St. Jude Research
Chair: Octavio Ramilo, MD

Department of Infectious Diseases

  

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About the Department

The goal of the Department of Infectious Diseases at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to study devastating diseases of childhood through a comprehensive approach including basic science research, translational trials, and bedside care. 

Among the top infectious causes of death worldwide are respiratory diseases and HIV/AIDS. The Department of Infectious Diseases seeks to focus on the pathogenesis of these infections with a breadth of commitment that extends from the research bench to the bedside. Investigations take place at progressive levels: manipulation of genes is expected to lead to phenotypes in cell culture systems that can be modeled in animal studies. Therapeutic candidates in the form of antimicrobials, vaccines, or adjunctive therapies are further pursued in clinical trials in children.

Areas of excellence

SARS-CoV-2

Department investigators are leading collaborative efforts to understand SARS-CoV-2 (and other coronaviruses) biology, transmission, pathogenesis, and therapeutic vulnerabilities.  

Visit the St. Jude Global COVID-19 Observation and Research Center for Childhood Cancer
photo of standing man and woman on bench.

Fellowship Training

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Fellowship Program prepares pediatricians for a successful career through comprehensive training in infectious diseases clinical medicine and in basic, translational and clinical research. 

Explore the PID Fellowship Program

HIV/AIDS

At St. Jude, we're changing the way the world treats and defeats pediatric infectious diseases. In 1987, Danny Thomas declared AIDS a catastrophic disease of children. Soon after, the hospital made HIV/AIDS a research priority, and created the Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trial Unit. 

Learn more about HIV research and treatment at St. Jude
bacteria in a petri dish

Pediatric Transplant Infectious Diseases

The goal of PIDTRAN is to provide a collaborative network for identifying, developing, and providing ongoing support for innovative clinical and translational research in the field of Pediatric Transplant Infectious Diseases.

Learn about the PIDTRAN Coordinating Center

Infectious Diseases Leadership

Infectious Diseases Faculty

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    Elisabeth E. Adderson, MD

    Associate Member, St. Jude Faculty

    Director, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program

    Elisabeth E. Adderson, MD

    Associate Member, St. Jude Faculty

    Director, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program

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    Affiliations

    Department of Infectious Diseases

    St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

    Research Interests

    • Identifying virulence factors of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) and Haemophilus influenzae, key pathogens in infants.
    • Investigating genomic differences in GBS strains to uncover genes linked to adhesion, invasion, and increased virulence.
    • Studying outbreaks of H. influenzae serotypes a and e to identify bacterial factors driving increased virulence.
    • Exploring genetic mechanisms by which respiratory pathogens acquire virulence genes.

    Contact Information

    Elisabeth E. Adderson, MD

    MS 320, Room E8054

    St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

    262 Danny Thomas Place

    Memphis, TN 38105-3678

    (901) 595-3459 (phone)

    (901) 595-3099 (fax)

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    Patricia M. Flynn, MD

    Member, St. Jude Faculty

    Associate Dean, Clinical Investigations MS Program

    Senior Vice President and Medical Director of Quality and Patient Care

    Deputy Clinical Director

    Arthur Ashe Chair in Pediatric AIDS Research

    Patricia M. Flynn, MD

    Member, St. Jude Faculty

    Associate Dean, Clinical Investigations MS Program

    Senior Vice President and Medical Director of Quality and Patient Care

    Deputy Clinical Director

    Arthur Ashe Chair in Pediatric AIDS Research

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    Affiliations

    Department of Infectious Diseases

    Research Interests

    • HIV/AIDS
    • Infections in immunocompromised hosts (mycotic infections and intravascular catheter infections)
    • Epidemiology

    Contact Information

    Patricia M. Flynn, MD

    Infectious Diseases

    MS 230, Room O5008C

    St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

    262 Danny Thomas Place

    Memphis, TN 38105-3678

    (901) 595-4662 (phone)

    (901) 595-5068 (fax)

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    Aditya Gaur, MD

    Member, St. Jude Faculty

    Medical Director, Occupational Health

    Director, Translational Trials Unit

    Director, Clinical Research, Infectious Diseases

    Aditya Gaur, MD

    Member, St. Jude Faculty

    Medical Director, Occupational Health

    Director, Translational Trials Unit

    Director, Clinical Research, Infectious Diseases

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    Affiliations

    Department of Infectious Diseases

    St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

    Clinical Interests

    • Diagnosis and treatment of infections in immunocompromised children
    • Pediatric HIV infection
    • Epidemiology of infectious diseases

    Contact Information

    Aditya Gaur, MD

    Infectious Diseases

    MS 600, Room Q1078

    St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

    262 Danny Thomas Place

    Memphis, TN 38105-3678

    (901) 595-5067 (phone)

    (901) 595-5068 (fax)

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    Amanda Green, MD

    Assistant Member, St. Jude Faculty

    Amanda Green, MD

    Assistant Member, St. Jude Faculty

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    Affiliations

    Department of Infectious Diseases

    Research Interests

    • Human immune responses to co-infection and chronic viruses, including HIV and CMV
    • Hyperinflammation and immune dysregulation in response to acute viral triggers
    • Infections in patients with sickle cell disease

