Monday, November 06, 2023
UM School of Medicine's Matthew Laurens Honored with the 2023 Bailey K. Ashford Medal for Pioneering Work in Tropical Medicine
The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) has awarded the 2023 Bailey K. Ashford Medal to Matthew B. Laurens, MD, MPH, Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s (UMSOM) Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD). The Medal is an annual accolade commemorating outstanding research in tropical medicine, traditionally presented to mid-career investigators.
Thursday, October 12, 2023
UM School of Medicine's Kirsten Lyke Elected as Member of Prestigious National Academy of Medicine
Kirsten E. Lyke, MD, Professor of Medicine and Physician-Scientist at the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), was elected this week as a new member of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM). She was recognized for her pivotal research in emerging infections and human challenge models that have informed and shaped global vaccine and public health policy.
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Unraveling the Impact and Unlocking Insights: VIDA Study Sheds Light on Diarrhea Diseases after Rotavirus Vaccine Introduction in Africa
Diarrheal diseases are the second leading cause of death in children under 5 years after the neonatal period,. Vaccines against rotavirus, historically the most common cause of severe diarrheal illness and death, are being introduced into high-risk settings. Despite reductions in diarrheal disease and associated mortality, nearly 500,000 children continue to die from diarrheal diseases before their 5th birthday, especially those in sub-Saharan Africa. The Vaccine Impact on Diarrhea in Africa (VIDA) Study, funded by a $20 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to Dr. Karen Kotloff, described the landscape of diarrheal diseases in these high mortality settings. In this report, we discuss the initial findings of VIDA now presented in an 18-article supplement appears in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Monday, October 02, 2023
UM School of Medicine Researchers Present Interim Results on Meningococcal Vaccine for Infants and Young Children in Africa
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researchers, as part of the Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Consortium (IDCRC), provided an interim analysis showing that the pentavalent (NmCV-5) meningitis vaccine is safe for use in 9-month-old infants in the meningitis belt of sub-Saharan Africa. They presented their results to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization on September 26.
Thursday, June 22, 2023
Mpox Vaccine Trial for Adolescents, Children Begins at UM School of Medicine
A 2022 outbreak of mpox (formerly monkeypox) sickened more than 30,000 people and caused 38 deaths in the United States. It highlighted the lack of an approved vaccine for those under 18 years old. To address this pressing need, faculty-scientists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) recently launched a phase 2 safety trial to test a vaccine in adolescents ages 12 to 17.
Wednesday, April 05, 2023
UM School of Medicine Researchers Chart Path Forward on Developing mRNA Vaccines for Infections Beyond COVID-19
After helping to develop and test new mRNA technologies for COVID-19 vaccines, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researchers and scientists are turning their attention to utilizing this innovative technology to ward off other infectious diseases like malaria and influenza. Last month, UMSOM faculty in the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD) launched a new clinical trial to investigate the use of mRNA technologies to create a vaccine against malaria. CVD Director Kathleen M. Neuzil, MD, MPH, FIDSA also provided commentary in the nation’s leading medical journal on the feasibility of using mRNA to develop a universal influenza vaccine that could eliminate the need for seasonal shots.
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Small Study Shows Promise for Antimalarial Monoclonal Antibody to Prevent Malaria
A monoclonal antibody treatment was found to be safe, well tolerated, and effective in protecting against malaria in a small group of healthy volunteers who were exposed to malaria in a challenge study, according to new research published in by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM).