Infectious Diseases and International Medicine Faculty
Bio
Administrator Info
Name: Becca Johnson
Phone: 612-624-9996
Email: joh07913@umn.edu
Fax: 612-625-4410
Research Summary
- HIV-associated Cryptococcal Meningitis
- Reducing mortality in HIV-associated
- Cryptococcal Meningitis Understand the pathophysiology of neurological impairment cryptococcal meningitis
Research Projects
Targeting Neuropathogenesis of Altered Mental Status to Improve Survival in Cryptococcal Meningitis (Pending - K23)
Clinical Summary
- Infectious Disease
- HIV Medicine
- Opportunistic Infections
Specialties
Adult Congenital Heart Disease and Genetics
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Honors and Recognition
Selected Publications
Bio
Administrator Info
Name: Becca Johnson
Phone: 612-624-9996
Fax: 612-625-4410
Email: joh07913@umn.edu
Mail: Mayo Memorial Building, MMC 250, 420 Delaware Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455
Summary
After completing medical school in Madras Medical College in Chennai, India, Dr. Bhaskaran pursued Internal Medicine residency, Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology fellowships in the United States. During her training she received the Don W. Powell, M.D Award for excellence in Internal Medicine Residency and became the Chief Infectious Disease fellow. She later moved to Canada for Transplant Infectious Diseases training at the University of Toronto where she received a research grant award from Physicians Services Incorporated, Canada. Dr. Bhaskaran's clinical and research interest is in the field of infections in transplant patients and fungal infections. Dr. Bhaskaran enjoys teaching and is committed to educating future generations of physicians.
Teaching Summary
Concepts in Infectious Diseases
Clinical Summary
Infections in the immunocompromised; Fungal Infections; Tropical Infections, Mycobacterial Infections, Central Nervous System Infections; Global health
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Honors and Recognition
Bio
Administrator Info
Name: IDIM Admin
Phone: 612-624-9996
Email: IDIMDivision@umn.edu
Fax: 612-625-4410
Summary
Paul R. Bohjanen, MD, PhD, and has been a faculty member in the Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine since 2000. He graduated from the University of Michigan with an MD, PhD degree in 1993. He then completed an internal medicine residency in 1997 and an infectious diseases fellowship in 2000, both at Duke University. Dr. Bohjanen has a clinical interest in HIV infection and the global AIDS epidemic. His laboratory research is directed at understanding the regulation of gene expression in T cells in normal and HIV-infected humans.
Research Summary
T Lymphocyte mRNA Stability (Access our mRNA Decay Database) Research in my laboratory focuses on the role of mRNA decay in regulating T lymphocyte activation and function. Many genes that are important for cell growth and immune function are turned on at precise times and turned off at precise times. Dysregulated expression of many of these genes, including proto-oncogenes and cytokine genes, occurs in disease states such as cancer, autoimmunity, or immunodeficiency. One mechanism that cells use to turn off gene expression is specific degradation of mRNA within the cytoplasm. We have recently shown that the rate of decay of many transcripts encoding important regulatory proteins changes upon cellular activation, and these changes in mRNA decay can have dramatic effects on overall gene expression. Our goal is to understand the biochemical mechanisms that regulate mRNA decay and to understand the role of mRNA decay in regulating gene expression in disease states such as malignancy or virus infection. HIV Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome We are applying our expertise in immune cell gene expression and microarray technology to HIV immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS), an important complication of antiretroviral therapy (ART) that has recently emerged in Africa. (IRIS) is a paradoxical inflammatory response that occurs after initiating HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART). Common IRIS scenarios include the "unmasking" of an occult opportunistic infection or the "paradoxical" symptomatic worsening of a prior infection despite microbiologic treatment success. We have developed a collaborative project with the Infectious Diseases Institute at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda to prospectively follow HIV-infected patients in Uganda after they initiate antiretroviral therapy and to compare immune activation using microarrays, cytokine profiling, and flow cytometry in patients that do or do not develop IRIS. These studies will identify biomarkers that can be used to diagnose, predict, or monitor IRIS and will provide insight into the pathophysiology of IRIS that will allow the development of better treatments.