    Contact Information

    Amanda Green, MD

    Infectious Diseases

    MS 320, Room E8004

    St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

    262 Danny Thomas Place

    Memphis, TN 38105-3678

    (901) 595-5627 (phone)

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    Hana Hakim, MD

    Member, St. Jude Faculty

    Hana Hakim, MD

    Member, St. Jude Faculty

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    Affiliations

    Department of Infectious Diseases

    Research Interests

    • Fever and neutropenia in pediatric oncology

    Contact Information

    Hana Hakim, MD

    Infectious Diseases

    MS 600, Room Q1103

    St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

    262 Danny Thomas Place

    Memphis, TN 38105-3678

    (901) 595-4695 (phone)

    (901) 595-5068 (fax)

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    Diego R. Hijano, MD, MSc

    Assistant Member, St. Jude Faculty

    Diego R. Hijano, MD, MSc

    Assistant Member, St. Jude Faculty

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    Affiliations

    Department of Infectious Diseases

    Research Interests

    • Host-pathogen interactions of respiratory virus
    • Systemic viral infections in immunocompromised host
    • Infections in bone marrow transplant recipients

    Contact Information

    Diego R. Hijano, MD, MSc

    Infectious Diseases

    MS 320, Room E8063

    St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

    262 Danny Thomas Place

    Memphis, TN 38105-3678

    (901) 595-7150 (phone)

    (901) 595-3099 (fax)

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    Lisa Hiskey, DO

    Assistant Member, St. Jude Faculty

    Lisa Hiskey, DO

    Assistant Member, St. Jude Faculty

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    Affiliations

    Department of Infectious Diseases

    Research Interests

    • Optimizing antimicrobial use in pediatric immunocompromised patients through infectious diseases diagnostics

    Contact Information

    Lisa Hiskey, DO

    Infectious Diseases

    MS 320

    St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

    262 Danny Thomas Place

    Memphis, TN 38105-3678

    901-581-1316 (phone)

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    Julia L. Hurwitz, PhD

    Emeritus, St. Jude Faculty

    Julia L. Hurwitz, PhD

    Emeritus, St. Jude Faculty

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    Affiliations

    Department of Infectious Diseases

    Research Interests

    • Vaccine development
    • Immune responses at the mucosal surface
    • Parvovirus vaccine development
    • How vitamins influence the immune response
    • How sex influences the immune response
    • Asthma and the immune response 
    • Stem cell/organ transplants and the immune response.

    Contact Information

    Julia L. Hurwitz, PhD

    Infectious Diseases

    MS 320, Room E8052

    St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

    262 Danny Thomas Place

    Memphis, TN 38105-3678

    (901) 595-2464 (phone)

    (901) 595-3099 (fax)

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    Katherine M. Knapp, MD

    Associate Member, St. Jude Faculty

    Medical Director, Perinatal HIV Program

    Katherine M. Knapp, MD

    Associate Member, St. Jude Faculty

    Medical Director, Perinatal HIV Program

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    Affiliations

    Department of Infectious Diseases

    Research Interests

    • Pediatric/adolescent HIV infection
    • Prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission
    • Long-term outcomes of perinatal HIV/antiretroviral exposure
    • Infectious complications in immunocompromised hosts, particularly fungal infections

    Contact Information

    Katherine M. Knapp, MD

    Infectious Diseases

    MS 600, Room Q1077E

    St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

    262 Danny Thomas Place

    Memphis, TN 38105-3678

    (901) 595-4645 (phone)

    (901) 595-5068 (fax)

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    Ellie Margolis, MD, PhD

    Assistant Member, St. Jude Faculty

    Ellie Margolis, MD, PhD

    Assistant Member, St. Jude Faculty

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    Affiliations

    Department of Infectious Diseases

    St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

    Research Interests

    • Multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) colonization
    • Selection of antibiotic resistance in immunocompromised hosts
    • Ecological processes that determine microbiome dynamics in immunocompromised hosts
    • Commensal microbes that limit the colonization of vancomycin resistant Enterococcus

    Contact Information

    Ellie Margolis, MD, PhD

    Infectious Diseases

    MS 320, Room E8002

    St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

    262 Danny Thomas Place

    Memphis, TN 38105-3678

    (901) 595-3219 (phone)

    (901) 595-3099 (fax)

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    Gabriela Maria Marón Alfaro, MD, MSc

    Associate Member, St. Jude Faculty

    Gabriela Maria Marón Alfaro, MD, MSc

    Associate Member, St. Jude Faculty

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    Affiliations

    Department of Infectious Diseases

    Research Interests

    • Infectious complications in immunocompromised hosts, particularly fungal infections
    • Dengue virus infections
    • Pediatric and adolescent HIV/AIDS

    Contact Information

    Gabriela Maria Marón Alfaro, MD, MSc

    Infectious Diseases

    MS 600, Room Q1077C

    St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

    262 Danny Thomas Place

    Memphis, TN 38105-3678

    (901) 595-4127 (phone)

    (901) 595-5068 (fax)

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    Asunción Mejías, MD, PhD, MsCS

