Investigators and Program Directors

Program Description and Research Interests

Dr. St. George is Chief of the Laboratory of Viral Diseases, which includes the Virus Reference and Surveillance Laboratory (VRSL), Viral Encephalitis Laboratory (VEL), Calicivirus Laboratory, Virology Proficiency Testing Laboratory, Virology Molecular Development Team and the Special Projects Unit. Dr. St. George is also Virology Section Head for the Clinical Laboratory Evaluation Program.

Dr. St. George directs the research and development work of the Laboratory of Viral Diseases, has general oversight of the service laboratories, and specifically directs the Special Projects Unit and the Virology Proficiency Testing Laboratory. The VRSL detects and characterizes human pathogenic viruses for surveillance, reference testing and the investigation of disease outbreaks with a combination of classical and molecular techniques. It is also a WHO Collaborating Laboratory for Influenza and provides testing for the CDC-funded influenza sentinel physician program. The VEL provides a specialized and extensive molecular testing service for encephalitis, and the Calicivirus Laboratory performs molecular testing for unculturable gastroenteric viruses. Numerous molecular assays have been developed, validated, and implemented within the laboratory including those for influenza viruses, herpes group viruses, adeno and enteroviruses, and human metapneumovirus. A major new initiative has been the development of antiviral resistance testing for drug-resistant influenza viruses. The Proficiency Testing Laboratory prepares and distributes proficiency testing panels to NYS-licensed clinical virology laboratories, as a component of their overall performance assessment.

Current projects in the Special Projects Unit include an NIH-funded UO1 grant, in collaboration with Dr. Ian Lipkin at Columbia University, for the development of microarrays . This multi-site project, initiated in 2006, aims to develop arrays for the detection of respiratory viruses and select agents. Accessing the large archives of cultured virus isolates and primary specimens housed within the Laboratory of Viral Diseases, the Special Projects Unit is assisting with the development of the respiratory arrays. In another project, quantitative, mutation-specific, real-time PCR assays are being developed for the detection of drug-resistance mutations, and the investigation of the dynamics of evolution of drug resistance in influenza viruses. The laboratory work for an RO1 grant with Dr. Alison Morris at the University of Pittsburgh will begin soon, investigating the relationship between viral infections and the development of emphysema in HIV-positive persons. A previous research study involving whole genomic sequencing of influenza viruses, has recently been reopened in collaboration with Dr. Elodie Ghedin at the University of Pittsburgh, to investigate mixed viral populations in some of the original samples submitted for this project. Past projects have included the investigation of human bocavirus in tonsilar tissues and archived autopsy tissues, and the role of respiratory pathogens in pediatric deaths.

Contact Information

Email: kxs16@health.state.ny.us