Emory Antibiotic Resistance Center

2 million antibiotic-resistant infections leading to 23,000 deaths each year in the US - CDC
Superbugs resistant to all available antibiotics
Cutting-edge research to combat antibiotic resistance
Bringing scientists and clinicians together

Our mission is to better understand antibiotic resistance to combat this crisis and improve human health.

Featured Researcher

David S. Weiss, PhD

Our lab is focused on understanding the ways bacteria resist antibiotics as well as the host immune system during infection. We primarily study the highly antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterobacter cloacae, aiming to identify novel therapeutics to prevent disease.

Featured Researcher

Colleen S. Kraft, MD, MSc

Genomics for applied clinical microbiology.

Featured Researcher

William M. Shafer PhD

My laboratory investigates the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance expressed by Neisseria gonorrhoeae with special emphasis on the role of multi-drug efflux pumps. Additional studies relate to the role of host-derived cationic antimicrobial peptides in the innate immune response to infection and how bacterial pathogens resist their action.

Featured Researcher

Kyle Allison, Ph.D.

Our research focuses on elucidating antibiotic tolerance mechanisms with the aim of forward engineering novel treatments.

Featured Researcher

Ahmed Babiker

My primary research interest is the clinical and molecular epidemiology of multi-drug resistant infections and the integration of novel diagnostics and -omics technology into clinical microbiology and infectious diseases workflows.

Featured Researcher

Henry M. Blumberg, MD

My areas of interest in the field of antimicrobial resistance are focused on highly drug resistant tuberculosis including multidrug resistant (MDR) - and extensively drug resistant (XDR)-TB. Other areas of interest including highly drug resistant nosocomial pathogens.

Featured Researcher

Eileen M. Burd, PhD, D(ABMM)

My primary role is to ensure up-to-date practices for antimicrobial resistance testing in the clinical microbiology laboratory based on current standards, evolving technologies, and emerging infectious diseases. I review test results with attention to unusually resistant isolates, patterns and trends, and identify organisms of interest for applied research projects.

Featured Researcher

Graeme L. Conn, PhD

We are studying the activities and macromolecular structures of 1) ribosomal RNA methyltransferases that confer bacterial resistance to antibiotics (e.g. aminoglycosides), and 2) viral and cellular non-coding RNAs that regulate proteins of the human innate immune system.

Featured Researcher

Carlos del Rio, MD

Since 1997 I have been the PI and Director of the CDC-funded Gonococcal Isolate Surveillance Project (GISP; http://www.cdc.gov/std/gisp/) Regional Laboratory in Atlanta. In that capacity I have been involved in studies of antimicrobial resistance in N. gonorrheae and have contributed data that has led to changes in the CDC guidelines for the treatment of gonorrhea.

Featured Researcher

Christine M. Dunham, PhD

Our research is focused on understanding how gene expression is regulated during stress and from antibiotic resistance. Specifically we study the activation of toxin-antitoxin complexes that influence biofilm formation and bacterial persistence, and from ribosomal RNA modifications that confer antibiotic resistance (in collaboration with the Conn lab).

Featured Researcher

Monica Farley, MD

My major laboratory research interests concern mucosal pathogenesis of Haemophilus influenzae. Experiments have focused on the mechanisms of attachment, colonization and invasion of human nasopharyngeal mucosa by H. influenzae. Current laboratory research is also focused on molecular epidemiology of invasive bacterial pathogens including H. influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and MRSA.

Featured Researcher

Scott Fridkin, MD

Director of Antimicrobial Stewardship Research, Emory Healthcare; Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) and Epidemiology.

Featured Researcher

Haian Fu, PhD

We utilize chemical biology approach to discover agents that reverse microbial resistance in collaboration with microbiologists.

