Pioneering Infectious Disease Research at UCLA: A Multifaceted Approach to Combating Global Threats

Infectious diseases pose a persistent and evolving threat to global health. UCLA is at the forefront of efforts to understand, prevent, and treat these diseases through innovative research and comprehensive patient care. The university's commitment to tackling infectious diseases is evident in its diverse research programs, specialized clinical services, and dedication to training the next generation of infectious disease specialists.

The Evolutionary Arms Race: Pathogens vs. Humans

The relationship between pathogens and humans is a continuous evolutionary tug-of-war. Over millennia, infectious microbes have adapted to exploit the human body, developing sophisticated mechanisms to evade our immune defenses. The rise of antibiotic resistance, recognized by leading health organizations such as the NIH, CDC, WHO, and the Gates Foundation as a critical threat to human civilization, exemplifies this ongoing battle. In the 75 years since antibiotics became widely available, microbes have evolved resistance to even the most advanced drugs.

Researchers at UCLA are dedicated to gaining a deeper understanding of pathogens than the pathogens have of us. The goal is to develop strategies to modulate the immune system to prevent infections from pathogens that have historically eluded effective vaccines, including HIV, malaria, MRSA, tuberculosis, and influenza. Instead of relying solely on traditional antibiotics, which drive the selection of resistant strains, UCLA scientists are exploring highly targeted infection-fighting strategies based on a detailed understanding of infection at the molecular and cellular levels.

UCLA's I3T Initiative: A Holistic Approach to Immunity, Inflammation, Infection, and Transplantation

UCLA's Immunology, Inflammation, Infection, and Transplantation (I3T) faculty are united by the belief that infections can be prevented, treated, and cured through a comprehensive understanding of pathogens and the immune system. I3T scientists conduct groundbreaking research to elucidate the mechanisms and structures that drive infection.

The I3T Seminar Series exemplifies this collaborative spirit, fostering interactive discussions on critical issues in immunity, inflammation, infection, and transplantation. These seminars feature:

Inside Edge Panels: Fast-paced discussions bringing together multiple investigators to explore pressing questions, challenges, and future directions in the field.
Technology Spotlights: Showcasing cutting-edge tools and human-tissue approaches that are transforming disease research, such as the session led by Dr. Javier Nicolalde and Dr. Sam French on transitioning from mouse-based models to human tissue studies.
Research-in-Progress (RIP) Seminars: Highlighting the innovative work of I3T's graduate students and postdocs.
Meet the New Faces: Introducing and learning from rising stars and newer faculty members.

Faculty Focus: Pioneering Research in Infectious Diseases

UCLA boasts a distinguished faculty engaged in groundbreaking research across various aspects of infectious diseases.

Dr. Jeff F. Miller: Dr. Miller's research focuses on defining, at the molecular level, how bacteria infect hosts and cause disease.
Dr. Karin Nielsen: Dr. Nielsen's international collaborations and evidence-based protocols have been instrumental in enabling at-risk countries to mount life-saving public health responses to devastating infectious diseases.

Clinical Excellence: The Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

The Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center maintains a strong partnership with the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. The Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center provides comprehensive training in the vast field of Infectious Diseases. The program's national and international reputation attracts top medical school graduates, and all full-time faculty physicians within the division hold teaching appointments at the David Geffen School of Medicine.

Translating Discoveries: From Bench to Bedside

UCLA is committed to translating basic science discoveries into tangible improvements in patient care. Faculty members have developed best-in-class T-cell therapies for fighting cancer and have established world-leading transplant programs. By unraveling the genetics and cell biology of immunity, UCLA researchers are building mathematical models of human health to predict and prevent disease. Dr. emphasizes the importance of fully understanding the rules of the immune system to harness its therapeutic potential. The Connie Frank and Evan Thompson Program for Restorative Transplantation Research, is dedicated to advancing this goal.

Comprehensive Infectious Disease Services at UCLA Health

UCLA Health offers a wide range of general and specialized infectious disease services, delivered by experts in patient care, research, and education.

Inpatient Care: Infectious disease specialists provide consultations at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center.
Outpatient Care: Specialists diagnose and treat patients with suspected or known infections.
HIV Care: A team provides compassionate, comprehensive HIV treatment, and the institution has been a leader in investigating new treatments for HIV.
Travel Clinics: Clinics offer a full range of services for travelers, including immunizations and specialized advice.

