ID Fellows visit from Thailand!

The ID Division once again welcomed fellows-in-training from Thailand to train over several weeks. David Warren, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine helped organize the training. Since 2012 the ID Division has hosted infectious disease fellows from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok for a 4-week rotation in healthcare epidemiology and infectious diseases. This year we hosted 4 […]

Congratulations to our Outstanding, Hard Working ID Faculty!

We celebrate the successes and accomplishments of several ID faculty members who have recently been promoted. As the past two years have shown, an academic career in infectious diseases can be an unpredictable and challenging journey. Being promoted is an important goal, but only a small part of an incredibly rewarding career. Promoted to Associate […]

Gates Foundation awards $1.8 million to DOLF team for lymphatic filariasis elimination in Indonesia

The DOLF team, led by Peter Fischer, along with partners at the University of Indonesia and Bruyere Research Institute, has been awarded a new $1.8 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to explore lymphatic filariasis (LF) elimination in Indonesia.  Previously, this collaboration was supported by the 2020 McDonnell Academy seed grant initiative on infectious diseases […]

WashU infectious diseases alum, Matifadza Hlatshwayo Davis, named St. Louis Public Health Director

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones named Dr. Matifadza Hlatshwayo Davis, an infectious disease specialist, the director of the St. Louis City Department of Health. Hlatshwayo Davis most recently was on the infectious diseases faculty at John Cochran VA Medical Center in St. Louis. Her work includes fighting Covid-19, and HIV/AIDS, including on the Fast Track Cities Initiative, a […]

ID-CRU launches novel clinical trial to test multiple therapeutics to treat COVID-19

The Infectious Disease Clinical Research Unit at Washington University School of Medicine has launched the ACTIV-2 Outpatient Monoclonal Antibodies and Other Therapies Trial, which will be conducted by the AIDS Clinical Trials Group. The school’s Infectious Disease Clinical Research Unit is one of 25 initial sites conducting ACTIV-2, which includes both phase 2 and phase […]

More than 2300 employees and student volunteers take part in rapid COVID-19 saliva study

On short notice, the School of Medicine put out a call for volunteers — with the hope of recruiting 2,000 people. The campus community responded, and we were able to analyze saliva samples from 2,314 employee and student volunteer participants. Through this study, researchers assessed our ability to test a large number of people for […]

Nasal vaccine against COVID-19 prevents infection in mice

Nasal delivery produces more widespread immune response than intramuscular injection Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have developed a vaccine that targets the SARS-CoV-2 virus, can be given in one dose via the nose and is effective in preventing infection in mice susceptible to the novel coronavirus. The investigators next plan […]

Gary Weil, MD and Peter Fischer, PhD, evaluate COVID-19 antibody tests as diagnostic test in low-resource settings (Links to an external site)

Such antibody tests use finger-prick blood samples, deliver quick results Gary Weil, MD and Peter Fischer, PhD,  professors of medicine, have joined an international effort led by the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics and the World Health Organization (WHO) to evaluate COVID-19 antibody tests for use as diagnostics in places with limited resources. Assisting with […]

WUSM Students Connect Patients with Loved Ones During COVID-19 Restrictions

WUSM students have launched a virtual help center to connect COVID-19 patients with their loved ones at a time of heightened fear, panic and isolation. “BJC considers the patient’s loved ones an important part of the care team,” said Jennifer Carron, executive director of patient experience at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. “Our Virtual Visitor program puts tablets […]

WashU Expert: The architecture of virus transmission (Links to an external site)

Researchers propose new method for treating airborne pathogens The built environment often shapes the spread of disease. Many early cases of COVID-19, the 2019 novel coronavirus, centered on a seafood market in Wuhan City, China. Airports, hospitals and other gathering points can easily become sites of virus transmission.

Washington University medical students design reusable face shields

Third-year medical students are developing reusable face shields to help protect health-care workers during the coronavirus pandemic. On Tuesday, the first day of an elective class on COVID-19 response, students discussed the shortage of personal protective equipment and felt inspired by a call-to-action from Victoria J. Fraser, MD, the Adolphus Busch Professor of Medicine and […]

Dr. Jonathan H. Sheehan joins the Infectious Diseases Division

Jonathan Sheehan, PhD joined the  Department of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases as an Assistant Professor on July 1, 2019. Research Interests Dr. Sheehan uses computational structural biology to help biomedical researchers approach their question from a molecular viewpoint. He can contribute a mechanistic hypothesis, structural analysis, or the interpretation of experimental results […]