtain novel biological insights; 

biological circuit reconstruction

n Functions of phenotypic 

heterogeneity and stochastic gene 

expression of innate immune cells

n Systems biology of hostmicrobiome interactions

n MicroRNA functions and networks 

and their roles in imparting 

phenotypic robustness

n Statistical genetics

Dr Tsang received his Ph D in biophysics from Harvard University 

and B A Sc and M Math in computer engineering and computer 

science, respectively, from the University of Waterloo in Canada

After graduating in 2000, he helped pioneer high-throughput computational 

and experimental methods to annotate the then-freshly sequenced human 

genome using custom DNA microarrays at Rosetta Inpharmatics He then 

led a bioinformatics group at Caprion Proteomics After earning his Ph D

in 2008, he returned to Rosetta/Merck Research Laboratories to work with 

Dr Eric Schadt on integrative genomics and genetics of gene expression 

in humans and mice He came to NIH in August 2010, where he has been 

leading a research program to develop and apply computational and 

experimental approaches to tackle problems in immunology He also was 

appointed as the head of computational systems biology at the Trans-NIH 

Center for Human Immunology

John Tsang, Ph D

Chief, Systems Genomics and Bioinformatics Unit, LSB

Head, Computational Systems Biology, 

Trans-NIH Center for Human Immunology 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lsb/Pages/

genomicsBioinformatics.aspx

tsangjs@niaid.nih.gov
96

Research Activities

The Laboratory of Viral Diseases carries out investigations 

on the molecular biology of viruses, the interactions of 

viruses with host cells, the pathogenesis of viral diseases, 

and host defense mechanisms The studies are designed 

to increase fundamental knowledge as well as to facilitate 

the development of new approaches to the prevention and 

treatment of disease

Current topics of basic research include viral entry into 

cells, regulation of gene expression, mechanisms of DNA 

replication, assembly and transport of viral proteins and 

particles, actions of viral growth factors and immune defense 

molecules, determinants of viral virulence, and viral targets 

of humoral and cellular immunity Applied areas of research 

include development of recombinant expression vectors, 

candidate vaccines, and antiviral agents

These studies involve a wide range of DNA and RNA viruses, 

including HIV, poxviruses, herpesviruses, papillomaviruses, 

influenza viruses, and polioviruses The laboratory is equipped 

with an electron microscope, a confocal microscope, 

FACS machines, DNA sequencers, a DNA synthesizer, 

PCR machines, BiaCore apparatus, and ultracentrifuges

Laboratory members are interactive and hold weekly seminars 

in which current research is presented and discussed

Bernard Moss, M D , Ph D , Chief

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lvd

301-496-9869

Sections and Units 

Genetic Engineering Section

Bernard Moss, M.D., Ph.D.

Viral Immunology Section

Jack R. Bennink, Ph.D.

Molecular Structure Section

Edward A. Berger, Ph.D.

Molecular Genetics Section

Thomas M. Kristie, Ph.D.

DNA Tumor Virus Section

Alison McBride, Ph.D.

Viral Pathogenesis Section

Ted C. Pierson, Ph.D.

Cellular Biology Section

Jonathan W. Yewdell, M.D., Ph.D

Laboratory of Viral Diseases

Laboratory of Viral Diseases 
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 97

Major Areas of Research

n Discovery and definition of basic 

cellular processes involved in the 

generation of MHC class I peptide 

ligands 

n Study of the underlying in vivo

cellular events that lead to 

presentation of viral antigens to 

CD8+ T cells and the regulation of 

antiviral CD8+ T-cell responses

n Study of influenza virus immunity 

and virus adaptation

Dr Bennink obtained his Ph D from the University of Pennsylvania 

for the study of the specificity of virus immune effector T cells He 

spent two years as a member of the Basel Institute for Immunology, 

followed by five years as assistant and associate professor at the Wistar 

Institute of Anatomy and Biology, before coming to the NIAID Laboratory of 

Viral Diseases in 1987 His research focuses on influenza virus and antigen 

processing and presentation to class I restricted antiviral T cells

Jack R Bennink, Ph D

Chief, Viral Immunology Section, LVD

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lvd/

cellBiologyAndViralImmunologySection 

jbennink@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Replication of poxviruses

n Viral immune defense proteins

n Recombinant vaccines

Dr Moss received his M D from the New York University School 

of Medicine, interned at the Children’s Hospital Medical Center 

(Boston), and then earned a Ph D in biochemistry from the 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology He became interested in viruses 

after joining NIH and is well known for studies on the cap structure of 

mRNAs, regulation of gene expression, replication cycle of poxviruses, virus 

defense molecules, and development and application of virus vectors Dr

Moss has received numerous awards and prizes, including most recently 

the International Poxvirus, Asfarvirus and Iridovirus Lifetime Achievement 

Award He has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences and 

to the American Academy of Microbiology He is a fellow of the American 

Association for the Advancement of Science and a past president of the 

American Society for Virology Dr Moss is currently an editor of Virology and 

a member of several editorial boards He also is an adjunct professor at 

George Washington University and the University of Maryland

Bernard Moss, M D , Ph D

Chief, Laboratory of Viral Diseases

Chief, Genetic Engineering Section, LVD

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lvd/

geneticengineeringsection

bmoss@nih.gov

2013 – 2014 Opportunities 
98 Laboratory of Viral Diseases 

Major Areas of Research

n Herpes simplex virus gene 

expression

n Transcriptional coactivators in 

herpesvirus lytic and latency 

reaction

n Chromatin control of herpesvirus 

lytic and latency-reaction cycles

n Mechanisms involved in RNAP IImediated gene transcription

Dr Kristie received his Ph D from the Committee on Virology at 

the University of Chicago for his work with Dr Bernard Roizman 

on the regulation of herpes simplex virus gene expression As a 

postdoctoral fellow with Dr Philip Sharp at the Center for Cancer Research, 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr Kristie focused on the interaction 

of components involved in the formation of transcriptional enhancer 

complexes Dr Kristie joined the NIAID Laboratory of Viral Diseases in 

1993, became a senior investigator in 2000, and became chief of the 

Molecular Genetics Section in 2001

Thomas M Kristie, Ph D

Chief, Molecular Genetics Section, LVD

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lvd/

molecularGeneticsSection

tkristie@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Mechanisms of viral Env 

glycoprotein-receptor interactions 

and antibody neutralization 

mechanisms (HIV, herpesviruses, 

flaviviruses)

