IDCRC Newsletter: April 2025

IDCRC Investigator Profile: Matthew B. Laurens, MD, MPH

Matthew Laurens, MD, MPH, is a pediatric infectious disease specialist with a primary research interest in malaria, typhoid fever, and other diseases that disproportionately affect people who live in resource-limited settings. He conducts studies at the Center for Vaccine Development (CVD) in Baltimore and at international sites in Burkina Faso, Mali, Malawi, and Uganda.

Dr. Laurens evaluates vaccines and therapeutics that target infectious pathogens, studies the interaction of HIV and malaria, and investigates the acquisition of antimalarial immunity. The broad goal of Dr. Laurens’ research is to illuminate the mechanisms of vaccine-induced immunity with the aim of informing the development of vaccines and therapeutics.

He is the director of the Typhoid Vaccine Acceleration Consortium (TyVAC), a partnership between the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, the Oxford Vaccine Group at the University of Oxford, and PATH. He also currently serves as the principal investigator for the IDCRC study, "Pharmacokinetic Study of IV Artesunate to Treat Children With Severe Malaria."

VIEW FULL PROFILE

Annual Meeting

2025 IDCRC Annual Meeting starts this Wednesday!

The 2025 Annual Meeting is just two days away! We look forward to seeing many of our Leadership Group, VTEU members, and DMID colleagues for our two-day meeting. This year's robust program will highlight the numerous scientific accomplishments of the IDCRC and VTEUs and provide ample networking opportunities for members.

Meeting Overview:

Date: April 30-May 1
Location: NIAID Building, Rockville, MD
Visit the Annual Meeting webpage for information, including meeting goals, draft agenda, accommodations, and local dining options.

Reminder: This will be a closed, invitation-only meeting for members of the IDCRC (VTEU and LG) and DMID. All invited attendees (in person and virtual) will be required to register to attend. Virtual attendees will receive the meeting login information prior to the meeting with the email address provided at registration.

Questions? Contact idcrc@emory.edu for more information.

ANNUAL MEETING WEBPAGE

Help us capture this year's meeting!

Attending the Annual Meeting? Help us capture the day! Send us photos throughout the day, selfies, group photos, and more, to be featured in our recap story! Email us at idcrc@emory.edu.

SEND US YOUR PHOTOS

Early Career Investigator Pilot Awards

Request for Applications: IDCRC 2025 Pilot Awards

The IDCRC RFA for Early Career Investigator Pilot Awards is now live! Mentored Pilot Research Project awards (similar to K08, K23 and K99 awards) provide one year of funding to support research projects and career development activities that will enhance the applicant’s ability to compete successfully for an independent R- or K-series award (e.g., acquisition of preliminary data, training in grant preparation).

The projects can address a variety of topics, including vaccinology, therapeutics, laboratory studies, and statistics. Scientists (MD, PhD, or equivalent) nearing completion of postdoc or in early faculty positions (instructor or assistant professor) and those who have not served as principal investigator (PI) or MPI on an R-grant (other than an R03) with NIH are eligible. Serving as PI on a K-series or other mentored career award does not preclude eligibility.

Request for Applications: IDCRC 2025 Pilot Awards

Please review the RFA for additional eligibility information. To maximize the success of pilot research projects with funding that is limited to a 12-month period, we strongly encourage the submission of pilot proposals that utilize existing data and/or samples that have IRB clearance for the intended use.

Abstract due date: May 16, 2025
Application due date: August 1, 2025

LEARN MORE & VIEW RFA HERE

Manual of Procedures Sections

View the recently approved IDCRC Manual of Procedures (MOP) section that describes the structure, operating policies, roles, and responsibilities of entities and individuals within the unit/consortium:

Section 18: Secondary Research Use of Specimens and/or Data
- Exhibit 18.3.1 - IDCRC Secondary Research Proposal - Application Instruction

VIEW ALL SECTIONS

Training

IDCRC Mentee Profile: Sumanth Cherukumilli, MD

Sumanth Cherukumilli, MD, is a third-year fellow in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Maryland. Dr. Cherukumilli's research focuses on neonatal sepsis and antimicrobial resistance in sub-Saharan Africa, specifically in Mali. He is working on a study designed to determine the primary etiologies of neonatal sepsis in the country's primary children's hospital, L'Hopital Gabriel Toure, with a particular focus on multidrug resistant Gram negative Enterobacterales.

