Vogt Honored with 2025 Young Investigator Award by Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society

The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS) has named Dr. Matthew Vogt, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics (Infectious Diseases) and Microbiology & Immunology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the recipient of its prestigious 2025 Young Investigator Award. This national honor recognizes early-career physician-scientists whose independent research has made outstanding contributions to the field of pediatric infectious diseases.

Founded in 1984, PIDS is the world’s largest organization of professionals dedicated to the treatment, control, and eradication of infectious diseases affecting children. Its members include physicians, scientists, and public health leaders committed to advancing clinical care, education, research, and advocacy. Through its journal (JPIDS), annual conferences, and global partnerships, PIDS plays a central role in shaping the future of pediatric infectious disease research and policy.

Society President, William J. Steinbach, MD, shared that, “The Young Investigator Award of our Society is one of the most consequential – indicative of those faculty who are meteoric rising stars and will be the very bedrock of the entire future of our subspecialty.”

Dr. Vogt’s research focuses on the pathogenesis of respiratory viral infections in children, with a particular emphasis on enterovirus D68 (EV-D68), a virus known to cause acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), a rare but serious polio-like illness. His laboratory at UNC also investigates how antibodies can prevent or mitigate severe viral diseases, and his work has already led to the development of human monoclonal antibodies for potential therapeutic use, with one having completed Phase I clinical trials in April. Dr. Vogt’s newest research direction is to apply this same expertise to parechoviruses, which can cause fever and encephalitis in newborns.

Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Dr. Vogt earned his undergraduate degree in biology from Washington University in St. Louis. He completed his MD/PhD in Immunology at Washington University School of Medicine, conducting his doctoral research in the laboratory of Dr. Michael Diamond. Following his pediatrics residency in the Boston Combined Residency Program—affiliated with Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard and Boston Medical Center/Boston University—Dr. Vogt pursued fellowship training in Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he worked in the laboratory of Dr. James Crowe. He joined the UNC faculty in 2020 and has since established the Vogt Virus Lab, which continues to make significant strides in understanding and combating pediatric viral infections.

Dr. Vogt’s recent publications reflect the breadth and impact of his research. His work has appeared in leading journals such as The Lancet Infectious Diseases, Science Immunology, and The New England Journal of Medicine. Notably, he co-authored a 2025 study on the post-pandemic resurgence of respiratory viruses in children, part of the NIH’s PREMISE initiative, which provided critical insights into immunity gaps caused by COVID-19 mitigation measures. His 2022 NEJM article documented EV-D68 in the spinal cord of a child with AFM, closing a critical gap in the understanding of this condition, and his 2020 Science Immunology paper demonstrated how human monoclonal antibodies can neutralize EV-D68 and prevent paralytic disease. These studies underscore his commitment to translating basic science into clinical solutions for vulnerable pediatric populations.

The Young Investigator Award is presented annually to a physician within seven years of completing fellowship training, whose research during and after fellowship demonstrates exceptional promise and productivity. Dr. Vogt joins a distinguished group of past recipients, including UNC’s own Dr. Toni Darville, Division Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, who received the award in 1998. Dr. Darville is internationally recognized for her work on Chlamydia trachomatis and continues to mentor the next generation of physician-scientists.

According to Dr. Darville, “Dr. Vogt’s recognition by the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society is a tremendous honor for him and a point of pride for our Pediatric Infectious Diseases Division and UNC Pediatrics. His pioneering research on viral pathogenesis and antibody-based therapeutics exemplifies the kind of innovative, translational science that directly benefits children around the world. The PIDS Young Investigator Award provides encouragement to persist through the challenges of research and validates the impact of one’s scientific vision. The camaraderie and shared purpose within the PIDS community continue to sustain and inspire physician-scientists like Dr. Vogt, whose work is advancing the frontiers of pediatric infectious disease research and improving children’s lives globally.”

UNC congratulates Dr. Vogt on this well-deserved honor and celebrates his remarkable achievements in pediatric infectious disease research. We look forward to the continued impact of his work and extend our best wishes for a bright and inspiring future as he advances the science that protects and heals children around the world.