n Novel treatment and prevention 

strategies based on viral Env 

glycoprotein-receptor interactions

Dr Berger earned his B S in chemistry from City College of the 

City University of New York in 1968 He received his Ph D in 

biochemistry and molecular biology in 1973 from Cornell University

He went on to do a postdoctoral fellowship in the department of genetics, 

biochemistry, and neurobiology at Stanford University School of Medicine 

from 1973 to 1976 and another fellowship in the department of cellular and 

developmental immunology at Scripps Clinical and Research Foundation 

from 1976 to 1977 He was a staff scientist with the Cell Biology Group 

at the Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology, Shrewsbury, 

Massachusetts, from 1977 to 1987 He joined the NIAID Laboratory of 

Viral Diseases in 1987 and became chief of the Molecular Structure Section 

in 1995

Edward A Berger, Ph D

Chief, Molecular Structure Section, LVD

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lvd/

molecularstructuresection

eberger@niaid.nih.gov
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 99

Major Areas of Research

n Roles of the envelope glycoproteins 

during the flavivirus lifecycle

n Mechanisms of antibody-mediated 

neutralization of viruses

n Humoral immunity to flavivirus 

infection

Dr Pierson received his Ph D from the Johns Hopkins University 

School of Medicine in 2001 While training in the laboratory of Dr

Robert F Siliciano, he investigated the molecular biology of the 

pre-integration state of HIV-1 latency and the contribution of this relatively 

labile reservoir toward the persistence of HIV-1 in the face of aggressive 

antiretroviral therapy After completing these studies, Dr Pierson took 

a postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Dr Robert W Doms in the 

department of microbiology at the University of Pennsylvania While 

training there, Dr Pierson initiated a new research program to study the 

cell biology of the envelope proteins of flaviviruses, with a focus on West 

Nile and dengue viruses In 2005, Dr Pierson was recruited to initiate the 

Viral Pathogenesis Section of the NIAID Laboratory of Viral Diseases

Ted C Pierson, Ph D

Chief, Viral Pathogenesis Section, LVD

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lvd/

viralpathogenesissection

piersontc@niaid.nih.gov 

Major Areas of Research

n Characterization of the mechanisms 

of viral genome establishment in 

keratinocytes

n Characterization of the mechanisms 

by which papillomavirus genomes 

are maintained and partitioned in 

dividing cells

n Determination of the role of the host 

DNA damage response and repair 

pathways in viral DNA replication

n Development of therapeutics to

intervene in viral genome tethering

n Development of efficient methods 

to conditionally immortalize primary 

keratinocytes

Dr McBride received a B Sc (with honors) in molecular biology 

from the University of Glasgow and a Ph D in biochemistry 

from the Imperial Cancer Research Fund and Imperial College, 

London, studying Epstein-Barr virus She began working on human and 

other papillomaviruses as a postdoctoral fellow at the National Cancer 

Institute and joined NIAID in 1994 She became a senior investigator in the 

Laboratory of Viral Diseases in 2000

Alison McBride, Ph D

Chief, DNA Tumor Virus Section, LVD

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lvd/

dnaTumorVirusSection

amcbride@nih.gov
100

Major Areas of Research

n Generation of MHC class I peptide 

ligands from endogenous and 

exogenous antigens

n Translational regulation in antiviral 

immune responses

n Immunodominance in antiviral 

B- and T-cell responses 

n Intravital imaging of adaptive and 

innate antiviral immune responses 

n Interaction of nervous and immune 

systems in viral infection

n Evolution of influenza A viruses in 

small animal models

n Biogenesis, function, and 

antigenicity of influenza A virus 

hemagglutinin and neuraminidase

Dr Yewdell received an A B in biochemistry magna cum laude from 

Princeton University in 1975, working with Dr Arnold Levine for his 

undergraduate thesis on immune recognition of virus-transformed 

cells He received an M D and a Ph D in immunology from the University 

of Pennsylvania in 1981, working with Dr Walter Gerhard on the mapping 

of influenza hemagglutinin epitopes using monoclonal antibodies As a 

postdoctoral fellow, he worked with Dr David Lane at the Imperial College 

in London, studying the newly discovered p53 protein From 1983 to 1987, 

he was an assistant professor at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia In 1987, 

Dr Yewdell joined the NIAID Laboratory of Viral Diseases and in 1993 was 

appointed to lead its Cellular Biology Section

Jonathan W Yewdell, M D , Ph D

Chief, Cellular Biology Section, LVD

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lvd/

cellBiologyAndViralImmunologySection

jyewdell@nih.gov

Laboratory of Viral Diseases
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 101

Research Activities

The Laboratory of Virology (LV) conducts innovative scientific research 

on viral agents requiring high or maximum containment (biosafety 

level-2 to biosafety level-4) These agents include arenaviruses, 

bunyaviruses, filoviruses, flaviviruses, orthomyxoviruses, and 

paramyxoviruses Research studies focus on vector/reservoir 

transmission, viral ecology, pathogenesis, pathophysiology, and host 

immune response to these viral pathogens A significant goal is to 

develop diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics against these agents

LV scientists broadly study pathogens that cause viral hemorrhagic 

fevers, viral encephalitis, and certain respiratory diseases This 

work employs investigations in cell culture; animal models, including 

nonhuman primates; reservoir species; and arthropod hosts to 

elucidate viral pathogenesis, immune responses, molecular evolution, 

cellular and molecular biology, and vector-host interactions In 

particular, LV scientists do the following:

n Study pathogenesis and pathophysiology of high-containment viral 

pathogens using molecular technologies

n Study immune responses to infection and vaccination and develop 

new vaccine candidates

n Study vector/reservoir transmission of high-containment viral 

pathogens using appropriate animal models

n Use in vitro and in vivo systems to study the interactions between 

viral pathogens or viral components and host cells and to develop 

new antiviral and other therapeutic strategies

n Study the epidemiology and ecology of high-containment pathogens 

using newly developed rapid, sensitive, and specific diagnostic 

systems

Heinz Feldmann, M D , Ph D , Chief 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lv

406-375-7410 

Sections and Units 

Disease Modeling and Transmission Section 

Heinz Feldmann, M.D., Ph.D. 

Innate Immunity and Pathogenesis Unit

Sonja M. Best, Ph.D.

Tickborne Flavivirus Pathogenesis Section 

Marshall E. Bloom, M.D. 

Molecular Virology and Host-Pathogen 

Interaction Unit

Hideki Ebihara, Ph.D.

Virus Ecology Unit

Laboratory of Virology

Vincent Munster, Ph.D.
102 Laboratory of Virology

Heinz Feldmann, M D , Ph D

Chief, Laboratory of Virology 

Chief, Disease Modeling and Transmission 

Section, LV

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lv/

diseaseModeling

feldmannh@niaid.nih.gov

Dr Feldmann received his B Sc in 1981 from the University of 

Giessen, Germany He received his M D (1987) and Ph D (1988) 

