 | Dr. Erol Fikrig |
Dr. Erol Fikrig, recently appointed as the Waldemar Von Zedtwitz Professor of
Medicine, specializes in the study and treatment of vector-borne diseases.
T H I S
Dr. Erol Fikrig appointed the
Waldemar Von Zedtwitz Professor
His studies are directed specifically on understanding Lyme disease, human granulocytic
ehrlichiosis and West Nile virus. His Lyme disease research includes an exploration
of immunity to Borrelia burgdorferi, selective Borrelia burgdorferi gene expression
in vivo and the immunobiology of Lyme arthritis. His work on human granulocytic
ehrlichiosis, a newly described pathogen transmitted by ticks, focuses on molecular
strategies that this pathogen uses to survive in polymorphonuclear leukocytes.
His laboratory also seeks to understand the pathogenesis of West Nile virus and
on developing molecular approaches to prevent ticks from feeding on a mammalian
host.
Fikrig also treats patients with tick-borne diseases. Earlier in his career,
he and his research collaborators demonstrated that a vaccination with a recombinant
antigen called OspA protects against Borrelia burgdorferi infection. Much of
the subsequent work on a Lyme disease vaccine was based on these results. He
was also involved in a trial demonstrating that the Lyme disease vaccine is safe
and effective. Other research activities have included responses to West Nile
virus infection, including the virus’ entry into the brain causing encephalitis
and possible strategies to prevent vector-borne diseases.
A graduate of Cornell University, Fikrig earned his M.D. at the Cornell University
Medical College and completed his internship and residency at Vanderbilt University
School of Medicine. He came to Yale in 1988 as a fellow in infectious diseases
and immunobiology and was appointed to the faculty in 1992. He was named a full
professor in 2002 and became a professor of medicine (microbial pathogenesis)
at the School of Public Health in 2003. During his career at Yale, much of his
research has been supported by grants from the National Institute of Allergy
and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He has also
received research grants from the Centers for Disease Control, the Pew Scholars
Program in the Biomedical Sciences, SmithKline Beecham Biologicals and other
sources.
Fikrig has been a visiting professor at the University of Amsterdam and Leiden
University Medical Center in The Netherlands. He has been an invited guest and
lecturer on vector-borne diseases throughout the United States, in Europe and
elsewhere. He has published nearly 200 professional articles and has co-authored
numerous book chapters.
In recognition of his research on infectious diseases, Fikrig has been honored
with the National Foundation of Infectious Disease Young Investigator Award,
the Dean’s Young Faculty Award of the Yale School of Medicine, an Infectious
Diseases Society of America Vaccine Development Award, an Arthritis Foundation
Investigator Award, an American Heart Association Young Investigator Award and
an Established Investigator Award, the Burroughs Wellcome Clinical Scientist
Award in Translational Research, a NIH Merit Award and a Boerhaave Medal from
Leiden University, among others.
Fikrig has been active on numerous School of Medicine committees, among them
the Department of Medicine Promotion and Appointments Committee, the Internship
Selection Committee, the University Biosafety Committee and the Medical Funds
and Fellowship Committee.
Fikrig is a fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and is a member
of the American Society for Clinical Investigation. He is also a member of the
Interurban Clinical Club.
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ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIPS
Dr. Richard Belitsky is the Harold W. Jockers Associate Professor
James Duncan is named the Ebenezer K. Hunt Professor
Dr. Erol Fikrig appointed the Waldemar Von Zedtwitz Professor
Dr. Sally Shaywitz is designated the Audrey Ratner Professor
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Campus Notes
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