Weekly Meeting Archives - Page 2 of 11 - Johns Hopkins University Center for Tuberculosis Research

TRAC Seminar Series

The Tuberculosis Research Advancement Center (TRAC) Seminar will be held on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 from 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET in CRB-2, 1M.13 or via Zoom.

“Continuing tales of the tubercle bacillus: have tubercle, will travel”

Kyu Rhee, MD, PhD
Professor of Medicine,
Vice Chair for Research Department of Medicine,
Interim co-chief Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine,
Co-director Cornell Center for Antimicrobial Resistance
Weill Cornell Medicine

Kyu Rhee is an infectious disease physician-scientist and Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine where he also leads 3 physician-scientist training programs, including the DoM PSTP, BWF MD-only physician-scientist training program and an NIAID-funded R38 StARR. He received his MD PhD degrees from the University of California, Irvine, where he studied the biochemical mechanisms of transcriptional regulation in E. coli, and subsequently completed his clinical training in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases at Weill Cornell where following a brief postdoc in the laboratory of Dr. Carl Nathan, he has spent his career studying clinically relevant features of the basic biology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. He also serves as Vice chair of the ASCI Physician-Scientist Development Committee and as a member of AAIM Research Committee and the National Association of Clinician Scientists.

The October TRAC seminars are presented by the Microbiology, Immunology, Animal Modeling & Imaging (MIAMI) Core.

Join via Zoom: Updated link will require Passcode
Topic: TRAC Seminar Series
Time: Every week on Wednesday at 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting: https://jhjhm.zoom.us/j/94704979755
Meeting ID: 947 0497 9755
Passcode: 179967

TRAC Seminar Series

The Tuberculosis Research Advancement Center (TRAC) Seminar will be held on Wednesday, October 8, 2025 from 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET in CRB-2, 1M.13 or via Zoom.

“Investigating the protective effects of M. bovis BCG therapy against dementia in a mouse model of Tauopathy”

Somnath Shee, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Laboratory of Dr. William Bishai
Center for Tuberculosis Research
Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine

I earned my PhD (2022) in “Molecular pathogenesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis” from Dr. Amit Singh’s laboratory, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India. During my graduate program, (1) I utilized high-throughput technologies (transposon mutagenesis, FACS, and Illumina sequencing) combined with a redox-biosensor tool to identify the complete genomic requirement of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) for maintaining basal redox homeostasis. Disrupting this homeostasis increased bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics and host stress (PMID: 37642294); (2) I described a novel Mtb response to moxifloxacin (a key drug for MDR-TB). Unlike non-pathogenic E. coli, Mtb reduced respiration when challenged with moxifloxacin. Notably, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) restored respiration, enhanced ROS production, increased drug lethality, and limited resistance emergence in mice (PMID: 35975988). This work highlights NAC’s potential to enhance fluoroquinolone efficacy.

My postdoctoral research (2022-present) in Prof. Bishai’s laboratory is to discover molecular mechanisms that unify major determinants of Tuberculosis (TB) disease (malnutrition, smoking, aging, among others). We identified a signature of senescent myeloid cells in the lung from TB-susceptible mouse models that form human-like necrotic granulomas. Currently, we are working to repurpose senolytics as host-directed therapy to target TB.

In addition to this project, I am actively involved in developing mycobacteria-based preventive therapy for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). I’ll discuss the major findings of this research in this TRAC seminar.

The October TRAC seminars are presented by the Microbiology, Immunology, Animal Modeling & Imaging (MIAMI) Core.

TRAC Seminar Series

The Tuberculosis Research Advancement Center (TRAC) Seminar will be held on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 from 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET in CRB-2, 1M.13 or via Zoom.

“Understanding how γδ T cells mediate protection against M. tuberculosis”

Chetan Seshadri, MD
Professor of Medicine
University of Washington School of Medicine

Dr. Seshadri received his MD from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Duke University Health System. He served as a field doctor for Medecins sans Frontieres(Doctors Without Borders) prior to fellowship training in Infectious Diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Brigham & Women’s Hospital. He currently leads a translational research program whose focus is to understand the factors required for protective immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The research conducted in the Seshadri Lab has direct relevance for developing the next generation of vaccines for tuberculosis. Dr. Seshadri is also the Director of the Seattle Tuberculosis Research Advancement Center (SEATRAC) whose mission is to catalyze new avenues of research and train the next generation of TB scientists. Post-doctoral applications are welcome.