UCLA infectious disease specialists are adept at treating all types of infections, including bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections, using leading-edge medicines.

Read also: Scholarships for Celiac Disease

Global Impact: Addressing Infectious Diseases Worldwide

UCLA's commitment extends beyond the Los Angeles area, with a global health program dedicated to treating patients, conducting research, and strengthening healthcare systems across the world. This program has served countries including China, Malawi, Peru, and South Africa.

Training the Next Generation: The Emerging Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program

The UCLA Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM) has been a national leader in infectious diseases education and research for decades. The UCLA Emerging Infectious Diseases Fellowship, starting in July of 2026, aims to perpetuate the successful focus at the intersection of emergency medicine (EM) and infectious diseases care by training leaders to teach, research, and collaborate with leading public health agencies. The goal is to improve health outcomes of patients at greatest risk of infectious diseases, particularly those with severe illness that disproportionately seek care in the emergency department.

UCLA DEM faculty, Drs. David Talan and Gregory Moran, were the first residency- and fellowship-trained and board-certified EM and ID physicians. emergency department-based network to research emerging infections, which CDC has funded for three decades. Through EMERGEncy ID NET, as well as NIH- and PCORI-sponsored projects, the UCLA EM ID program has made numerous practice-changing discoveries, which have been published in the highest impact journals. The fellowship is co-sponsored by the James A. Ferguson Fellowship Program. Dr. James A. Ferguson, an alumnus of Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine, was passionate about providing opportunities for medical students and encouraged students to explore public health career options in infectious disease research, including in the areas of health promotion and emergency preparedness. In 1989, Dr. Ferguson played an instrumental role in the establishment of the National Center for Infectious Diseases Summer Research Fellowship Program. Dr. Ferguson's legacy continues 35 years later, through the Dr. James A.

The fellow will have emergency department attending physician responsibilities as a UCLA DEM Clinical Instructor at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center (OV-UCLA), which is a public safety net hospital serving the two million people living in the San Fernando Valley, located at the northern section of Los Angeles County. OV-UCLA is a major teaching affiliate of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA with medical students and residents spending a significant portion of their training at OV-UCLA. Residents of the UCLA Emergency Medicine residency program spend 50% of their training at OV-UCLA. The hospital has 377 beds, while the 25,000 square foot emergency department, which was built in 2011, has 51 beds. The emergency department census is roughly 60,000 patients per year.

Research Focus Areas: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Trials

UCLA's infectious disease research encompasses a broad spectrum of areas, from basic laboratory investigations to clinical trials and global health initiatives.

Read also: Scholarship Guide: Lyme Disease

Basic Laboratory Investigation: This includes topics such as molecular mechanisms of viral evasion of the immune system and drug therapies, the role of the mucosal immune system in HIV infection, development of new small molecule viral inhibitors, "bench-to-bedside" development of vaccines for tuberculosis and HIV, and immune mechanisms of rejection after organ transplantation.

Clinical Investigation: Clinical investigation ranges from local studies of the Los Angeles urban area to multi-national studies. Examples include:

Influenza epidemiology and treatment (Dr. Dan Uslan)
Reducing surface contamination with bacteria in hospitals (Dr. Dan Uslan)
Immune responses in HIV-1-infected patients (Dr. Otto Yang)
HIV and Hepatitis B Virus co-infection (Dr. Debika Bhattacharya)
Immunology of composite tissue (hand and face) transplant rejection (Dr. Otto Yang)
Renal transplant rejection and BK Virus (Dr. Joanna Schaenman)
Mucosal innate immune system and resistance to HIV Infection (Dr. Otto Yang)
HIV treatment (Dr. )

Addressing a Global Challenge

Infectious diseases are estimated to cause a quarter of all deaths globally, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations. UCLA researchers are committed to changing this reality by building on basic science discoveries and devising novel approaches to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and develop new treatments for these life-threatening conditions. Research focuses on the cellular mechanisms, including the metabolism, evolution, and transmission, of disease-spreading pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Scientists are also working to gain critical insights into how the immune system responds to pathogens and the strategies these disease-causing agents employ to evade the bodyâs defenses.

tags: #infectious #disease #research #ucla