Rajendra K. Agrawal, Ph.D.

Rajendra K. Agrawal, PhD

Director, Division of Translational Medicine, Wadsworth Center

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.

Nilesh Banavali, PhD

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.

Sudha Chaturvedi, PhD

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.

Yu-Fen (Kathy) Chou, PhD

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.

Liang T. Chu, PhD

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.

Jan E. Conn, PhD

Vector Biology and Population Genetics

We investigate ecological and genetic adaptation of Anopheles malaria vectors to environmental factors that impact vectorial capacity, population genetics/genomics, ecology and behavior, and novel ways to monitor and control vectors.

Keith M. Derbyshire, PhD

Associate Director for Research and Technology

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.

Ye Ding, PhD

RNA Bioinformatics

We are engaged in algorithms and software tool development for the prediction of RNA secondary structure and their applications to understand mechanisms of regulatory non-coding RNAs, with a recent focus on microRNAs and small bacterial RNAs.

Christina Egan, PhD

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.

Sherry A. Faye, Ph.D.

Sherry A. Faye, PhD

Director, Nuclear Chemistry Laboratory

We focus on method development of radiochemical analyses for use in routine and emergency response scenarios.

Robert L. Glaser

Robert L. Glaser, PhD

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.

Todd Gray, PhD

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.

Bruce J. Herron, PhD

Mammalian Genomics

We utilize an array of mammalian genomic tools to discover genetic modifiers that influence multifactorial diseases. These susceptibility loci are targets for diagnosis and treatment of similar disorders in humans.

Denise M. Kay, PhD

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. 

Haider A. Khwaja, PhD

Environmental Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratory

We conduct multidisciplinary research to understand water and indoor and outdoor air pollution and their impact on human health.

David A. Lawrence, PhD

Neuroimmunology and Immunotoxicology

We study the immunological aspect of the system biology effects from genetic susceptibilities and environmental stress defined as the exposome on autoimmune diseases, immune deficiencies, and neurodegenerative and neurobehavioral illnesses.

William Lee, PhD

William T. Lee, PhD

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.