from the University of Marburg, Germany His postdoctoral research 

was conducted in the field of virology (filoviruses and hantaviruses) at 

the Institute of Virology, University of Marburg, and the special pathogens 

branch at the CDC, where he held a fellowship from the National Research 

Council From 1999 to 2008, Dr Feldmann held the position of chief of 

the special pathogens program of the National Microbiology Laboratory, 

Public Health Agency of Canada Since 2008, he has been the chief of 

the NIAID Laboratory of Virology Dr Feldmann is a laboratory expert 

on high containment viruses (BSL-4) and serves as a consultant on 

viral hemorrhagic fevers and related pathogens for the World Health 

Organization He is a member of several professional societies, an editor for

Archives of Virology and Virology Journal, and serves on the editorial board 

of the Journal of Virology and Virus Research. Dr Feldmann is an external 

scientific reviewer for national and international organizations and serves 

as a scientific consultant for high-containment laboratories His professional 

interest is in the pathogenesis of hemorrhagic fever viruses and other 

emerging viral pathogens

Major Areas of Research

n Disease modeling using rodent and 

nonhuman primate models 

n Emergency vaccines using 

different replication-competent and 

replication-deficient viral vector 

platforms

n Antivirals and therapeutics

n Virus transmission in reservoir and 

host species 

Sonja M Best, Ph D

Chief, Innate Immunity and Pathogenesis Unit, LV

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/

lv/innateimmunity

sbest@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research

n Mechanisms used by pathogenic 

viruses to modulate host innate 

immunity

n Role of novel IFN-stimulated genes 

in host resistance to virus infection

n Importance of dendritic cell 

function to antiviral innate and 

adaptive immune responses

Dr Best received her Ph D in biochemistry and molecular biology 

from the Australian National University, where she studied the 

pathogenesis of myxoma virus She conducted her postdoctoral 

research at NIAID’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories on the complex role 

of apoptosis in the replication of parvoviruses She stayed at NIAID 

as a research fellow and then a staff scientist to investigate virus-host 

interactions involved in flavivirus pathogenesis It was during this time 

that she developed her interests in innate immunity and the molecular 

mechanisms used by flaviviruses to evade these critical host responses

In 2009, Dr Best established an independent laboratory as a tenure-track 

investigator to expand her studies on interactions between pathogenic 

viruses and the host immune response In 2011, Dr Best received a 

Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 103

Hideki Ebihara, Ph D

Chief, Molecular Virology and Host-Pathogen 

Interaction Unit, LV

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lv/mvhpi

ebiharah@niaid.nih.gov

Marshall E Bloom, M D

Chief, Tickborne Flavivirus Pathogenesis Section, LV

Associate Director for Science Management, Rocky 

Mountain Laboratories

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lv/

tickborneflaviviruspathogenesissection

mbloom@niaid.nih.gov

Dr Bloom received his M D in 1971 from Washington University 

School of Medicine in St Louis and joined NIAID’s Rocky Mountain 

Laboratories (RML) in 1972 as a research associate From 1975 

to 1977, he was a postdoctoral fellow in the NIAID Laboratory of the 

Biology of Viruses in Bethesda, Maryland He returned to RML as a 

tenured investigator in 1977 and was a charter member of the Laboratory 

of Persistent Viral Diseases He is an expert on the molecular biology and 

pathogenesis of parvoviruses In 2004, Dr Bloom’s research group changed 

its focus to the pathogenesis of tickborne flaviviruses In 2002, Dr Bloom 

was appointed associate director for science management for RML In 

2008, he was named associate director for science management for RML

Major Areas of Research

n Comparative analysis of viral 

replication in mammalian and 

arthropod systems

n Viral determinants of 

neurovirulence and 

neuroinvasiveness

n Viral and host determinants of 

effective vertical and horizontal 

transmission

Dr Ebihara received his Ph D in virology and molecular biology 

in 2001 from Hokkaido University, Japan, where he studied the 

pathogenesis and genetic determinants of virulence of hantaviruses

From 2001 to 2003, he completed postdoctoral research studying the 

molecular basis of Ebola virus pathogenesis at the School of Veterinary 

Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison He continued his training first 

as a postdoctoral fellow (2003–2007) and then as a research associate 

(2007–2009) with the Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, 

performing research on the molecular biology and pathogenesis of Ebola, 

Marburg, and hantaviruses Dr Ebihara was recruited to NIH in 2009 

as a staff scientist in the Laboratory of Virology In 2010, he established 

his own laboratory as a tenure-track investigator, studying the molecular 

mechanisms that underlie the pathogenesis of highly pathogenic human 

and animal RNA viruses

Major Areas of Research

n Molecular determinants of filovirus 

virulence in animals

n Role of Ebola virus proteins in viral 

pathogenesis and lifecycle

n Identification of host cellular factors 

essential for Ebola virus replication

n Molecular characterization of 

pathogenic bunyaviruses 

n Identification of bunyavirus host 

range and virulence determinants

n Mechanisms of bunyavirus 

evolution
104 Laboratory of Virology

Vincent Munster, Ph D

Chief, Virus Ecology Unit, LV

munstervj@niaid.nih.gov 

Major Areas of Research 

n Natural reservoirs of emerging 

viruses and the underlying 

biotic and abiotic drivers of 

zoonotic and cross-species 

transmission events

n Evolutionary dynamics of 

emerging viruses in the 

context of virus-host ecology

n Modeling zoonotic and 

cross-species transmission 

of emerging viruses and 

the efficacy of outbreak 

intervention strategies

Dr Munster received his Ph D in virology from Erasmus University, 

The Netherlands, in 2006 During his doctoral studies, he studied 

the ecology, evolution, and pathogenesis of avian influenza 

viruses Dr Munster continued his training in the department of virology at 

Erasmus Medical Center from 2006 to 2009, where he worked in the Center 

for Research on Influenza Pathogenesis and Surveillance, focusing on 

pathogenicity and human-to-human transmission of influenza A viruses

In 2009, Dr Munster joined the Laboratory of Virology as a visiting fellow to 

expand his research interests in the ecology of emerging viruses to include 

filoviruses and henipaviruses In 2012, he established the Virus Ecology 

Unit as an independent tenure-track investigator The mission of the Virus 

Ecology Unit is to elucidate the ecology of emerging viruses and drivers of 

zoonotic and cross-species transmission The Virus Ecology Unit combines 

field and experimental research and has established long-term study sites 

in the Republic of the Congo
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 105

Tom G Schwan, Ph D , Chief

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lzp

406-363-9250

Sections and Units 

Medical Entomology Section

Tom G. Schwan, Ph.D.

Gene Regulation Section

Frank Gherardini, Ph.D.

Plague Section

B. Joseph Hinnebusch, Ph.D.

Molecular Genetics Section

Patricia Rosa, Ph.D.

