Key Faculty & Specific Research Interests

Jacco Boon, PhD

Jacco Boon, PhD

Professor of Medicine, Molecular Microbiology and Pathology and Immunology

Dr. Boon He specializes in basic research on RNA viruses, with a special focus on emerging virus such as influenza virus, Bourbon virus and SARS-CoV-2.

Brett Case, PhD

Brett Case, PhD

Instructor in Medicine

Dr. Case’s primary research interests include vaccine design, generation of broadly cross-reactive immune responses, mucosal immunity, viral immunology, and emerging pathogens.

Michael S. Diamond, MD, PhD

Michael S. Diamond, MD, PhD

The Herbert S. Gasser Professor, Departments of Medicine, Molecular Microbiology, Pathology & Immunology

Michael Diamond, MD, PhD is the leader of a basic and translational research laboratory studying the interface between viral pathogenesis and host immunity. His laboratory focuses on emerging RNA viruses including flaviviruses, alphaviruses, and coronaviruses.

James M. Fleckenstein, MD

James M. Fleckenstein, MD

Professor, Departments of Medicine, Molecular Microbiology

Dr. Fleckenstein’s lab focuses on the identification and molecular characterization of novel ETEC virulence factors that could serve as targets for vaccine development. Studies in the lab use a variety of molecular techniques and in vitro and in vivo models to elucidate the role of these novel virulence factors in several key steps essential in the pathogenesis of these organisms: bacterial adhesion, intestinal colonization, and finally toxin delivery.

Hongming Ma PhD

Hongming Ma PhD

Instructor in Medicine

Dr. Ma is skilled in Cell Biology, Science, Molecular Biology, Research, and Teaching. Strong education professional with a Ph. D. focused in Immunology of aquatic animals from Ocean University of China.

Rachel M. Presti, MD, PhD

Rachel M. Presti, MD, PhD

Professor, Infectious Diseases | Medical Director of the Infectious Disease Clinical Research Unit (IDCRU)

Dr. Presti specializes in clinical and translational research in infectious disease, with a special focus on HIV, SARS-CoV-2 and other viral infections.

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).

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Eva-Maria Strauch, PhD

Associate Professor of Medicine

The main focus of Dr. Straub’s research is on how to diagnose, prevent and treat viral infections with the aim to generate new antivirals and candidates for vaccination through protein design.