About

In collaboration with our partners in industry and nonprofit organizations, we are developing long-acting injectable (LAI) formulations of new and highly effective anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs. Tuberculosis is a chronic deadly disease with the leading cause of infectious disease deaths. Existing TB treatments of active TB include a 2-month intensive phase of a daily 4-drug oral regimen followed by a 4-month continuation phase of a daily 2-drug oral regimen. Non-adherence to TB drug regimens occurs most often in the continuation phase and can have grave consequences including loss of therapeutic effectiveness, increased transmission, and the development of drug resistance. LAIs address the critical barrier of patient adherence by replacing daily, multi-pill regimens with sustained-release injectables such that only one or a few injections may be sufficient for successful TB treatment.

Many infectious diseases are caused by human-specific pathogens. Animal models that are used for pre-clinical assessments of new treatments often fail to replicate how pathogens behave in humans because their immune systems and cell receptors differ. In our laboratory, we are using humanized mice, that are engrafted with human immune cells and tissues. We are using this model to study new approaches in treatment and prevention of infectious diseases caused by human-specific pathogens including HIV/AIDS and respiratory disease.