Research Activities 

Scientists in the Laboratory of Zoonotic Pathogens (LZP) 

study diseases that are communicable from animals to 

humans They conduct research to delineate the molecular 

basis of interaction between pathogens and their arthropod 

vectors, primarily ticks and fleas; define and identify pathogen 

and vector molecules that contribute to successful completion 

of pathogen transmission; and conduct research to examine 

differential gene regulation of pathogens during their 

transmission cycle in vertebrate hosts

LZP goals include the search for antigens to improve 

serological tests for the laboratory confirmation of zoonotic 

pathogens and the maintenance of research expertise in the 

biology of ticks and fleas to enhance the understanding of 

pathogen survival and transmission Major areas of research 

are as follows:

n Fleas, ticks, and other arthropod vectors

n Interaction between pathogens and vectors

n Pathogen and vector molecules involved in pathogen 

transmission

n Transmission cycle in vertebrate hosts Laboratory of Zoonotic Pathogens
106 NIAID Research and Training 

Tom G Schwan, Ph D

Chief, Laboratory of Zoonotic Pathogens

Chief, Medical Entomology Section, LZP

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lzp/

medicalEntomologySection

tschwan@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research 

n Adaptations of Borrelia 

spirochetes in ticks

n Genetic diversity of Lyme 

disease and relapsing fever 

spirochetes

n Development of better 

serological tests to detect human 

spirochetal infection

n Genomic studies of relapsing 

fever spirochetes

n Elucidation of geographic areas 

at risk for relapsing fever

Dr Schwan received his Ph D in 1983 in parasitology from the 

University of California at Berkeley, studying the ecology of fleas 

and plague in Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya From 1983 to 

1986, he was a postdoctoral fellow at the Yale Arbovirus Research Unit, Yale 

University School of Medicine, studying tickborne viruses He joined NIAID’s 

Rocky Mountain Laboratories in 1986 He served on the editorial board of 

the Journal of Clinical Microbiology for nine years and is on the editorial 

boards of Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases and Emerging Infectious 

Diseases.

Frank Gherardini, Ph D

Chief, Gene Regulation Section, LZP

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lzp/

geneRegulationSection

fgherardini@niaid.nih.gov

Dr Gherardini received his doctorate in 1987 from the University 

of Illinois, studying enzymes involved in the utilization of 

galactomannans by Bacteroides ovatus. From 1991 to 2001, 

he was a tenured professor in the department of microbiology at the 

University of Georgia In 2001, Dr Gherardini joined NIAID’s Rocky 

Mountain Laboratories, where he is chief of the Gene Regulation Section 

and a senior investigator in the Laboratory of Zoonotic Pathogens

Major Areas of Research 

n Physiology, biochemistry, gene 

regulation, and pathogenesis of 

Borrelia burgdorferi

n Treponema pallidum

n Burkholderia mallei

n Identification of genes required 

for intracellular survival of 

Burkholderia pseudomallei

Laboratory of Zoonotic Pathogens
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 2013 – 2014 Opportunities 107

Dr Hinnebusch received his Ph D in microbiology in 1991 from 

the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 

studying the molecular structure and replication of linear plasmids 

of Borrelia burgdorferi. He joined NIAID’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories 

as a postdoctoral fellow in 1992, where he developed model systems to 

study the transmission of Yersinia pestis, the bacterial agent of bubonic and 

pneumonic plague He advanced to a tenure-track position in 2001 and is 

now a senior investigator and chief of the Plague Section in the Laboratory 

of Zoonotic Pathogens From 2002 to 2006, he was the recipient of a New 

Scholar Award in Global Infectious Diseases from the Ellison Medical 

Foundation

B Joseph Hinnebusch, Ph D

Chief, Plague Section, LZP

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lzp/plagueSection

jhinnebusch@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research 

n Interactions between Yersinia 

pestis and its vector Xenopsylla 

cheopis that lead to transmission

n Mechanisms of Y. pestis

pathogenicity and immune evasion

n Aspects of the flea-bacteriahost transmission interface that 

influence nascent infection and 

immunity

n Characterization of a protective 

immune response to plague; new 

plague vaccines and diagnostics

Dr Rosa received her doctorate in 1980 from the Institute of Molecular 

Biology at the University of Oregon In 1988, following research 

fellowships at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis 

and at the Research Institute of Scripps Clinic, Dr Rosa joined NIAID’s 

Rocky Mountain Laboratories She became a tenured investigator in 2000 

and joined the newly formed Laboratory of Zoonotic Pathogens in 2005

Dr Rosa is a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and an 

internationally recognized leader in the field of bacterial molecular genetics

Patricia Rosa, Ph D

Chief, Molecular Genetics Section, LZP 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/lzp/

molecularGeneticsSection

prosa@niaid.nih.gov

Major Areas of Research 

n Development of a genetic system 

for Borrelia burgdorferi

n Analysis of the structure and 

function of the plasmid component 

of the highly segmented B. 

burgdorferi genome

n Determination of the roles of 

specific plasmids, genes, and 

proteins during the infectious cycle 

of B. burgdorferi
108 Research Technologies Branch

Robert Hohman, Ph D , Chief 

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/rtb 

301-594-8198

Research Technologies Branch

Research Support Activities 

The mission of the Research Technologies Branch (RTB) 

is to ensure that NIAID investigators have access to stateof-the-art research technologies The branch develops 

technologies and project-specific applications for the NIAID 

intramural research program through a network of facilities 

located in Bethesda and Rockville, Maryland, as well as 

Hamilton, Montana Scientists in RTB also provide training and 

consultation in experimental design, laboratory protocols, and 

data analysis

n Light microscopy (confocal, multiphoton, colocalization, 

TIRF, FRET, high-resolution 3D imaging, laser microcapture, 

correlative techniques, and post-collection imaging 

processing) 

n Electron microscopy (high-resolution scanning 

and transmission, cryoimmobilization/viewing, and 

immunolocalization of selected antigens) 

n Flow cytometry (up to 13-color sorting, up to 14-color 

analysis, BSL-3 sorting and analysis, multispectral imaging 

cytometry, and multiplex bead array assays) 

n Custom antibodies (hybridoma expansion, purification, and 

labeling) 

n Protein chemistry (peptide synthesis, protein sequencing, 

mass spectrometry, protein ID, protein separation, and 

assay development) 

n Genomics (Agilent SurePrint, Illumina BeadChip, and

Affymetrix microarrays; microarray design; Illumina and 

Roche next-generation DNA sequencing; and Q-PCR) 

n Bioinformatics and biostatistics (experiment design, data 

management, statistical analysis, exploratory analysis, data 

mining, and database integration)
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 2013 – 2014 Opportunities 109

Major Areas of Research

n Technology development 

n Biochemistry

n Biotechnology

Dr Hohman received his Ph D in microbiology from NIH and the 

University of Maryland in 1982 After a three-year postdoctoral 

position in the laboratory of biochemistry at the Pasteur Institute in 

Paris, he returned to NIH for a second postdoctoral appointment In 1992, 

he joined Oncor Inc , a biotechnology company that specialized in DNA 

diagnostics, and became the vice president of research and development

In 1998, Dr Hohman became the vice president for research and 

development and general manager of the newly formed Intergen Discovery 

Products In 2000, he was recruited back to NIH to become the DIR 

Associate Director for Research Technologies and chief of the Research 

Technologies Branch

Robert Hohman, Ph D

Associate Director, Research Technologies, DIR 

Chief, Research Technologies Branch 

Chief, Protein Chemistry Section, RTB

www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/rtb/protchemsec

rhohman@niaid.nih.gov
110 Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch

Douglas Brining, D V M ; Diplomate, 

ACLAM; Acting Chief

406-375-7415

Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch

Research Support Activities 

The major research and support activities of the Rocky 

Mountain Veterinary Branch include basic immunology, 

molecular biology, and pathogenesis of bacterial, viral, and 

prion diseases in laboratory animal models; developing new 

animal models of emerging infectious diseases; vaccine 

development; increasing the efficiency and safety of animal 

biosafety level (ABSL)-4 research; and evaluating new caging 

systems for high-containment research Current activities 

include the following:

n Hantavirus animal models and molecular reagents

n Testing novel vaccine candidates for ABSL-4 select agents

n Clinical care and animal model development

n Standard operating procedure development for highcontainment animal research environments

n Full pathological services for infectious disease animal

models 

n Novel histopathology techniques for laboratory animal 

infectious disease models 

n Training programs for laboratory animal procedures and 

biosafety in animal facilities 

n Imaging techniques in the high-containment animal research 

environment
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 111

Major Areas of Research

n Imaging D n Surgical modeling

r Brining received his D V M from Texas A&M University in 1999

He is a diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal 

Medicine He was recruited to NIH to assist in the development 

and use of specialized animal models of emerging and re-emerging 

biodefense-related infectious disease agents requiring animal biosafety 

level-3 and level-4 containment

Douglas Brining, D V M; Diplomate, 

ACLAM

Acting Chief, Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch

Acting Chief, Veterinary Pathology Section, RMVB

briningd@niaid.nih.gov
112

Acronyms 

BSC: Board of Scientific Counselors 

CBS: Cytokine Biology Section 

CHI: Trans-NIH Center for Human Immunology

CMB: Comparative Medicine Branch 

CR-LRP: Clinical Research Loan Repayment Program 

DIR: NIAID Division of Intramural Research 

ERAS: Electronic Residency Application System 

EVPS: Emerging Viral Pathogens Section 

INRO: Intramural NIAID Research Opportunities Program 

IRTA: Intramural Research Training Award 

LAD: Laboratory of Allergic Diseases 

LCID: Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases 

LHBP: Laboratory of Human Bacterial Pathogenesis 

LHD: Laboratory of Host Defenses 

LI: Laboratory of Immunology 

LICP: Laboratory of Intracellular Parasites 

LID: Laboratory of Infectious Diseases 

LIG: Laboratory of Immunogenetics 

LIR: Laboratory of Immunoregulation 

LMI: Laboratory of Molecular Immunology 

LMIV: Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology

LMM: Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology 

LMVR: Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research 

LPD: Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases 

LPVD: Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases 

LRP: General Loan Repayment Program 

LSB: Laboratory of Systems Biology

LV: Laboratory of Virology 

LVD: Laboratory of Viral Diseases 

LZP: Laboratory of Zoonotic Pathogens 

NIAID: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

NIH: National Institutes of Health 

OTD: Office of Training and Diversity

RML: Rocky Mountain Laboratories

RMVB: Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch 

RTB: Research Technologies Branch 

VP: Visiting Program

Acronyms
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 113

Index 

A 

accessory proteins, 76, 79

ACGME, 9, 10, 12

acyloxyacyl hydrolase, 28

adjunct investigator, 7

AIDS, 5, 12, 45, 50, 51, 73, 78, 90

See also HIV

AIDS Research Loan Repayment 

Program, 12

Allergic Diseases, Laboratory of, 

24 – 26

allergy research, 2, 3, 25, 26 

Allergy and Immunology Training 

Program, 10

ALPS (autoimmune lymphoproliferative 

syndrome), 5

anaphylaxis, 9, 24, 25 

animal models, 20, 22, 23, 27, 57 – 60,

76, 77, 81, 100, 101, 110, 111

animals, care and use of, 4, 18, 19, 

110, 111

antifungal, 29, 31,

antigens, 39, 46, 105, 108

presentation, 42, 46, 68, 75 

parasite, 67, 70, 71

viral, 97, 100

antigen receptors, 51

antigenic variation, 65, 85

antimalarial drugs, 65 – 67, 69

antiviral drugs, 23, 76, 96, 101, 102

appointment mechanisms

nontenured staff, 15

postdoctoral programs, 7

tenure, 14

arenavirus, 101 

arthropod vector research, 68, 101, 

103, 105, 110

Aspergillus, 30

asthma, 9, 25, 82, 86

autoimmune lymphoproliferative 

syndrome (ALPS), 5

autoimmunity, 3, 9, 31 – 33, 38, 39, 

43, 44, 46, 75, 90

B 

B cells, 38, 39, 49, 50, 51 

bacterial diseases See also specific 

disease.