"I am looking forward to meeting other people who are in the early stages of their careers; having them as a support system, listening to them, and learning from them will make a big difference as I navigate the early years of my career following fellowship. I am honored to be part of this cohort and hope to learn as much as I possibly can," shares Dr. Cherukumilli on what he looks forward to as a new member of the IDCRC's Mentorship Program.

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April Mentoring Lecture Series

The IDCRC Mentoring Lecture Series brings the IDCRC mentees together with leading experts to discuss topics related to the VTEUs, vaccinology, and clinical trials development and management. Check out our April lecture below!

April: IDCRC 101

Presenter:

Jodie Dionne, MD, MSPH, LOC co-director

VIEW FULL ARCHIVE

News

Time Magazine: "Invasive Strep Infections Are Rising in the U.S."

Group A Streptococcus bacteria can cause illnesses from the common strep throat to sepsis, toxic shock syndrome, and necrotizing fasciitis (more commonly known as flesh-eating bacterial infections). Cases of strep throat aren’t considered invasive, but if the bacteria leave the throat and venture into more sterile areas of the body, such as the blood and the lungs, then more serious diseases can occur. “

Not all group A strep are the same,” says Dr. Robert Frenck, director of the Vaccine Research Center at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and chair of the section on infectious diseases at the American Academy of Pediatrics, who was not involved in the study.

The study found that most of the invasive cases of strep were caused by seven to eight types of group A strep. “The different types circulate at different times,” says Frenck. “You can go for years without certain types circulating, and then all of a sudden, they will come back." For reasons that aren't fully understood, "a lot of it is cyclical.”

READ FULL ARTICLE

Carlos del Rio honored by American College of Physicians (ACP)

Emory VTEU PI, Carlos del Rio, MD, (pictured far right), has been awarded the ACP's John Phillips Memorial Award for Outstanding Work in Clinical Medicine. This award is bestowed for outstanding, lifetime work in clinical medicine that has been innovative and/or had a regional or national impact.

Dr. del Rio is honored for his significant clinical work in HIV/AIDS and COVID-19. This award also includes a Mastership designation, the highest level of ACP recognition. He was recognized for this award at the ACP’s annual Convocation ceremony on Thursday, April 3, 2025, in New Orleans, LA.

Sandra Yoder receives Vanderbilt School of Medicine
Research Staff Award

On April 4, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine hosted their 21st annual Research Staff Awards ceremony at the Kimpton Aertson Hotel in Nashville.

Sandra Yoder, MLS, SCYM (pictured second from the far left), senior research specialist and assistant director of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Research Program Laboratory, was one of three awardees this year. She received the prestigious Award for Excellence in Research Contributing to Multi-Investigator Teams.

Sandra was hired in 1997 by Kathryn Edwards, MD, professor emerita of Pediatrics, as a research specialist in the Pediatric Infectious Disease Laboratory at VUMC. In 2015, she was promoted to senior research specialist in the Vanderbilt Vaccine Research Program. “We could not do the work that we do in the VVRP without Sandy’s expertise and excellence,” program director C. Buddy Creech, MD, MPH, wrote in his nomination letter.

READ FULL STORY

Job Postings

Infectious Diseases Research Job Openings

Visit the IDSA Career Center to browse other ID/HIV Medicine job postings.

Funding Opportunities

MISP Investigator Studies Program Areas of Interest – Due Friday, May 9 by 3 p.m.
The company Investigator Studies Program (MISP) aims to advance science and improve patient care by supporting, through the provision of drug/vaccine and/or total/partial funding, high-quality research that is initiated, designed, implemented, and sponsored by external investigators. Results will be generated and properly disseminated in peer-reviewed publications.