Featured Researcher

Neel R. Gandhi, MD

Since 1998, my work has focused on clinical research and epidemiology of Tuberculosis and HIV co-infection, with an emphasis on MDR and XDR TB. I have focused on specific aspects of the epidemic such as transmission of drug resistant TB, integration of TB and HIV treatment, and the molecular mechanisms of resistance to TB medications, including new drugs such as bedaquiline, delaminid and pretomanid.

Featured Researcher

Joanna B. Goldberg, PhD

My research program focuses on understanding mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis, with the goal of developing novel therapies to prevent or treat life-threating infections, particular lung infections in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Featured Researcher

Jesse T. Jacob, MD, MSc

I focus on two major, related areas of healthcare epidemiology related to multi drug resistant pathogens: 1) understanding the risk factors for, and outcomes of, infections caused these organisms, especially as it relates to antibiotic stewardship; and 2) preventing the transmission of these pathogens causing healthcare-associated infection, particularly environmental assessment and interventions.

Featured Researcher

Daniel Kalman, PhD

My laboratory studies pathogen interactions with host. Because host molecules used by various pathogens are frequently dysregulated in cancer, we identified anti-cancer therapeutics with significant anti-pathogen activity, which are less likely to engender resistance. Recent studies in primates indicate that the cancer drug Gleevec has potent activity against tuberculosis, a result we are currently working to extend into human trials against multi-drug resistant TB.

Featured Researcher

Russell Kempker, MD, MSc

My research focuses on drug-resistant tuberculosis with a specific interest in the clinical impact of rapid diagnostics on treatment outcomes and the second-line anti-tuberculosis drug pharmacology.

Featured Researcher

Minsu Kim, PhD

Single-cell-level study to characterize how genetically-identical bacterial cells may respond to antibiotic treatments differently

Featured Researcher

Christopher N. LaRock, PhD

We examine the host-pathogen interaction with a focus on Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Strep), a leading indication given for antibiotic prescription. These insights have allowed us to uncover unknown infection risk factors and develop treatment strategies that can minimize use of conventional antibiotics and also provide therapeutic benefit during other infections, including those by MDR ESKAPE pathogens.

Featured Researcher

Bruce R. Levin, PhD

The goal of our research is to develop protocols for the administration of antibiotics in individual and groups of patients that will maximize the rate of clearance of infections whilst minimizing the likelihood of the emergence and ascent of resistance during therapy and the spread of resistant in the community.

Featured Researcher

Shonna M. McBride, PhD

Clostridium difficile, or C. diff as it is commonly known, is considered an "Urgent" antibiotic resistance threat by the CDC. Our research is focused on two distinct aspects of C. difficile pathogenesis: the resistance of the bacterium to antimicrobials and the formation of dormant spores in the host.

Featured Researcher

Nael A. McCarty, PhD

Basic and translational research in Cystic Fibrosis, a genetic disease characterized by recurrent pulmonary bacterial infections, often by many species resistant to antimicrobials.

Featured Researcher

Stephanie Pouch, MD, MS

My clinical and research interests relate to the management of infections in solid organ and stem cell transplant recipients. My research has been centered upon the epidemiology and management of multi-drug resistant pathogens, as well as their impact on patient and graft outcomes.

Featured Researcher

Polly J. Price, MA, JD

The recipient of a public health law grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Professor Price has published articles on law and policy relevant to control of drug-resistant tuberculosis. She also works with the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission's Tuberculosis Consortium.

Featured Researcher

Cassandra L. Quave, PhD

The Quave research group investigates the anti-infective potential of botanical natural products for the treatment of multi-drug resistant pathogens. Research is focused on the discovery of bacterial pathogenesis and virulence inhibitors with the goal of developing adjuvant therapies to enhance and restore efficacy of existing lines of antibiotics.

Featured Researcher

Philip Rather, PhD

Role of RND-type efflux systems in beta-lactam resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii. Role of phase variation and quorum sensing in regulating intrinsic antibiotic resistance in A. baumannii.

