Research Interests
Microbial Pathogenesis
The main interests of our group is the development and validation of new methods for the detection and characterization of infectious agents in human clinical material. Our laboratory uses the resources of the Clinical Laboratories at Bellevue Hospital to provide a study base for the development and evaluation of novel and rapid methods for the diagnosis of difficult to detect microorganisms such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and HIV. Working with various industrial manufacturers and biotech companies, we have participated in the clinical trials to determine the performance characteristics of new methods for the detection of tuberculosis; i.e. such as Ligase Chain Reaction (LCX) and the Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) and BACTEC 960TB systems, as well as rapid HIV antibody and antigen assays.
Among the current projects is a contract funded by the Department of Homeland Security, to participate in a Sentinel Surveillance initiative which involves developing real time PCR methods for the rapid detection and reporting infectious agents of public health significance.