    Member, St. Jude Faculty

    Asunción Mejías, MD, PhD, MsCS

    Member, St. Jude Faculty

    View Full Profile Explore Asunción Mejías's research

    Affiliations

    Department of Infectious Diseases

    Research Interests

    • Viral respiratory infections
    • Perinatal infections including CMV and HSV
    • Data science
    • Integration of immune parameters with patient’s clinical phenotype

    Contact Information

    Asunción Mejías, MD, PhD, MsCS

    Infectious Diseases

    MS 320, Room E8051

    St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

    262 Danny Thomas Place

    Memphis, TN 38105-3678

    (901) 595-5206 (phone)

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    Nehali D. Patel, MD

    Associate Member, St. Jude Faculty

    Director of Clinical Services, Infectious Diseases Clinic

    Nehali D. Patel, MD

    Associate Member, St. Jude Faculty

    Director of Clinical Services, Infectious Diseases Clinic

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    Affiliations

    Department of Infectious Diseases

    Research Interests

    • Pediatric/adolescent/young adult HIV therapy
    • Pediatric vaccines

    Contact Information

    Nehali D. Patel, MD

    Infectious Diseases

    MS 600, Room Q1110

    St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

    262 Danny Thomas Place

    Memphis, TN 38105-3678

    (901) 595-4646 (phone)

    (901) 595-5068 (fax)

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    Octavio Ramilo, MD

    Member, St. Jude Faculty

    Chair, Department of Infectious Diseases

    Octavio Ramilo, MD

    Member, St. Jude Faculty

    Chair, Department of Infectious Diseases

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    Affiliations

    Department of Infectious Diseases

    Research Interests

    • Viral respiratory infections
    • Early life immunity
    • Application of systems analysis tools in the clinical setting

    Contact Information

    Octavio Ramilo, MD

    Infectious Diseases

    MS 320, Room E8050

    St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

    262 Danny Thomas Place

    Memphis, TN 38105-3678

    (901) 595-3494 (phone)

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    Steven M. Varga, PhD

    Member, St. Jude Faculty

    Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

    Ex-officio member, Board of Trustees

    Steven M. Varga, PhD

    Member, St. Jude Faculty

    Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

    Ex-officio member, Board of Trustees

    View Full Profile Explore Steven Varga's research

    Affiliations

    St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

    Department of Infectious Diseases

    Research Interests

    • Immunopathogenesis of respiratory viruses
    • Innate and adaptive immunity to respiratory syncytial virus
    • Vaccine development
    • Pathogenesis of viral co-infections
    • Cancer immunotherapy

    Contact Information

    Steven M. Varga, PhD

    Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

    MS 1500, Room IA1200

    St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

    262 Danny Thomas Place

    Memphis, TN 38105-3678

    (901) 595-1500 (phone)

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    Robert Webster, PhD

    Emeritus, St. Jude Faculty

    Robert Webster, PhD

    Emeritus, St. Jude Faculty

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    Affiliations

    Department of Infectious Diseases

    Research Interests

    • The emergence and control of influenza viruses
    • Structure and function of influenza virus proteins
    • Development of novel influenza vaccines and antivirals 
    • Viral immunology

    Contact Information

    Robert Webster, PhD

    St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

    262 Danny Thomas Place

    Memphis, TN 38105-3678

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    Megan L. Wilkins, PhD

    Associate Member, St. Jude Faculty

    Megan L. Wilkins, PhD

    Associate Member, St. Jude Faculty

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    Affiliations

    Department of Psychology and Biobehavioral Sciences

    Department of Infectious Diseases

    Research Interests

    • Medication adherence in youth with HIV
    • Psychosocial adjustment in youth with HIV
    • Cognitive and academic functioning in youth with HIV
    • Body image in youth with HIV
    • Trauma-informed HIV Care

    Contact Information

    Megan L. Wilkins, PhD

    Psychology and Biobehavioral Sciences

    MS 230 - HIV Clinical Research

    St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

    262 Danny Thomas Place

    Memphis, TN 38105-3678

    (901) 595-5965 (phone)

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    Joshua Wolf, PhD, MBBS

    Associate Member, St. Jude Faculty

    Joshua Wolf, PhD, MBBS

    Associate Member, St. Jude Faculty

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    Affiliations

    Department of Infectious Diseases

    Comprehensive Cancer Center

    St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

    Hematological Malignancies Program

    Research Interests

    • Prediction, prevention and treatment of infections in immunocompromised children
    • Management of device-associated infections

    Contact Information

    Joshua Wolf, PhD, MBBS

    Infectious Diseases

    MS 320, Room E8063

    St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

    262 Danny Thomas Place

    Memphis, TN 38105-3678

    (901) 595-6416 (phone)

    (901) 595-3099 (fax)

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St. Jude investigators have the freedom to focus on making big discoveries, backed by extraordinary resources and support teams. We are always looking for highly motivated scientists and engineers with passion and talent to join us! 

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Contact us

Department of Infectious Diseases 
MS320

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN, 38105-3678 USA
octavio.ramilo@stjude.org

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Memphis, TN, 38105-3678 USA
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