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Claire M. Fraser, PhD

Academic Title:

Professor Emerita

Primary Appointment:

Medicine

Secondary Appointment(s):

Microbiology and Immunology

Location:

Health Sciences Facility III, 670 West Baltimore St, Baltimore 21201

Phone (Primary):

(410) 706-3879

Phone (Secondary):

(410) 706-2396

Education and Training

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, BS, Biology, 1977
  • State University of New York-Buffalo, PhD, Pharmacology, 1981

Biosketch

A pioneer and global leader in genomic medicine, Dr. Fraser is one of the most highly cited investigators in microbiology. In 1995, Dr. Fraser was the first to map the complete genetic code of a free-living organism—Haemophilus influenza—the bacterium that causes lower respiratory tract infections and meningitis in infants and young children. This achievement took place at the Institute for Genomic Research, where Dr. Fraser served as Director from 1998 until 2007.

Her discovery forever changed microbiology and launched a new field of study—microbial genomics. During that time, she and her team also sequenced the bacteria behind syphilis and Lyme disease, and eventually the first plant genome and the first human-pathogenic parasite. She even helped identify the source of a deadly 2001 anthrax attack in one of the biggest investigations conducted by U.S. law enforcement. In 2007, Dr. Fraser launched the Institute for Genome Sciences (IGS) at the University of Maryland, which holds over 25 percent of the funding awarded by the Human Microbiome Project.

Her current research interests center on the structure and function of the human gut microbiota. Dr. Fraser has authored more than 320 scientific publications, edited three books, and has served on committees of the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, and National Institutes of Health. She is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Promega Biotechnology Award and the E.O. Lawrence Award from the Department of Energy. Dr. Fraser uses her skills and position of leadership in genome sciences to improve the lives of women throughout the world.

Research/Clinical Keywords

Human Gut Microbiota, Host-Pathogen Interactions, Microbial Forensics

Highlighted Publications

Palmenberg, A.C., Spiro, D., Zuzmickas, R., Wang, S., Djikeng, A., Rathe, J.A., Fraser-Liggett, C.M. and Liggett, S.B. Sequencing and analyses of all known human rhinovirus genomes reveal structure and evolution. Science 324: 55-59, 2009.

Bik EM, Long CD, Armitage GC, Loomer P, Emerson J, Mongodin EF, Nelson KE, Gill SR, Fraser-Liggett CM, Relman DA. Bacterial diversity in the oral cavity of 10 healthy individuals. ISME J. 2010 Aug 4.

Rasko, DA, Worsham PL, Abshire, TG, Stanley ST, Bannan JD, Wilson MR, Langham RJ, Decker RS, Jiang L, Read TD, Phillippy AM, Salzberg SL, Pop M, Van Ert MN, Kenfic LJ, Keim PS, Fraser-Liggett, CM, Ravel J. Bacillis anthracis comparative genome analysis in support of the Amerithrax investigation. Proc Natl Sci USA, 2011 Mar.

Cantarel BL, Erickson AR, Verberkmoes NC, Erickson BK, Carey PA, Pan C, Shah M, Mongodin EF, Jansson JK, Fraser-Liggett CM, Hettich RL. Strategies for metagenomic-guided whole-community proteomics of complex microbial environments. PLoS One. 2011;6(11):e27173. Epub 2011 Nov 23.

Casjens SR, Mongodin EF, Qiu WG, Dunn JJ, Luft BJ, Fraser-Liggett CM, Schutzer SE. Whole-genome sequences of two Borrelia afzelii and two Borrelia garinii Lyme disease agent isolates. J Bacteriol. 2011 Dec.

Additional Publication Citations

Research Interests

Awards and Affiliations

Grants and Contracts

Previous Positions

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