Senior Staff
[1]Rajendra K. Agrawal, PhD [2]
Chief, Cellular and Molecular Basis of Diseases
We study mechanisms of protein biosynthesis in bacterial and eukaryotic cells, with a goal to understand bacterial drug resistance and identify new drug targets, using biochemical and high-resolution 3D cryo-EM techniques.
[3]Nilesh Banavali, PhD [4]
Structure-based Therapeutics for Infectious Diseases
We use NextGen sequencing to determine frequencies and sequence dependence of polymerase errors, and computational methods for drug design, structure prediction, and elucidating chemical and conformational mechanisms.
[5]Sudha Chaturvedi, PhD [6]
Director, Mycology Laboratory
We develop new technologies for fungal diagnostics and pathogenic mechanisms of Cryptococcus gattii and Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the etiologic agents of human cryptococcal meningitis and bat white nose syndrome, respectively.
[7]Yu-Fen (Kathy) Chou, PhD [8]
Director, External Systems Quality Unit, Newborn Screening Program
Newborn Screening Program: We develop data visualizations and reports for public health surveillance. We provide education and work collaboratively with external stakeholders to improve the overall quality of the newborn screening system in NYS.
[9]Liang T. Chu, PhD [10]
Environmental Heterogeneous Chemistry Laboratory
We investigate heterogeneous reactions occurring on ice, environmental particle and nanoparticle surfaces to better understand the atmospheric pollution processes and their impact on human health using spectroscopic techniques.
[11]Alexander T. Ciota, PhD [12]
Director, Arbovirus Laboratory
We study arbovirus adaptation and vector-virus interactions, focusing on West Nile virus and Culex mosquitoes. Areas of interest include mutant swarm dynamics, mechanisms of adaptation, microbial interactions and vectorial capacity.
[13]Keith M. Derbyshire, PhD [14]
Molecular Genetics of Mycobacteria
We study mycobacteria and use molecular genetic approaches to investigate: global gene expression, at both transcriptional and translational levels; the mechanism of distributive conjugal transfer; and synthetic genetic interactions.
[15]Christina Egan, PhD [16]
Chief, Biodefense and Mycology Laboratories
We focus on the development and validation of assays to detect pathogens and toxins associated with bioterrorism or food-borne disease. We utilize methods such as real-time PCR, whole genome sequencing, and mass spectrometry for rapid detection of agents.
[17]Sherry A. Faye, PhD [18]
Director, Nuclear Chemistry Laboratory
We focus on method development of radiochemical analyses for use in routine and emergency response scenarios.
[19]Robert L. Glaser, PhD [20]
Director, Division of Laboratory Operations
The Division of Laboratory Operations oversees the Wadsworth Center's operations at five facilities in the Albany area, totaling ~900,000 square feet of space and over 210 acres of real estate.
[21]Todd Gray, PhD [22]
Molecular Genetics of Mycobacteria
We use innovative molecular genomic approaches to address fundamental questions of mycobacterial biology. Our findings shed new light on the evolution and function of mycobacterial genomes, accelerating tuberculosis research.
[23]Denise M. Kay, PhD [24]
Director, Newborn Screening Program
We screen infants born in New York State for more than 50 conditions at birth and study the genetics of diseases affecting infants and children.
[25]Haider A. Khwaja, PhD [26]
Environmental Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratory
We conduct multidisciplinary research to understand water and indoor and outdoor air pollution and their impact on human health.
[27]Matthew J. Kohn, PhD [28]
Director, Tissue Resources Program
The Tissue Resources Program oversees all tissue banking activities and services provided in New York State, from donor solicitation to clinical use.
[29]Erica Lasek-Nesselquist, PhD [30]
Bioinformatics and Statistics Core
My research focuses on clarifying the phylogenetic relationships among microbial organisms and understanding microbial genome evolution, including the contributions of horizontal gene transfer and endosymbioses to shaping genomes and accelerating adaptive evolution.
[31]William T. Lee, PhD [32]
Immunological Memory and Diagnostic Immunology
The goal of our research is to characterize the differences between antigenically naive (virgin) and memory T helper cells at the developmental, phenotypic and functional levels.
[33]Susan Madison-Antenucci, PhD [34]
Director, Parasitology Laboratory
My laboratory develops improved methods of detecting, identifying and characterizing parasites that infect humans, as well as investigating pathogenicity and sources of infection.
[35]Nicholas J. Mantis, PhD [36]
Chief, Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology
We study how serum and mucosal antibodies protect mammalian hosts from microbial pathogens and toxins. We are interested in next-generation vaccines and adjuvants to combat biothreat agents and enteric diseases.
[37]Kathleen A. McDonough, PhD [38]
Director, Division of Infectious Disease
We study gene regulation in the context of bacterial pathogenesis, with a focus on two pathogens: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes TB, and Yersinia pestis, the etiologic agent of bubonic and pneumonic plague.
[39]Lisa Mingle, PhD [40]
Bacteriology Laboratory
In the Bacteriology Laboratory, Dr. Mingle performs diagnostic reference testing, using both molecular and classical methods, for the detection of various pathogenic bacteria in New York State.