Research Training (Years 2-3)

• WCM has a strong track record of training laboratory based Infectious Disease physician scientists.
• There is a wide range of high-quality basic science laboratories that focus on pathogenesis, immunology, host immune response, and vaccine and drug development.
• Our fellows have worked with researchers within the division and across the Tri-Institutional campus (See list of additional T32 Research Training Faculty in other Departments & Institutions).
• Weill Cornell Physician-Scientist Academy led by Kyu Rhee to support physicians without doctorates interested in lab-based research through career development activities.
• Major laboratory-based research and potential mentors in the ID division may include:
• Genetic variation and drug resistance of Plasmodium falciparum and Babesia microti (Laura Kirkman).
• HIV latency and cure  Brad Jones)
• HIV neuroinflammation and CNS reservoirs (Lishomwa Ndhlovu).
• Tuberculosis and antibiotic drug development (Kyu Rhee).
• Potential supplementary education: Clinical and Translational Science Center courses in Bioinformatics, Grant Writing, K Early Career Award Training (KECAT) Program, Data Management, Professional Development Courses, Master’s in Clinical and Translational Investigation.

Example fellow publications

• Morales AE, Gumenick R, Genovese CM, Jang YY, et al “Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1) antigen is overexpressed in Kaposi Sarcoma and is regulated by KSHV vFLIP” Plos Pathog. 2024 Jan 8; 20(1)/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38190392/
• Saito K, Mishra S, Warrier T, Cicchetti N, Mi J, Weber E, Jiang X, Roberts J, Gouzy A, Kaplan E, Brown CD, Gold B, Nathan C. “Oxidative damage and delayed replication allow viable Mycobacterium tuberculosis to go undetected” Sci Transl Med 2021 Nov 24;13(621). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34818059/
• Vorkas CK, Wipperman MW, Li K, Bean J, Adamow M, Wong P, Jean Juste MA, Aubé J, Bucci V, Fitzgerald DW, Glickman MS. Mucosal-associated invariant and  gd T cells respond to initial Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. JCI Insight. 2018 Oct 4;3(19). pii: 121899. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.121899 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30282828/
• Saito K, Warrier T, Somersan-Karakaya S, Kaminski K, Mi J, Jiang X, Park S, Shigyo K, Gold B, Roberts J, Weber E, Jacobs WR, Nathan C. Rifamycin action on RNA polymerase in antibiotic tolerant Mycobacterium tuberculosis results in differentially detectable populations. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2017; 114:E4832-E4840 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19151157/
• Isa F, Collins S, Lee MH, et al. Mass Spectrometric Identification of Urinary Biomarkers of Pulmonary Tuberculosis. EBioMedicine 2018;31:157-65 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29752217/

• Fellows can develop clinical/translational research skills and expertise using a variety of methodologies including observational studies, clinical trials, large database analysis, laboratory analysis of patient-derived samples, cost-effectiveness analysis, informatics, or qualitative research methods.
• Depending on the research area, fellows may have more than one mentor from within and/or outside of the Division of Infectious Diseases who offer complementary expertise.
• Major research areas and potential mentors include:
• Antimicrobial resistance (Michael Satlin, Lars Westblade)
• Clinical trials of COVID-19, MpoxHIV/AIDS (Roy Gulick, Marshall Glesby,  Kristen Marks).
• Clinical trials of therapeutics in immunocompromised hosts (Catherine Small, Michael Satlin).
• Hepatitis/substance use treatments, policy, and cost-effectiveness (Kristen Marks, Shashi Kapadia, Bruce Schackman). See Center for Health Economics of Treatment Interventions for Substance Use Disorder, HCV, and HIV (CHERISH).
• HIV/AIDS observational studies (Marshall Glesby, Carrie Johnston).
• HIV translational research (Teresa Evering, Lishomwa Ndhlovu).
• Human Papillomavirus (Grant Ellsworth).
• Potential supplementary education: Master’s in Clinical and Translational Investigation, Master’s in Clinical Epidemiology and Health Services Research, Preventive Medicine Residency and/or Master’s programs in the Department of Population Health Science.