Featured Researcher

Timothy Read, PhD

I am interested in comparative genomics of pathogens to discover novel traits that influence resistance and using genomic and metagenomic information to predict antibiotic resistance.

Featured Researcher

Jyothi Rengarajan, PhD

Mechanisms of tuberculosis (TB) pathogenesis and host immunity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection in mice and humans; targeting pathogen- and host-specific factors for developing immunomodulatory therapeutics for TB and/or adjunctive therapy against drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB.

Featured Researcher

Nadine Rouphael, MD, Ms

Clinical Trials Experience in Vaccines and Therapeutics

Featured Researcher

Sarah W. Satola, PhD

Evaluating methods for detection of heteroresistant vancomycin intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (hVISA) and characterization of MRSA infections with reduced levels of vancomycin susceptibility.Defining the spectrum of genetic variant that cause reduced to non-susceptibility to vancomycin in S. aureus. Development of a genetic assay for vancomycin intermediate S. aureus (VISA).

Featured Researcher

Raymond F. Schinazi, PhD, DSc

The Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology (LOBP) has a primary research focus of drug discovery and drug development of novel antiviral agents against HIV, hepatitis B and C, Chikungunya, Ebola, Dengue, and other emerging viruses. Using high-throughput screening, we determine antiviral potency, selection for drug resistance and cytotoxicity.

Featured Researcher

Andi L. Shane, MD, MPH, MSc

My interest is in the epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance in children, with a focus on the adverse effects of antibiotics on the pediatric microbiome. My research efforts focus on assessing the role of probiotics in improving tolerance of antimicrobial therapy and understanding the role of isolation in the prevention of transmission of resistant pathogens in high consequence and childcare settings.

Featured Researcher

James P. Steinberg, MD

My research interest is in the epidemiology and prevention of healthcare associated infections including those caused by antibiotic resistant pathogens. Recent work has focused on measurement and prevention of catheter associated bloodstream infections and the study of secular trends of infections caused by antibiotic resistant pathogens including MRSA.

Featured Researcher

W. Robert Taylor, MD, PhD

Infections associated with medical devices remain a significant problem in clinical medicine. Our laboratory has been specifically interested in developing novel techniques to image bacteria in vivo and to apply these strategies for targeted delivery of antibiotics.

Featured Researcher

William Wuest

Inspired by Nature, our lab leverages organic synthesis to develop antibiotics. In particular, we study how natural products with anti-virulence and/or narrow-spectrum activity are capable of eliciting their response. Another aspect of our work focuses on the mechanism by which bacteria resist commonly used antiseptics which has led to the development of improved compounds.

Featured Researcher

Michael Woodworth

I am focused on the use of fecal transplantation to treat colonization with multi-drug resistant organisms to reduce infection and transmission.

Featured Researcher

James M. Hughes, MD

Relationship of antimicrobial usage to resistance in human and animal populations, emerging microbial threats, foodborne diseases, healthcare-associated infections, assessment of impact of One Health interdisciplinary intervention strategies and antimicrobial drug development incentives

Featured Researcher

John E. McGowan, Jr., MD

My primary research interest is the epidemiology of antibacterial resistance, especially as it applies to the healthcare setting, and as it is affected by antimicrobial use and appropriate diagnostic testing.

Highlights

Quat disinfectants that swap nitrogen for phosphorus might stem antimicrobial resistance

Hunting for Medicines Hidden in Plants

How plant-based remedies could help save us from superbugs

Antibiotic Resistant Diseases and Nature's Next Medicines with Cassandra Quave

Cassandra Quave’s adventure-filled memoir details challenges and triumphs in her search for anti-infective molecules

‘We have barely scratched the surface’ of the medicinal value of plants: Expert

‘Plant hunter’ searches for nature’s next medicines

Researcher Looks to Plants in Search for New Antibiotics

Upcoming Events

Building walls, bacterial style

Dr. Thomas Bernhardt
Harvard Medical School
May 23rd, 4 pm

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