infectious, 27 – 31, 81, 85, 110

intracellular parasites, 60 – 63, 107 

mycobacteria, 27, 28, 81, 82, 83

pathogenesis, 3, 18, 27, 28, 30, 

36 – 37, 53, 60 – 63, 73, 85, 86, 110

Barillas-Mury, Carolina V, 65

Barber, Daniel L , 83

Baron, Gerald S , 88

Barron, Karyl S , 2, 11

Barry, Clifton E III, 29

Belkaid, Yasmine, 83

Bennett, John E , 29

Bennink, Jack R , 97

Berger, Edward A , 98

Best, Sonja M , 102

biofilm, 36, 37

Bloom, Marshall E , 103

Bolland, Silvia, 39

BORIS, 41

Borrelia burgdorferi, 106, 107

Bosio, Catharine (Katy), 61

Bouamr, Fadila, 78

brain, 30, 88, 90

Brenchley, Jason, 77

Brining, Douglas, 111

BSL, 4, 18, 23, 101, 102, 108, 110, 111

bunyavirus, 90, 101, 103

Burkholderia, 106

C

calicivirus, 57

Caldwell, Harlan D , 61

cancer, 41, 45

Candida, 29, 31

candidiasis, 31

Caughey, Byron, 89

CD4+ T cells, 29, 42, 46, 48, 50, 54, 82

CD8, 46, 97

CD16, 40

CD34+, 33

cell biology, 25, 36 – 38, 40, 41, 44, 47, 

63, 68, 88 – 90, 93 – 95, 99 

cellular immunology, 42 – 44, 47 

central nervous system, 55, 58, 90

chemokines, 5, 33, 49, 52, 73, 74

chemotaxis, 38, 41

Chesebro, Bruce W , 88

Chlamydia, 53, 60 – 62, 86 

chronic granulomatous disease, 5, 28, 

30, 33

Clinical Center Infectious Disease

Consultation Service, 27

Clinical Infectious Diseases,

Laboratory of, 27

Clinical Research Loan Repayment 

Program, 13

Clinical Research, NIAID Transition 

Program in, 11

Clinical Tenure-Track Program, 14

clinical training opportunities, 9 – 11 

Cohen, Jeffrey I , 56

Coligan, John E , 40

Collins, Peter L , 56

community-associated methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus 

(CA-MRSA), 36 – 37

Comparative Medicine Branch, 18 – 19

computational modeling, 92 – 95

Connors, Mark, 50

Coxiella burnetii, 60

Crompton, Peter D , 40

cryptococcosis, 29

Cryptococcus neoformans, 30

CTCF, 41

Cytokine Biology Section, 20, 21

cytokines, 20 – 22, 24, 28, 32, 40, 43 –

45, 49, 75, 95

D 

DAP10, 40

Datta, Sandip, 30

Davey, Richard T , Jr , 51

DeLeo, Frank R , 37

dendritic cell, 49, 61, 73, 75, 102 

dengue, 5, 99 

Desai, Sanjay A , 66

Dictyostelium discoideum, 41

DNA replication, 96, 99 

DNA vaccines, 96, 97

DOCK8, 35
114 Index

Druey, Kirk M , 25

drug resistance, 5, 29, 37, 66, 69 

Duffy, Patrick, 71

E 

Ebihara, Hideki, 103

Ebola, 61, 103 

ecology, 101, 104, 106

Electronic Residency Application 

System (ERAS), 10

elite controllers, 50

Elkins, Randy, 19

Emerging Viral Pathogens Section, 

22, 23 

encephalopathies, 87 – 91 

envelope glycoproteins, 99 

eosinophilic gastroenteritis, 9, 24

eosinophil, 24, 26, 81, 84

epidemiology, 11, 12, 37, 49, 57, 59, 

71, 101 

Epstein-Barr virus, 9, 99

Evans, Leonard H , 89

F 

Fairhurst, Rick M , 66

Farber, Joshua M , 74

Farci, Patrizia, 57

Fauci, Anthony S , 50

Fc gamma RIIB, 39

Feldmann, Heinz, 102

fellowships, 2, 6 – 11, 15

appointment timeline, 15

clinical training, 2, 9 – 11 

Fibison, Wendy J , 6 – 8 

fibrosis, 53, 57, 86 

field studies, 38, 53, 66, 67, 72, 81 

filariasis, 5, 82

filovirus, 5, 101 – 104 

flavivirus, 55, 58, 98, 99, 101 – 103 

Fowlkes, B J , 45

Foxp3+, 47

Francisella tularensis, 60, 61, 88

Fraser, Iain, 93

Fried, Michal, 71

functional genomics, 38, 39, 64, 69 

fungal disease, 27, 29, 31

G

G protein, 25, 51, 73, 74 

Gallin, John I , 33

GATA2 deficiency, 28

gene, 38, 39, 41, 48, 60, 66, 75, 88, 

89, 98, 102, 106, 107

activation, 30 

expression, 20, 47, 60, 69, 95, 96, 

97, 98

mutation, 5, 32 

regulation, 37, 47, 69, 76, 77, 79, 

85, 96, 97, 105, 106

gene therapy, 5, 32, 33

genetic analysis, 30, 38, 84

genetics, 3, 4, 32, 36, 37, 44 – 46, 62, 

64 – 66, 69, 73 – 75, 77, 79, 81, 84, 

89, 90, 95 – 98, 103, 105 – 107 

General Loan Repayment Program, 

12, 13

Germain, Ronald N , 93

Gherardini, Frank, 106

Giardia, 85 

gnotobiotic, 18

GPCR (G-protein-coupled receptor), 

25, 41

Graduate Partnerships Program, 8

graduate students, training programs 

for, 8

graft versus host disease, 33

Green, Kim Y , 57

Grigg, Michael E , 84

Guest Researcher Program, 7

Gwadz, Robert W , 67

H

Hackstadt, David W (Ted), 62

Hasenkrug, Kim J , 90

Heinzen, Robert A , 62

helminth, 81, 82 

hematopoietic stem cells, 33, 47

hemoglobinopathies, 65 

hepatitis viruses, 5, 50, 55, 57 

herpes, 52, 53, 55, 56, 96, 98 

high-containment pathogens, 2, 22, 23, 

101, 110

Hinnebusch, B Joseph, 107

Hirsch, Vanessa M , 78

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) 