Example fellow publications

• McLean J, Stoeckle K, Huang S, Berardi J, Gray B, Glesby MJ, Zucker J. “Tecovirimat Treatment of People With HIV During the 2022 Mpox Outbreak : A Retrospective Cohort Study” Ann Intern Med 2023 May;176(5):642-648. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37126820/
• Magleby R, Westblade LF, Trzebucki A, Simon MS, Rajan M, Park J, Goyal P, Safford MM, Satlin MJ. Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Viral Load on Risk of Intubation and Mortality Among Hospitalized Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019. Clin Infect Dis. 2020 Jun 30 [Epub ahead of print]. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32603425/
• Johnston CD, Ifeagwu KC, Siegler EL, Derry H, Burchett CO, Rice MC, Gupta SK, Choi ME, Glesby MJ. Elevated cardiac risk score by ASCVD calculation is associated with albuminuria in older people living with HIV. AIDS. 2020 Feb 5;. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000002492. [Epub ahead of print] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32271253/
• Kapadia SN, Johnston CD, Marks KM, Schackman BR, Martin EG. Strategies for Improving Hepatitis C Treatment Access in the United States: State Officials Address High Drug Prices, Stigma, and Building Treatment Capacity. J Public Health Manag Prac. 2019 May/Jun;25(3):245-52 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29927900/

• For interested fellows, there is opportunity to receive intensive training in this exciting field. Fellows are invited to actively participate in departmental activities, initiatives, and meetings to gain practical experience in all aspects of healthcare epidemiology, such as healthcare-associated infection surveillance, reporting, outbreak investigation, antimicrobial stewardship, and hospital policy development and implementation. The IP&C Department is integrated across all NYP campuses, allowing fellows to gain experience in coordinating an IP&C program and an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) across a large healthcare system.
• Observational studies can be carried out utilizing infection control surveillance data, clinical microbiology data, and a robust hospital-based clinical database, which can be queried electronically. There is potential for collaborative projects, including observational as well as individual and cluster randomized trials, with Columbia University Medical Center and other NYP hospitals.
• Potential mentors include: Matthew Simon, Harjot Singh, Heidi Torres
• Major research areas:
• Epidemiology of healthcare associated infections and/or multi-drug resistant infection
• Epidemiology and management of multi-drug resistant infections
• Environmental cleaning/disinfection
• Antimicrobial stewardship
• Rapid molecular diagnostics and diagnostic stewardship
• Potential supplementary education: General Preventive Medicine Residency and/or Master’s in Clinical and Translational Investigation.

Example fellow publications

• Torres HM, Marino J, Simon MS, Singh HK, Westblade LF, Calfee DP “High touch surface bioburden associated with the use of disinfectants with and without continuously active disinfection in ambulatory care settings.” Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2024 Jun; 45 (6): 790-792. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38374787/
• Trzebucki AM, Westblade LF, Loo, Mazur S, Jenkins SG, Calfee DP, Satlin MJ, Simon MS “Real-world implementation and impact of a rapid carbapenemase detection test in an area endemic for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales.” Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2021 Feb 15;1-4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33583476/
• Kondo M, Simon MS, Westblade LF, Jenkins SG, Babady EN, Loo AS, Calfee DP on behalf of the SHEA Research Network. “Implementation of Infectious Diseases Rapid Molecular Diagnostic Tests and Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Involvement in Acute Care Hospitals.” Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2021 May;42(5):609-11. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33059776/
• Wang TZ, White KN, Scarr JV, Simon MS, Calfee DP. “Preparing Your Healthcare Facility for the New Fungus Among Us: An Infection Preventionist's Guide to Candida Auris.” 2020 Jul;48(7):825-827 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32591096/
• Wang TZ, Simon MS, Westblade LF, Saiman L, Furuya, EY, Calfee DP. “Quantitative Characterization of High-Touch Surfaces in Emergency Departments and Hemodialysis Facilities.” Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2021 Apr;42(4):474-76. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33021193/