The October TRAC seminars are presented by the Microbiology, Immunology, Animal Modeling & Imaging (MIAMI) Core.

TRAC Visiting Faculty Seminar

The Tuberculosis Research Advancement Center (TRAC) Visiting Faculty Seminar will be held on Wednesday, October 15th from 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET in CRB-2, 1M.13 or via Zoom. Add to Calendar.

“The biology and ontogeny of alveolar macrophages across the age spectrum”

Larry Schlesinger, MD
Professor, President and CEO
Texas Biomedical Research Institute
Principal Investigator, Interdisciplinary NexGen TB Research Advancement Center (IN-TRAC)

Larry S. Schlesinger, MD became Professor, President and CEO of Texas Biomedical Research Institute in San Antonio, TX in 2017 and is leading a transformational process focused on scientific growth and cultural change, a new campus master plan and new research and education programs. He is a leading physician scientist whose research program focuses on how the lung environment shapes alveolar macrophage biology in the context of the pathogenesis of tuberculosis and diseases caused by other intracellular pathogens that subvert lung immune mechanisms. He translates these discoveries into new platforms and assays for host-directed therapies for infectious diseases. He has authored 260 peer-reviewed articles and reviews, served as editor of 2 books and has written several chapters in leading textbooks. He has been continually funded by the NIH and other federal agencies as well as private foundations such as the BMGF for more than 35 years. He has trained ~ 180 individuals and led NIH-funded training programs, including the Ohio State University MSTP 2011-2017. He is a past NIH NIAID Council member and Fellow of the AAAS, IDSA, AAP and AAM.

This Visiting Faculty Seminar and the October TRAC Seminars are presented by the Microbiology, Immunology, Animal Modeling & Imaging Core

Join via Zoom: New link for 2025-2026
Topic: TRAC Seminar Series
Time: Every week on Wednesday at 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
https://jhjhm.zoom.us/j/94704979755?pwd=YpHbpfn2jpsUhPl2DVXtYsehDQSrMP.1
Meeting ID: 947 0497 9755
Passcode: 179967

TRAC Seminar Series

The Tuberculosis Research Advancement Center (TRAC) Seminar on Wednesday, September 24, 2025 from 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET will be held in the Carnegie 328 Conference Room and via Zoom.

**Please note that unfortunately we will no longer be able to provide lunch during these meetings**

“Understanding TB isolation policy implementation and patient experiences in the US”

Ruvandhi Nathavitharana, MD MPH FIDSA
Associate Professor of Medicine
Division of Infectious Diseases
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Harvard Medical School

Dr. Nathavitharana is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Attending Physician in Infectious Diseases at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dr. Nathavitharana’s research, funded primarily by a US National Institutes of Health Director’s New Innovator Award, uses translational and implementation science to optimize TB diagnosis, decrease transmission, and end stigma. She served as a technical expert for WHO TB diagnostic guidelines and the NTCA Respiratory Isolation guidelines. Dr. Nathavitharana’s clinical efforts focus on the longitudinal, multidisciplinary care of patients with TB and NTM infections.

The September TRAC seminars are presented by the Clinical Core and will focus on Domestic TB. The September seminars will be held in-person in the Carnegie 328 Conference Room and via Zoom.

TRAC Seminar Series

The Tuberculosis Research Advancement Center (TRAC) Seminar on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 from 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET will be held in the Carnegie 328 Conference Room and via Zoom.

**Please note that unfortunately we will no longer be able to provide lunch during these meetings**

“How to improve latent tuberculosis infection screening and treatment in a large health system?”

Jacek Skarbinski, MD
Director, Delivery Science and Applied Research Program (DARE)
Physician, Department of Infectious Diseases, Kaiser Oakland/Richmond
Research Scientist, Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California

Jacek Skarbinski is an infectious diseases physician and research scientist at The Permanente Medical Group in Kaiser Permanente Northern California who provides clinical care for patients with HIV and other infectious diseases and conducts research on latent tuberculosis infection, COVID-19 and chronic fatigue syndrome. He received his MD from Stanford University School of Medicine, completed an internal medicine residency at University of California San Francisco, and an infectious diseases fellowship at Emory University. Prior to joining Kaiser in 2016, he spent 10 years at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention working on malaria, domestic HIV and tuberculosis.