See also AIDS

accessory proteins, 76, 79

infection, 5, 9, 12, 43, 45, 49, 50, 52, 

53, 77, 79, 94, 96, 99

envelope, 49, 50, 52, 98

pathogenesis, 46, 49, 51, 52, 54, 

73, 76 

therapeutics, 51 – 54, 76, 99

vaccine, 76, 77, 78 

Hohman, Robert, 109

Holland, Steven M , 28

host defenses, 28, 30, 31, 36, 74, 75, 

96 

Host Defenses, Laboratory of, 32 – 35

Human Bacterial Pathogenesis, 

Laboratory of, 36 – 37

human metapneumovirus (HMPV), 56 

hypereosinophilic syndromes, 9, 82, 84 

hyper IgE syndrome (Job’s syndrome), 

5, 28

hypersensitivity, immediate, 24

I

idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia (ICL), 

29, 54

IFN (interferon), 20, 21, 58, 102 

IgM (immunoglobulin M), 34

immune deficiencies, 5, 31 – 33, 55 

See also autoimmunity

immune-cell receptors, 38 

immune reconstitution, 31, 49, 54, 83 

Immunogenetics, Laboratory of, 38 – 

43 

immunology 

cellular, 24, 25, 42, 43

fungal, 27, 31, 

molecular, 27, 35, 42, 50 – 52, 

73 – 75, 82 

mucosal, 77, 83

retroviral, 90

systems, 40, 92 – 95 

structural, 43

training programs, 7, 9 – 11 

viral, 97

Immunology, Laboratory of, 44 – 48 

immunopathology, 41, 43, 82 

Immunoregulation, Laboratory of, 

49 – 54
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 115

immunotherapy, 33 

Infectious Diseases Training Program, 

9 – 11 

inflammation, 24 – 26, 32 – 34, 40, 74, 

75, 86 

inflammatory bowel disease, 34, 73, 

75, 86

influenza, 51, 55, 59, 96 – 98 

avian, 55, 59, 98, 104

pandemic, 50, 55, 59

pathogenesis, 55, 59, 104

vaccines, 59, 96

inhibitory receptor, 40, 42

innate immunity, 34, 37, 42, 48, 50, 61, 

90, 102 

insect vector research, 64 – 69, 86, 

104 – 107 

integrin, 48

interferon (IFN), 20, 21, 58, 102

interleukins 

IL-4, 5

IL-12, 34, 75

IL-17, 75

international studies, 4, 5, 49, 53, 67, 

81, 82

internships, summer, 2, 6, 8

Intracellular Parasites, Laboratory of, 

60 – 63

intracellular signaling, 49, 92 

Intramural NIAID Research 

Opportunities Program, 6

Intramural Research Training Award, 8

intravital imaging, 93, 100

J 

Jahrling, Peter, 23

Jin, Tian, 41

Job’s syndrome, 5

K 

Kehrl, John H , 51

Kelsall, Brian L , 75

Klion, Amy D , 84

Kozak, Christine A , 79

Kristie, Thomas M , 98

Kwon-Chung, Kyung (June), 30

L 

Laboratories, 

Allergic Diseases, 24 – 26

Clinical Infectious Diseases, 27 – 31

Host Defenses, 32 – 35

Human Bacterial Pathogenesis, 36,

37

Immunogenetics, 38 – 43

Immunology, 44 – 48 

Immunoregulation, 49 – 54 

Infectious Diseases, 55 – 59

Intracellular Parasites, 60 – 63

Malaria and Vector Research, 

64 – 69 

Malaria Immunology and 

Vaccinology, 70 – 72 

Molecular Immunology, 73 – 75 

Molecular Microbiology, 76 – 80 

Parasitic Diseases, 81 – 86

Persistent Viral Diseases, 87 – 91

Systems Biology, 92 – 95 

Viral Diseases, 96 – 100

Virology, 101 – 104 

Zoonotic Pathogens, 105 – 107

Lane, H Clifford, 52

latency, 98, 99

Leishmania, 83

leishmaniasis, 5, 69, 86

Lenardo, Michael J , 46

Leppla, Stephen H , 85

Leto, Thomas L , 34

leukemia, 43

leukocyte adhesion deficiency, 28, 33

lineage commitment, 45, 48

Lionakis, Michail S , 31

lipopolysaccharides, 28

live, attenuated virus vaccines, 56, 58, 

59

loan repayment programs, 12, 13

loiasis, 84

Lobanenkov, Victor V, 41

Long, Carole A , 67

Long, Eric O , 42

long-term nonprogressors, 50

lupus, 38, 39

Lusso, Paolo, 52

Lyme disease, 5, 106

lymphocytes, 24, 38, 39, 44 – 46, 51, 

81, 83, 92, 93

lymphoma, 43

M 

macrophage, 28, 31, 49, 61, 73, 75, 88

major histocompatibility complex 

(MHC), 42, 46, 93, 97, 100

malaria, 2, 4, 5, 7, 38, 39, 40, 64 – 72 

Malaria and Vector Research, 

Laboratory of, 64 – 69 

Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, 

Laboratory of, 70 – 72 

Malaria Infection Biology Research and 

Training Program, 7 

Malech, Harry L , 33

Margulies, David H , 46

Martin, Malcolm A , 77

mast cells, 24, 25

mastocytosis, 25

Matzinger, Polly, 42

McBride, Alison, 99

Meier-Schellersheim, Martin, 94

memory, 38, 39, 42, 45, 65, 73

Metcalfe, Dean D , 25

methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus 

aureus (MRSA), 37, 38

MHC (major histocompatibility 

complex), 42, 46, 93, 97, 100 

microbiota, 65, 81, 83

microscopy, 4, 95, 108 

Miller, Louis H , 68

Milner, Joshua D , 26

molecular biology, 38, 39, 44, 46, 48, 

55, 56, 58, 66, 69, 89, 91, 96, 101, 

110 

Molecular Immunology, Laboratory of, 

73 – 75 

Molecular Microbiology, Laboratory of, 

76 – 80 

monoclonal antibodies, 32, 55

Morse, Herbert C III, 43

mosquito, 4, 64 – 70 

Moss, Bernard, 97

MRSA (methicillin-resistant 

Staphylococcus aureus), 37, 38

mucosal, 34, 73, 75, 77, 83

Muljo, Stefan A , 47

Munford, Robert S , 28
116 Index

Munster, Vincent J , 104

murine retroviruses, 76, 77, 87

Murphy, Philip M , 74

mycobacteria, 5, 27, 28, 81 – 83 

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, 29, 61, 

83 

mycoses, 9

N

NADPH, 34

Nash, Theodore E , 85

National Resident Matching Program, 

10

neurodegeneration, 87 – 91 

neurovirulence, 103

neutrophil, 9, 30, 36, 37, 73

NF-kappa B transcription factors, 75

NIAID Board of Scientific Counselors, 

14

NIH-Oxford-Cambridge Scholars 

Program, 8, 86

Nita-Lazar, Aleksandra, 94

NK cells, 38, 40, 42, 43, 46

NK receptors, 43, 46

NKG2, 40

nontuberculous mycobacteria, 5, 28

norovirus, 55, 57

Nutman, Thomas B , 82

O 

Office of Training and Diversity, 6 – 8 

OTD Sponsorship Program, 6

Otto, Michael, 37

P 

papillomavirus, 96, 99

parasites, 3, 81, 82, 84, 85

intracellular, 60 – 63, 86

malaria, 65 – 72

Parasites, Intracellular, Laboratory of, 

60 – 63 

Parasitic Diseases, Laboratory of, 81 

– 86 

parvovirus, 102, 103

pathogenesis, 3, 18, 19, 27, 28

allergy, 24, 43, 73, 75, 84

bacterial disease, 28, 30, 36, 37, 85, 

110 

fungal disease, 31

HIV, 5, 46, 49, 50, 51, 52, 54, 77, 78

influenza, 55, 59

intracellular parasites, 60 – 63, 84, 

86 

malaria, 64 – 72 

molecular parasite, 82

viral diseases, 5, 52, 54 – 59, 

73, 76, 77, 87, 88, 90, 96, 99, 

101 – 104, 110 

zoonotic pathogens, 103, 106

Patton, John T , 58

Paul, William E , 45

PCR, 96, 108

Persistent Viral Diseases, Laboratory

of, 87 – 91 

Peterson, Karin, 90

phagocytes, 28, 33

Pierce, Susan K , 39

Pierson, Ted C , 99

plague, 107

plasmodial surface anion channel

(PSAC), 66

Plasmodium falciparum, 40, 65

Pletnev, Alexander G , 58

postdoctoral training programs, 7

poxviruses, 96, 97

predoctoral training programs, 8

primary immune deficiencies, 31 – 33

Priola, Suzette A , 91

prions, 87 – 91 

protozoa, 81, 84

PSAC, 66

Q 

Quinn, Thomas C , 53

R 

reactive oxygen species, 34