• The goal of the Weill Cornell Center for Global Health (CGH)  is to improve health care in low and middle income countries through the conduct of research, clinical service, and training. The three priority research areas are infectious diseases, women’s health, and cardiovascular diseases.
• The Division of Infectious Diseases collaborates closely with the CGH, with multiple faculty members shared between the two groups, including full-time faculty who are based at or travel frequently to programs in Brazil, Haiti, India, Tanzania, or Uganda.
• The CGH has 20 core faculty members who conduct NIH-funded research and have a track record of advancing the careers of postdoctoral fellows. 
• Postdoctoral fellows interested in conducting mentored research in global health are encouraged to reach out to the Center’s faculty to learn more about their research.
• Major research areas and potential mentors may include:
• HIV and hypertension (Robert Peck).
• HIV testing in Uganda (Radhika Sundararajan).
• Host immune response to Mycobacteria (Kathryn Dupnik).
• Pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of HIV and TB in Haiti and Tanzania (Daniel Fitzgerald, Jean Pape).
• Schistosomiasis and mucosal immunity in Tanzania (Jennifer Downs).
• TB, pregnancy and women’s health in India (Jyoti Mathad).
• Potential supplementary education: Master’s in Clinical Epidemiology and Health Services Research with Global Health Track, 

Example fellow publications

• Mertelsmann AM, Bowers SF, Wright D, Maganga JK, Mazigo HD, Ndhlovu LC, et al. “Effects of Schistosoma haematobium infection and treatment on the systemic and mucosal immune phenotype, gene expression and microbiome: A systematic review.” PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2024 Sep 9;18(9): e0012456. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39250522/ 
• Mertelsmann AM, Mukerebe C, Miyaye D, Shigella P, et al “Clinical and Demographic Factors Associated With Kaposi Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Shedding in Saliva or Cervical Secretions in a Cohort of Tanzanian Women. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2024 Mar 19; 11(4). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38654970/
• Pham K, Mtalitinya GS, Aristide C, Airewele EA, Nyakaru DK, McMahon P, Mulaki GM, Corstjens PLAM, J de Dood C, van Dam GJ, Changalucha JM, Mazigo HD, Lee MH, Jaka H, Downs JA. “Effects of Schistosoma mansoni and praziquantel treatment on the lower gastrointestinal mucosa: A cohort study in Tanzania.” Acta Trop. 2023 Feb;23. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36410422/
• Pham K, Mertelsmann A, Mages K, Kingery JR, Mazigo HD, Jaka H, Kalokola F, Changalucha JM, Kapiga S, Peck RN, Downs JA. “Effects of helminths and anthelmintic treatment on cardiometabolic diseases and risk factors: A systematic review” PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2023 Feb 24. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36827239/
• Batavia AS, Severe P, Lee MH, Apollon A, Zhu YS, Dupnik KM, McNairy ML, Pape JW, Fitzgerald DW, Peck RN. Blood pressure and mortality in a prospective cohort of HIV-infected adults in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. J Hypertens 2018;36:1533-1539. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29634661/

• Dupnik KM, Bair TB, Maia AO, Amorim FM, Costa MR, Keesen TSL, Valverde JG, Queiroz MAP, Medeiros LL, de Lucena NL, Wilson ME, Nobre ML, Johnson WD, and Jeronimo SMB. Transcriptional changes that characterize the immune reactions of leprosy. J Infect Dis. 2015;211:1658-76. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25398459/

• Mathad JS, Bhosale R, Sangar V, Mave V, Gupte N, Kanade S, Nangude A, Chopade K, Suryavanshi N, Deshpande P, Kulkarni V, Glesby MJ, Fitzgerald D, Bharadwaj R, Sambarey P, Gupta A. Pregnancy differentially impacts performance of latent tuberculosis diagnostics in a high-burden setting. PLoS One 2014; 9:e92308. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24658103/

• Fellows interested in medical education may gain expertise as clinician-educators through a new Department of Medicine certificate program in Medical Education.
• The goal of the program is to provide trainees with structured training on fundamental aspects of medical education.
• Collaborations between the Department of Medicine and the ID division allow numerous opportunities for curriculum innovation and the development of ID-specific clinical teaching skills.
• Examples include case-based small group and large group didactic sessions for 1st and 2nd year medical students during their ID/microbiology course, clinical teaching with 3rd/4th year medical students, internal medicine and ophthalmology housestaff during rotations on the ID consult service and curriculum development, evidence-based medicine and clinical reasoning educational opportunities for medical students, physician assistants, internal medicine and other specialty housestaff.
• Medical Education certificate program requirements include:
• Completion of Foundations of Medical Education elective and/or Stanford clinical teaching program.
• Educational portfolio consisting of mixture of small/large group teaching sessions and observed feedback sessions.
• Scholarly project presented at regional/national conference or published in peer reviewed literature.
• Potential mentors may include individuals within Infectious Diseases as well as the Division of General Internal Medicine.
• Infectious Diseases: Priya Kodiyanplakkal, Kristen Marks, Matthew Simon, Harjot Singh, Ole Vielemeyer.
• General Internal Medicine: Laura Greisman, Kirana Gudi,  Shira Sachs, Alice Tang.

