Meet Key Faculty & Specific Research Interests

Ekansh Mittal, PhD

Ekansh Mittal, PhD

Assistant Professor of Medicine

Dr. Mittal specializes in the intricate dynamics of host-pathogen interactions, with a particular emphasis on the innate immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb).

Jennifer A. Philips, MD, PhD

Jennifer A. Philips, MD, PhD

Theodore and Bertha Bryan Professor, Departments of Medicine and Molecular Microbiology; Co-Chief, Infectious Diseases Division

Dr. Philips is principal investigator of an NIH-funded lab that studies how Mycobacterium tuberculosis evades the host immune response.

Alaullah Sheikh, PhD

Alaullah Sheikh, PhD

Instructor in Medicine

Dr. Sheikh specializes in bacterial pathogenesis, host-pathogen interactions, host responses, and vaccines, with a special focus on enteric bacterial pathogens including enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC).

Barbara W.  Trautner, MD, PhD

Barbara W. Trautner, MD, PhD

Gerald and Judith Medoff Professor of Infectious Diseases, Professor of Medicine, Co-Chief, Infectious Diseases Division

Dr. Trautner’s research focuses on diagnostic and antibiotic stewardship, particularly for urinary tract infections (UTIs). She has led trials to disseminate successful antibiotic stewardship interventions, improve the diagnosis and treatment of UTIs in men, develop bacteriophage therapy for UTIs in individuals with spinal cord injuries, and to reduce overdiagnosis of catheter-associated UTI.