Bio
Administrator Info
Phone: 612-625-6911
Fax: 612-625-4410
Email: tbold@umn.edu
Mail: Wallin Medical Biosciences Building, MMC 2641, 2101 6th Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55414
Summary
Dr. Bold is a physician-scientist, trained in the clinical subspecialty practice of infectious diseases, and laboratory based investigations of microbiology and immunology. His clinical interests regard the care of immune-compromised patients being treated for cancer or undergoing transplantation. His lab in the Center for Immunology is focused on advancing understanding of how the adaptive immune system combats infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterial pathogen responsible for human TB.
Research Summary
Dr. Bold is a physician-scientist, trained in the clinical practice of infectious diseases and laboratory based investigations of microbiology and immunology. His clinical interests regard the care of immune-compromised patients being treated for cancer or undergoing transplantation. His lab in the Center for Immunology is focused on advancing understanding of how the immune system combats infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterial pathogen responsible for human TB, and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Clinical Summary
Transplant Infectious Diseases
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Bio
Administrator Info
Name: IDIM Division Support
Phone: 612-624-9996
Fax: 612-625-4410
Email: IDIMdivision@umn.edu
Mail: Microbiology Research Building, 1st floor mail room, MMC 2821, 689 23rd Ave S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455
Summary
Dr. Boulware is an infectious disease physician-scientist with formal training in clinical trials, public health, and tropical medicine. Dr. Boulware combines his clinical research with nested basic science investigations into disease pathogenesis to conduct translational research. His primary research interests are in meningitis in resource-limited areas including diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and quality improvement initiatives incorporating cost-effectiveness analyses in order to translate knowledge into improved care. Dr. Boulware's current research is focused on improving the clinical outcomes of HIV-infected persons with cryptococcal meningitis, the second most common AIDS-defining opportunistic infection in Sub-Saharan Africa and the most common cause of adult meningitis. Additionally, Dr. Boulware has been motivated to improve the diagnostics for TB meningitis, and now that TB meningitis can be promptly diagnosed, to also improve the treatment of tuberculous meningitis. Dr. Boulware leads a multidisciplinary, international research team with active research collaborations with partners in Uganda, South Africa, Ethiopia, Brazil, Botswana, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
Research Summary
Reducing HIV-related mortality in people living with AIDS Improving Diagnostics for Meningitis Improving treatments for Cryptococcal meningitis and TB meningitis Preventing avoidable deaths due to subclinical cryptococcosis Clinical Trials for novel meningitis therapeutics and strategies Quality improvement initiatives to improve survival in resource-limited settings Antimicrobial resistance in low and middle income countries Research Projects: Improving Diagnostics and Neurocognitive Outcomes in HIV/AIDS-related Meningitis (R01 NS086312) Phased Implementation of a Public Health Programme: Cryptococcal Screening and Treatment in South Africa. ( R01AI118511) Operational Research for Cryptococcal Antigen Screening (ORCAS) of HIV Patients (U01AI125003) Infectious Disease Training in Clinical Investigation (T32AI055433) Encochleated Oral Amphotericin for Cryptococcal Meningitis Trial TB Meningitis: Evaluating CSF Immunology to Discover Hidden Disease and Potential Immunomodulatory Therapies Redefining Tuberculosis Meningitis with Metagenomics and Host Transcriptomics NIH ACTIV-6 COVID Platform Trial
Clinical Summary
Central nervous system infections; AIDS-related opportunistic infections; Tropical medicine; Travel medicine; Cost Effectiveness
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Selected Publications
Bio
Administrator Info
Name: Becca Johnson
Phone: 612-624-9996
Fax: 612-625-4410
Email: joh07913@umn.edu
Mail: Mayo Memorial Building, MMC 250, 420 Delaware Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455
Summary
Winston Cavert, M.D. did his residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and trained in Infectious Diseases and Virology at the University of Washington, Seattle. His research interests include the transcriptional pathogenesis and population biology of HIV and its target cells in tissues (lymphoid tissue, CNS, gut), as well as clinical virology including viral fitness and sequencing. He cares for persons living with HIV and is interested in HIV clinical trials both here and in less-resourced countries. He directs the Minnesota ACTUs research clinic and virology laboratory, and helps direct the CFAR laboratory in the Dept. of Microbiology.