Example fellow publications

• Gottesdiener LS, Stoeckle K, Loo A, Mazur, S, Gudi K, Marks K, Simon MS. “A Required Infectious Diseases Rotation Improves Antimicrobial Stewardship Knowledge for Internal Medicine Interns.” IDWeek 2021 poster abstract.
• Chida N, Brown C, Mathad J, Carpenter K, Nelson G, Schechter MC, Giles N, Rebolledo PA, Ray S, Fabre V, Cantillo DS, Longworth S, Amorosa V, Petrauskis C, Boulanger C, Cain N, Gupta A, McKenzie-White J, Bollinger R, Melia MT. Internal Medicine Residents' Knowledge and Practice of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Diagnosis. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2018 Jun 27; 5(7) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30046640/
• Chida N, Brown C, Mathad J, Carpenter K, Nelson G, Schechter MC, Rebolledo PA, Fabre V, Cantillo DS, Longworth S, Amorosa V, Petrauskis C, Boulanger C, Cain N, Gupta A, McKenzie-White J, Bollinger R, Melia M. Developing an Assessment Framework for Essential Internal Medicine Subspecialty Topics. J Grad Med Educ. 2018 Jun; 10(3):331-335 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29946392/

New York City’s unique environment offers unparalleled exposure to emerging infectious disease and public health threats. Our Division’s strong connections with New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene offers ID fellows an opportunity to form critical public health connections and take potential elective at NYC DOHMH. Many fellows have pursued combined training in General Preventive Medicine through the Department of Population Health Sciences.

• Fellows interested in a career in Transplant/ Oncology ID will be able to gain expertise in the field during their fellowship by participating in our Transplant/Oncology ID Track. Fellows will rotate both on our solid organ transplant and bone marrow transplant services and have opportunities to do electives at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and at NYP’s Columbia campus There is also an outpatient Transplant/Oncology ID clinic at ID Associates that fellows can rotate in. Interested fellows will participate in multidisciplinary rounds with our transplant and oncology colleagues, perform pre-transplant evaluations, manage infections in the post-transplant period, and develop research projects with mentors in the field.
• Potential mentors include:  Michael Satlin, Catherine Small, Priya Kodiyanplakkal.
• Major research areas:
• Invasive fungal infections.
• Multi-drug resistant bacterial infections.
• Viral infections.
• HIV and transplantation.
• COVID-19 in immunocompromised hosts.

Example fellow publications

• Gottesdiener LS, Satlin MJ. “Global impact of antibacterial resistance in patients with hematologic malignancies and hematopoietic cell transplant recipients.” Transpl Infect Dis. 2023 Nov; 25 Suppl 1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37864309/
• Sfeir MM, Ortigosa-Jiminez C, Gamaletsou MN, Schuetz AN et al  “Breakthrough Bloodstream Infections Caused by Echinocandin-Resistant Candida tropicalis: An Emerging Threat to Immunocompromised Patients with Hematological Malignancies.” J Fungi (Basel). 2020 Jan 31;6(1):20. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32024039/
• Sfeir M, Douglass E, Soave R. So Many Possibilities: Lung Nodules in a Transplant Recipient. Am J Med 2017; 130:534-6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28082166/
• Baker TM, Satlin MJ. The growing threat of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections in patients with hematologic malignancies. Leuk Lymphoma 2016; 57:2245-58. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27339405
• Isa F, Saito K, Huang YT, Schuetz A, Babady NE, Salvatore S, Pessin M, vanBesien K, Perales MA, Giralt S, Sepkowitz K, Papanicolaou GA, Soave R, Kamboj M. Implementation of Molecular Surveillance After a Cluster of Fatal Toxoplasmosis at 2 Neighboring Transplant Centers. Clin Infect Dis 2016;63:565-8.