Center for Childhood Infections and Prematurity Research
Our Vision
Through scientific discovery we will understand, prevent and treat pediatric infections, including infections during pregnancy that cause preterm birth. Our research teams will develop effective solutions so children can grow up to be healthy adults.
The Center
Under the leadership of Dr. Arnold Smith, interim director, the center focuses on translating basic biology to strategies for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of infectious diseases and conditions that impact children locally, nationally and globally. The center will research conditions such as respiratory and perinatal infections, investigate how microbes become resistant to common antimicrobial agents and study infections in immunocompromised children. Multi-disciplinary research teams will also investigate the mechanisms of infection-related premature birth and the social, environmental and genetic factors that predispose women to preterm labor and delivery.
Center programs
- Infections in immunocompromised individuals
- Host-pathogen interactions during acute and chronic infections
- Potential infectious etiology of inflammatory diseases and malignancies
- Global and emerging infectious diseases
- Natural history and pathophysiology of infectious diseases
- Mechanisms of microbial drug resistance
- Discovery and testing of antimicrobial agents
- Vaccine discovery and evaluation
- Respiratory infections in childhood
- Development of new technologies to diagnose and improve treatment of disease
- Perinatal infections
- Etiologies of still birth and premature birth
To learn more about becoming a Member in this center, interested faculty and postdoctoral researchers are encouraged to contact Arnold Smith, MD, interim director, at (206) 884-1032.