The September TRAC seminars are presented by the Clinical Core and will focus on Domestic TB. The September seminars will be held in-person in the Carnegie 328 Conference Room and via Zoom.

TRAC Seminar Series

The Tuberculosis Research Advancement Center (TRAC) Seminar on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 from 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET will be held in the Carnegie 328 Conference Room and via Zoom.

**Please note that unfortunately we will no longer be able to provide lunch during these meetings**

“Overview of TB Epidemiology in Maryland”

Alexandra Pyan, MPH
Senior Epidemiologist, Center for TB Control and Prevention
Maryland Department of Health

Alexandra Pyan is the senior epidemiologist for the Maryland Department of Health Center for Tuberculosis Control and Prevention. In that role oversees all surveillance activities for active and latent TB and previously served as Project Coordinator for Maryland’s TBESC-II site. Prior to joining MDH she was a CSTE Applied Epidemiology Fellow with the Hawaii State Department of Health and CDC.

The September TRAC seminars are presented by the Clinical Core and will focus on Domestic TB. The September seminars will be held in-person in the Carnegie 328 Conference Room and via Zoom.

TRAC Seminar Series

The Tuberculosis Research Advancement Center (TRAC) Seminar will resume for the 2025-2026 academic year on Wednesday, September 3, 2025 from 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET in the Carnegie 328 Conference Room and via Zoom. Add to Calendar.

**Please note that unfortunately we will no longer be able to provide lunch during these meetings**

“Clinical Impact of NAT2 Testing, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, and Dose-Intensification on TB Treatment Outcomes”

Jeffrey A. Tornheim, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Medicine, Pediatrics and International Health
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Jeffrey A. Tornheim, MD, MPH, is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine as well as a TB clinician at the Baltimore City Health Department. His research explores the application of new diagnostic technologies including bacterial next generation sequencing, multiomic host biomarkers, and both individual- and population-level pharmacologic assessments to improved health outcomes in the treatment of drug resistant tuberculosis among both adult and pediatric patients. His active projects include cohort studies of individualized dosing for people with both drug-susceptible and drug-resistant tuberculosis.

The September TRAC seminars are presented by the Clinical Core and will focus on Domestic TB. The September seminars will be held in-person in the Carnegie 328 Conference Room and via Zoom.

TRAC Seminar Series

The Tuberculosis Research Advancement Center (TRAC) Seminar will be held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 from 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET in CRB-2, 1M.13 or via Zoom. Add to Calendar.

“Translational predictions of sutezolid exposure-response to identify oxazolidinone best-in-class“

Anu Patel, PharmD
PhD Candidate, Pharmaceutical Sciences & Pharmacogenomics
University of California San Francisco

Anu Patel is a fourth-year PhD candidate at the University of California San Francisco under the mentorship of Dr. Rada Savic. Prior to starting her graduate work, she completed a PharmD at the University of Pittsburgh. Currently, she combines her pharmacology background and passion for improving patient outcomes with her emergent technical skills to help create translational tools to accelerate drug development for TB.

The May TRAC seminars are presented by the Pharmacology & Pharmacometrics Core

Join via Zoom: New link for 2024-2025
Topic: TRAC Seminar Series
Time: Every week on Wednesday at 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting: Https://jhjhm.zoom.us/j/92431052728?pwd=STVlQXREQm1ITlZBZWNxWE05UzdFQT09
Meeting ID: 924 3105 2728
Passcode: 175279

TRAC Seminar Series

The Tuberculosis Research Advancement Center (TRAC) Seminar will be held on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 from 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET in CRB-2, 1M.13 or via Zoom. Add to Calendar.

“Ultra Curto: A Controlled Trial of TB Preventive Therapy with Novel Adherence Monitoring”

Abiye Berihun, BPharm, MA
MPH Candidate, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Richard E. Chaisson, MD
Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology & International Health, Johns Hopkins University
Co-Director, JHU TRAC & CFAR
Chief of Party, SMART4TB Consortium

The May TRAC seminars are presented by the Pharmacology & Pharmacometrics Core