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

Influenza

The Influenza research program at St. Jude leads the US effort against pandemic influenza and collaborates with the World Health Organization in tracking emergence of new influenza strains.


SARS-CoV-2

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

photo of standing man and woman on bench.

Infection Defense

The Children’s Infection Defense Center seeks to eliminate the catastrophic infectious diseases of childhood through the use of vaccines and therapeutic agents whose development is based on an understanding of human immunity and microbial pathogenesis. 


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. 


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. 

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.


Faculty

Leadership

Octavio Ramilo, MD
Chair, Infectious Diseases

Press release on appointment

Elaine I. Tuomanen, MD
Director CIDC

Faculty Bio

Richard Webby, PhD
Director, WHO Collaborating Center for Studies on the Ecology of Influenza in Animals and Birds

Faculty Bio 

Stacey L. Schultz-Cherry, PhD
Deputy Director, WHO Collaborating Center for Studies on the Ecology of Influenza in Animals and Birds

Faculty Bio

Aditya Gaur, MD
Director, Clinical Research Infectious Diseases
Director, Translational Trials Unit 

Faculty Bio

Joshua Wolf, PhD, MBBS
Director, ID Heme/Onc Division

Faculty Bio

Gabriela M. Maron Alfaro, MD, MSc
Director, Transplant ID Division

Faculty Bio

Join us

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! 

Explore career opportunities in Infectious Diseases

We are currently recruiting!

Contact us

Department of Infectious Diseases 
MS320

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN, 38105-3678 USA
elaine.tuomanen@stjude.org

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262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN, 38105-3678 USA
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