Clinical Summary
Adenoiditis; AIDs; Encephalitis; Flu; Hepatitis A and B; HIV; Lyme Disease; Pneumonia; SARS; Sinusitis
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Selected Publications
Bio
Administrator Info
Name: Becca Johnson
Phone: 612-624-9996
Fax: 612-625-4410
Email: joh07913@umn.edu
Mail: Mayo Memorial Building, MMC 250, 420 Delaware Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455
Summary
Dr. Chan-Colenbrander received her medical degree from Western University (University of Western Ontario), Canada. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at University of Minnesota and Infectious Disease fellowship at Vanderbilt University. Prior to her medical training, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science (hon), majoring in Microbiology at National University of Malaysia and later received her Master of Medical Sciences degree at University of Malaya. Her research was on the application of PCR in the rapid diagnosis of dengue virus infection. Previous research experiences include antibiotic resistance, prevention of hospital infections and interactions among the anti-retroviral drugs mediated by cellular drug transporters. Since her ID fellowship, she has been working as an Internal medicine and Infectious diseases physician in various healthcare settings. This experience has provided her with a good insight on how to provide good care, manage and prevent infections and diseases. My focus is on good patient care, learning and sharing of knowledge.
Research Summary
Current Research
Study the Impact of Early NSAID or Aspirin use and Vitamin D level in Patients Diagnosed with Influenza (AIRP- Scholar grant)
Previous Research
Interactions Among Drugs Mediated by Cellular Drug Transporters - Bristol-Myers Squibb Virology HIV Fellows Research Program (2004)
The Application Of Polymerase Chain Reaction In The Rapid Diagnosis Of Dengue Infection (1993)
Reduction Of Skin Flora By An Antiseptic Skin Lotion (1999)
Isolation And Genetic Analysis Of Strains Of Enteric Bacteria From Reared Animals That Are Resistant To Antibiotics (1990)
Clinical Summary
General Infectious Diseases; HIV; Tropical/Travel Medicine
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Selected Publications
Selected Presentations
Bio
Administrator Info
Name: Becca Johnson
Phone: 612-624-9996
Fax: 612-625-4410
Email: joh07913@umn.edu
Mail: Mayo Memorial Building, MMC 250, 420 Delaware Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455
Summary
Dr. Chandorkar is an Assistant Professor in the division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine at the University of Minnesota. He graduated medical school from Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College, Pune, India. He completed his residency and Chief residency in Internal Medicine at Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia followed by an Infectious Diseases Fellowship at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. He completed additional training in Transplant Infectious Diseases at Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami. His research interests lie in the field of viral infections in immunocompromised hosts, both solid organ and bone marrow transplants, multi-drug resistant organisms and antimicrobial stewardship. He is passionate about training and mentoring medical students, residents, and fellows. He is fluent in English, Hindi, and Marathi.
