Research

Fellows in the first year are exposed to the research activities of the Infectious Diseases Division in monthly research conferences. Fellows select a faculty preceptor and an area of research at the end of their first year. Two 2-week blocks are dedicated to research during first year which affords fellows the opportunity to define a research project which the trainee will pursue during the majority of the second year. While trainees are strongly encouraged to participate in a research experience, those who wish to focus on clinical training may elect to pursue additional clinical rotations in the second year. A third year of fellowship is possible for those trainees with special interest and aptitude in research.

The major research interests and expertise of the faculty are in the areas of basic and clinical virology, viral immunology and pathogenesis, and evaluation of viral vaccines and antiviral agents. The Infectious Diseases Division includes several research programs supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including a Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Unit, an HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN), and an AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG). The VTEU is directed by Drs. Falsey and Branche and the HVTN and ACTG are directed by Dr. Michael Keefer, Catherine Bunce, Dr. Sonal Munsiff, and Susan Hulse, PAC.

The University of Rochester is one of 10 active sites in the CDC's Emerging Infections Program (EIP). The department is directed by faculty member Dr. Ghinwa Dumyati who is actively involved in surveillance programs specifically for C. difficile, nursing home infections, COVID, influenza/RSV, and invasive staphylococcal disease.

The Monroe County Sexual Health Clinic, directed by faculty members Drs. Marguerite Urban and Daniela DiMarco, offers a range of epidemiologic and education initiatives in sexual health through their grant funded UR Center for Community Practice and CEI Sexual Center of Excellence.

In 2023, the University of Rochester Medical Center created a partnership with Lira University and Lira Regional Referral Hospital in Uganda for research and medical education opportunities. Learn more about our Global Health elective.

Other Research Opportunities for Fellows

• Microbiology and Immunology
• Antimicrobial Stewardship
• Infection Prevention
• Biochemistry and Biophysics
• The Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology. Part of the Aab Institute of Biomedical Sciences, the Center is located in the state-of-the-art 225,000 square-foot Arthur Kornberg Medical Research Building, opened at the Medical Center in 1999.
• The Rochester Clinical Research Curriculum (RCRC), an NIH-supported program, offers opportunities for infectious diseases fellows to pursue advanced instruction in clinical research methods at the University. Participation in the RCRC program, along with completion of a research project, can lead to the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree.
• New York Influenza Center of Excellence (NYICE)
• Infectious Disease Research Clinic (IDRC) designs and conducts vaccine studies to prevent many different diseases that affect humans and operates an inpatient facility at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester.
• Clinical Trials Processing Laboratory