relapsing fever, 5, 106

Research Technologies Branch, 108,

109

residency training programs, 9 – 11

respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), 56

respiratory viruses, 26, 55, 59

retrovirus, 49, 52, 53, 76, 77, 79,

87 – 90, 99

reverse genetics, 56, 58, 59

Reynolds, Steven J , 53

RGS proteins, 51

Ribeiro, José M C , 68

Rickettsia, 62

Rocky Mountain Laboratories, 4, 37, 

38, 60 – 63, 87 – 91, 101 – 104, 105 

– 107, 110, 111 

Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch,

110, 111

Rosa, Patricia A , 107

Rosenberg, Helene F, 26 

rotavirus, 5, 55, 58, 73, 

S 

Sacks, David L , 86

Salmonella, 60, 63

sand fly, 69, 86 

schistosomiasis, 86

Schwan, Tom G , 106

Sereti, Irini, 54

Sher, Alan, 82

Shevach, Ethan M , 47

SHIP, 39

SHIV, 77, 

SIV, 77, 94

Siebenlist, Ulrich, 75

signal transduction, 20, 21, 24, 25, 46, 

60 

signaling, 25, 26, 30, 38, 39, 42, 44, 

48 – 51, 74, 75, 92 – 95 

special volunteer, 7

spirochete, 106

Steele-Mortimer, Olivia, 63

Strebel, Klaus, 79

Strober, Warren, 34

Stone, Kelly, 10

structure-function relationships, 84, 85

student loan repayment programs, 12,

13

Su, Helen, 35

Su, Xin-zhuan, 69

Subbarao, Kanta, 59

summer internships, 6, 8

Sun, Peter D , 43

systemic capillary leak syndrome, 25

Systems Biology, Laboratory of, 92 – 95

systems immunology, 40, 92 – 95
2013 – 2014 Opportunities 117

T 

Taubenberger, Jeffery, 59

T cells, 42, 44, 73, 81 – 83, 93, 94, 97, 

100

activation, 45, 95

helper cells, 48

development, 44, 45

in HIV, 49, 50, 94

in malaria, 40

receptors, 26, 40, 46, 93, 95

regulatory, 44, 47, 90

tolerance, 42, 44

Technical Intramural Research Training 

Award, 8

tenure, 14

thymic, 45, 47

tickborne diseases, 103, 105, 106 

timeline for nontenured staff, 15

Toxoplasma, 83, 84

trachoma, 53 

training programs, 6 – 11 

clinical, 9 – 11 

opportunities in Africa, 67

opportunities in Cambodia, 67

postdoctoral, 7

predoctoral, 8

transcription, 28, 31, 44, 48, 75, 79, 

95, 98

Transition Program in Clinical 

Research, 11

transmissible spongiform

encephalopathy (TSE), 87 – 91 

Treponema pallidum, 106

Tsang, John, 95

TSE (transmissible spongiform

encephalopathy), 87 – 91 

tuberculosis (TB), 2, 5, 29, 83

tularemia, 61

tumor virus, 99

V 

vaccination, 41, 68, 92, 101

vaccines 

Chlamydia, 60, 61

dengue, 5, 82

design, 64, 70 – 72, 85, 92 

development, 2, 3, 12, 19, 38, 44, 

45, 55, 70 – 72, 76, 82, 96, 101, 110 

flavivirus, 58

hepatitis, 5, 55

herpesvirus, 55, 56

HIV, 52, 76 – 78, 90

influenza, 5, 55, 59

leishmaniasis, 82, 86

live, attenuated virus, 56, 58, 59

malaria, 5, 67, 70 – 72 

mucosal, 75

plague, 107

recombinant, 97

rotavirus, 55, 57

RSV, 55, 56

tularemia, 61

Valenzuela, Jesus G , 69

Varma, Rajat, 95

vesicle trafficking, 62

veterinary medicine, 19, 20, 78, 110,

111

Vif, 79

viral diseases See also specific 

disease.

emerging pathogens, 22, 23

infectious, 55 – 59 

Laboratory of, 96 – 100 

pathogenesis, 5, 52, 54 – 59, 73, 

76, 77, 87, 88, 90, 96, 99, 101, 

102 – 104, 110

Persistent, Laboratory of, 87 – 91 

retroviruses, 49, 52, 53, 76, 77, 79, 

87 – 90, 99

viral proteins, 58, 96

viral receptors, 50, 52

viral replication, 49, 50, 57, 58, 77, 79,

97, 99, 102, 103

Virology, Laboratory of, 101 – 104 

virulence, 30, 36, 37, 58, 61, 69, 81, 

84, 85, 96, 103

Visiting Program, 7

Vpu, 79

W 

Walther, Michael, 72

Wellems, Thomas E , 65

West Nile virus, 73, 99

WHIM syndrome, 33

Williamson, Peter R , 31

Wynn, Thomas A , 86

X 

Xiao, Tsan Sam, 48

X-linked severe combined immune

deficiency, 33

Y 

Yersinia pestis, 107

Yewdell, Jonathan W , 100

Z 

Zhu, Jinfang (Jeff), 48

Zoon, Kathryn C , 2, 21

Zoonotic Pathogens, Laboratory of, 

105 – 107
118 Photo Credits

Photo Credits

Unless otherwise noted, all images are courtesy of NIAID

Cover Top: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, killing and escaping from a human white blood cell; 

NIAID Bottom, from left to right: Colorized transmission electron micrograph of novel 2012 coronavirus; NIAID; CDC Public 

Health Image Library, ID #10029; Streptococcus pyogenes bound to a human neutrophil; NIAID

P ii MRSA bound to a human neutrophil; NIAID

P 1 Left: CDC Public Health Image Library, ID #8962 

P 3 CDC Public Health Image Library, ID #10022

P 5 Phagocytosis of yeast particle by a human neutrophil; NIAID

P 6 Scanning electron micrograph of Yersinia pestis; NIAID

P 14 CDC Public Health Image Library, ID #10759 

P 15 Right: CDC Public Health Image Library, ID #10029

P 17 Enlarged lymphocyte; CDC Public Health Image Library, ID #6080

P 18 African dormouse; NIAID

P 20 Blood samples; NCI

P 22 Ebola virus; NIAID 

P 24 Biopsy photomicrograph of eosinophilic esophagitis; NIAID

P 27 Mycobacterium tuberculosis; CDC Public Health Image Library, ID #9997 

P 32 NBT-stained, PMA-stimulated neutrophils from peripheral blood of CGD patient after gene therapy; NIAID 

P 36 Staphylococcus aureus outside a white blood cell; NIAID

P 38 Artist’s rendering of a lifecycle stage of Plasmodium falciparum; NIAID

P 44 Enlarged lymphocyte; CDC Public Health Image Library, ID #6080 

P 49 HIV-infected H9 T cell; NIAID

P 55 Model of the norovirus strain GII 4 in 1974 (orange) is superimposed over a more recent GII 4 strain (pink); 

 NIAID

P 60 Chlamydia trachomatis inclusions (red) are trafficked to the microtubule organizing center and positioned 

 at centrosomes (green); NIAID 

P 64 Phlebotomus papatasi sand fly; CDC Public Health Image Library, ID #10276

P 70 Anopheles minimus; CDC Public Health Image Library, ID #7949

P 73 Macrophage containing a number of phagocytized red blood cells; CDC Public Health Image Library, 

 ID #10613 

P 76 Confocal microscopy of brain of macaque with SIV encephalitis; NIAID

P 80 3D rendering of blood cells; NIAID

P 81 Activated eosinophils in idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome; NIAID

P 87 Cultured mouse neurons are exposed to L-glutamate to test for sensitivity to excitotoxicity; NIAID 

P 92 Volume-discretized image of a B cell antigen-presenting cell (green) and an antigen-recognizing 

 T cell (red) created from a confocal microscope image stack; NIAID

P 96 T cell; NIAID 

P 101 Colorized transmission electron micrograph of novel 2012 coronavirus; NIAID

P 105 Mouthparts of Argas monolakensis tick; NIAID 

P 108 Coxiella burnetii; NIAID 

P 110 CDC Public Health Image Library, ID #8360

P 119 CDC Public Health Image Library, ID #10728

National Institute of Allergy 

and Infectious Diseases

NIH Publication No. 13-4948

January 2013

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health