Teaching Summary
Principles and Concepts in General Infectious Diseases; Opportunistic Infections; Resident/Fellow education
Clinical Summary
Solid Organ Transplants; Bone Marrow Transplants; Hematological Malignancies and infectious diseases in them; Antimicrobial stewardship
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Languages
Bio
Administrator Info
Name: Laura Torgeson
Phone: 612-624-9996
Fax: 612-625-4410
Email: torge186@umn.edu
Mail: Mayo Memorial Building, MMC 250, 420 Delaware Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455
Summary
Dr. Ana Paim is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Minnesota. She is a graduate of Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública in Brazil and she completed three years of Infectious Diseases training at Hospital Espanhol in Brazil. She later worked for several years in general infectious diseases, HIV and tropical diseases in the Brazilian public and private systems. She completed internal medicine training at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Brighton, Massachusetts and infectious diseases training at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Her research interest lies in basic science and translational research in HIV. She enjoys general inpatient and outpatient care, and enjoys connecting with patients and managing their cases from both a specialist and generalist vantage point. She speaks Portuguese and English fluently.
Teaching Summary
General Infectious Diseases pathologies and treatment; HIV pathophysiology and management; Resident and fellow education
Clinical Summary
HIV pathophysiology and management; medical education in the field of HIV and General Infectious Diseases
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Selected Publications
Bio
Administrator Info
Name: IDIM Division Support
Phone: 612-624-9996
Fax: 612-625-4410
Email: IDIMdivision@umn.edu
Mail: Mayo Memorial Building, MMC 250, 420 Delaware Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455
Summary
Dr. Debes graduated from medical school at Universidad Nacional de Cordoba in Argentina. Following his graduation he completed a postdoctoral research fellowship and Masters in Science-Molecular Biology at the Mayo Clinic. He later pursued residency in Internal Medicine and Fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology both at the University of Minnesota. During his fellowship Dr. Debes was awarded an NIH NRSA-F32 grant to study regulation of gene expression by the hepatitis C virus. Dr. Debes leads international research networks in three continents conducting research on viral hepatitis and liver cancer with on-site activities in Tanzania, Ethiopia, Netherlands, Brazil, Ecuador and Argentina. Through these networks he has defined the epidemiology of liver cancer in South America and Africa and has exposed biomarkers for early detection of liver cancer. His research activities expand from public health implementation and education on viral hepatitis to molecular biology aspects to define the mechanisms of viral-related liver cancer. Dr. Debes serves in editorial boards of multiple research journals and has served as reviewer in a variety of NIH study sections.
Research Summary
Mechanisms of viral carcinogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma; Single cell sequencing and immune-detection for prediction of liver cancer; Viral hepatitis in HIV; Education, prevention and treatment of hepatitis B and liver cancer in resource-limited settings
Research Funding
Grants American College of Gastroenterology AFMDP, Robert Wood Johnson Scholar National Institutes of Health Horizon 2020, EU University of Minnesota
Teaching Summary
Teaching Areas
Hepatology; Global Health; Translational research
Clinical Summary
Hepatology; Viral Hepatitis; HCC; Liver disease and HIV
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Honors and Recognition
Selected Publications
Bio
Administrator Info
Name: Becca Johnson
Phone: 612-624-9996
Fax: 612-625-4410
Email: joh07913@umn.edu
Mail: Mayo Memorial Building, MMC 250, 420 Delaware Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455
Summary
Dr. Enriquez is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine at the University of Minnesota. He graduated with a medical degree from Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia where he then completed an Internal Medicine residency training program at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. He continued his medical training in Chicago where he graduated from an Infectious Diseases fellowship at the University of Chicago Medicine followed by an advanced ID fellowship in Global Health, Travel, & Tropical Medicine at the University of Chicago Medicine. In addition, he has attended the Gorgas Diploma Course in Tropical Medicine in Lima, Peru through the Alexander von Humboldt Tropical Medicine Institute. His interests include global health, tropical medicine, travel medicine, tuberculosis management, HIV care, zoonotic infections, and general ID. He is fluent in English and is proficient in Spanish.
Research Summary
- Tropical medicine
- Medical education
- Tuberculosis
- Global health
- HIV care
- Zoonotic infections
Teaching Summary
-
Adult Infectious Diseases
Clinical Summary
- Travel and Tropical Medicine
- HIV management
- Tuberculosis management
- Endemic mycoses
- Zoonotic infections
- General Infectious Diseases