Infectious Disease

We’re seeking exceptional faculty to move MizzouForward in the areas of Infectious Disease and Molecular Microbiology and Immunology.

Infectious Disease

Featured Researchers

  • Xiu-Feng (Henry) Wan, PhD, professor – Using systems biology and translational approaches to counteract influeza and other emerging infectious diseases.
  • Diana Gil Pagés, PhD, associate professor – Design and development of engineered antibody fragments targeting T cells as anti-cancer therapeutics
  • Marc Johnson, PhD, professor – Leader in SARS-CoV-2 wastewater tracking and surveillance at the local and national level.
  • Dongsheng Duan, PhD, curators distinguished professor – International leader in studies of gene therapy for treatment and cure of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and gene therapy.
  • Dima Dandachi, MD, assistant professor of Clinical Medicine, Involved in advancing our involvement in HIV clinical trials and implementation research.
  • Taylor Nelson, DO, assistant professor of Clinical Medicine, is the principal investigator on a COVID-19 clinical study looking at the use of Niclosamide in moderate and severe hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
Duan Research Lab

Apply or Nominate a Researcher

A successful MizzouForward candidate is an accomplished researcher with a passion for collaboration and the desire to address our world’s most pressing needs. The colleagues we’re looking to recruit possess:

  • A proven track record of external research funding, particularly from federal agencies
  • A research agenda that complements the goals of MizzouForward
  • Robust accomplishments (e.g., publication record, number of citations)
  • National awards and honors, membership with national academies
  • An interdisciplinary nature of work
  • A strong commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

If you’re interested in learning more or you know an exceptional investigator who can help us reach our research goals, we want to hear from you. Faculty ready to move Mizzou forward should apply now.

Apply Now Nominate a Researcher

Featured News

Dandachi clinic

Why Infectious Disease at Mizzou?

  • The strengths of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology span the spectrum of fundamental studies of viral and bacterial pathogens to development of vaccines and other therapeutics to treat infection, cancer and autoimmune disease.
  • The Infectious Disease division at the MU School of Medicine is involved in important clinical research. Over the past five years, Infectious Disease has led all division in growth related to research funding received.
  • Infectious Disease at MU focuses on vaccine development and disease pathogenesis. The division recently served as a study site for the Novavax COVID-19 clinical trial and the trial testing the use of convalescent plasma as a treatment for COVID-19.
  • Our researchers are working to harness the immune system to treat cancer, viral infections and autoimmune disease
  • We are leading groundbreaking studies using adeno-associated viral vectors as gene therapy delivery vehicles to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
  • The division utilizes the University of Missouri Clinical Research Center, located on the fifth floor of MU Health Care’s University Hospital, which features an advanced inpatient Phase 1 clinical trials unit, five inpatient beds, three outpatient exam rooms, a metabolic kitchen to support nutrition studies and an exercise facility. The center also contains work areas specifically for researchers, including meeting rooms, a general laboratory and information technology facilities. The environment is designed to support clinical and translational scientists, as well as training programs for physicians who want to contribute to clinical research.

Infectious Disease Advisory Committee

MizzouForward is comprised of multiple advisory committees. Each committee is interdisciplinary in its composition and they review the applicant materials, conduct Zoom interviews with candidates and make recommendations to the hiring authorities.

Committee Roster