Advancing Research Needed to Develop a Coccidioidomycosis (Valley fever) Vaccine –Due January 15, 2026
The purpose of this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) is to highlight NIAID’s interest in supporting research in the areas outlined in the NIAID Strategic Plan For Research To Develop A Valley Fever Vaccine. The proposed research should have clear relevance to the strategic priorities defined in the strategic plan, which encompasses three major research areas: 1) address gaps in Coccidioides basic research to support the development of a vaccine; 2) develop tools and resources to support vaccine development; 3) develop and advance vaccines to prevent coccidioidomycosis.

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Using Targeted Degradation of Protein and non-Protein Targets for the Development of Novel Anti-Infectives – Due July 17, 2026
The purpose of this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) is to invite applications for research on the use of targeted protein and nonprotein degradation (e.g., RNA) as it relates to the development of anti-infective strategies against viral, bacterial, parasitic, and fungal pathogens and/or their toxins (e.g., Lethal and Edema Toxins of Bacillus anthracis). Both novel monofunctional (e.g., Molecular Glues) and hetero-bi/tri-functional (e.g., PROTAC or PROTAC-like) strategies will be considered.

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Research to Stimulate Development of Diagnostics, Therapeutics, and Vaccines for Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) – Due April 6, 2027
This notice of special interest (NOSI) encourages applications which are focused on development of diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines for herpes simplex virus (HSV). In September 2023, the NIH released the NIH Strategic Plan for HSV Research. The strategic plan focuses on four strategic priorities: HSV virology basic research, better HSV diagnostics, strategies to address HSV treatment and cure, and research to prevent HSV infection. This NOSI focuses on furthering the development of new products for prevention of HSV infection, as well as improving the diagnosis and treatment of patients living with herpes, addressing three of these four strategic priorities.

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Systems Modeling of Infection and Immunity Across Biological Scales – Due September 8, 2027
The purpose of this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) is to announce that the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is encouraging applications to advance research activities relevant to systems modeling of infection and immunity. Recipients will collaborate with the Center of Excellence (CoE) for Systems Modeling of Infection and Immunity across Biological Scales (U54 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) described in RFA-AI-23-077. The CoE will coordinate the program, working with NIAID, and set up collaborations with recipients to participate in CoE activities.

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Advancing Research Needed to Develop a Universal Influenza Vaccine – Due November 17, 2027
The objective of this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) is to support research that contributes to the areas of interest outlined in NIAID’s Strategic Plan for the Development of a Universal Influenza Vaccine. The proposed research should have clear relevance to the research objectives defined in the strategic plan, which encompasses three major research areas: Improve understanding of transmission, natural history and pathogenesis of influenza virus infection; characterize influenza immunity and correlates of immune protection; and support rational design of universal influenza vaccines.

IDCRC Studies

Active Studies
Recruiting Volunteers

Efficacy Study of IM Administered CssBA+dmLT Against Moderate-severe Diarrhea in Human Infection Model With ETEC Strain B7A in Healthy Adults (DMID 23-0006)
A Phase 1 Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Immunogenicity of an Inactivated
West Nile Virus Vaccine, HydroVax-001B WNV in Health Adults (DMID 24-0008)
A Prospective, Randomized, Open-label Phase 4 Study of the Immunology and Safety of Maternal RSV Vaccination (ABRYSVOTM), Infant Nirsevimab (BEYFORTUSTM) Immunization, or Both Products During the First Year of Life (PROMISE) (DMID 24-0003)
A Phase 4 Study of a 3-Day vs. 7-Day Regimen of Doxycycline for the Treatment of Chlamydial Infection (DMID 22-0019)

Fully Enrolled Studies
in Follow-up

Trial to Evaluate the Immunogenicity of Dose Reduction Strategies of the MVA-BN Monkeypox Vaccine (DMID 22-0020A)
Meningococcal Serogroup ACYWX Conjugate Vaccine in Comparison With MenACWY-TT Conjugate Vaccine (DMID 20-0024)
Safety and Immunogenicity of CJCV2 With and Without ALFQ (DMID 19-0003)
Pharmacokinetic Study of IV Artesunate to Treat Children With Severe Malaria (DMID 19-0007)
A Phase 1, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Study to Assess the Safety and Pharmacokinetics of a Single Ascending Dose of EV-D68-228 in Healthy Adult Volunteers (DMID 23-0005)