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.

Spencer Bruce, Ph.D.

Spencer Bruce, PhD

Director, Bioinformatics Core

The core's focus is next-generation sequencing (NGS) data analysis, research computing, phylogenomics, antibiotic resistance, and large-scale data mining, in support of the evolving needs of the research community and public health initiatives.

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.

Karen J. Chave, PhD

Director, Protein Expression and Biochemistry Cores

Dr. Chave serves as the Director of the Biochemistry Core as well as the Protein Expression Core.

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.

Alexander T. Ciota, PhD

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.

Richard Cole, MA

Director, Light Microscopy Core

Core personnel work along side investigators to develop imaging strategies and image analysis protocols needed to solve their research questions.

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.

April D. Davis, DVM, PhD

Director, Rabies Laboratory

We focus on developing and improving diagnostic tools for rabies. Additional research programs focus on studying rabies in bats within the laboratory and in field environments.

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.

Bryan C. Duffy, PhD

Supervisor, Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water Program / Liquid Chromatography

We focus on the targeted, ultra-trace measurement of emerging organic contaminants in New York State’s drinking water supplies through both regulated and research-based mass spectrometry methods.

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.

Vincent Escuyer, PhD

Director, Mycobacteriology Laboratory

We are interested in the mechanisms underlying resistance of M. tuberculosis to major TB drugs and in the development and validation of molecular assays involving whole genome sequencing for rapid detection of drug resistant tuberculosis.

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.

Pallavi Ghosh, PhD

Mycobacterial Stress Response

We study transcriptional reprogramming and regulatory networks in mycobacteria controlling resistance to genotoxic stress, hypoxia, nutrient starvation and exposure to antibiotics.

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.

Theresa K. Hattenrath, Ph.D.

Theresa K. Hattenrath, PhD

Chief, Laboratory of Environmental Biology

We use a variety of techniques to develop and validate rapid methods for the detection of waterborne pathogens, or their indicators, prior to the outbreak of disease. 

Denise M. Kay, PhD

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.