Improving Modern Medicine with Disease and Vaccine Research

Within the Division of Infectious Diseases at Cincinnati Children’s, we’ve earned acclaim for our role in research discoveries that have changed the face of modern medicine. From work that led to the oral polio vaccine to the development of Rotarix®—one of two oral rotavirus vaccines—our researchers have helped decrease illness and fatalities throughout the world.

Our Research

Our range of research programs continues this reputation for excellence and innovation. Additionally, the research we conduct enhances our clinical services—how we diagnose and manage pediatric infections.

Basic and Translational Research

The scope of our basic science research includes immunologic tolerance, viral pathogenesis and systems immunology. We conduct studies of the immunobiology of tolerance in pregnancy, infancy and transplantation. Our translational research conducted in pre-clinical models provides an assessment of the efficacy of therapies for several pathogens. Examples include herpesviruses, Ebola virus, noroviruses and rotavirus.

Epidemiology and Surveillance

The Epidemiology and Surveillance Program conducts population-based surveillance to determine the disease burden for infectious diseases, examine the effectiveness of recommended vaccines and address vaccine safety through a national collaborative. Additionally, our researchers also conduct comprehensive longitudinal cohort studies in women and children to understand risk for vaccine-preventable illness and the impact of vaccine responses.

Infection in Immunocompromised Hosts

The Translational and Epidemiologic Research for Infection in Immunocompromised Hosts (TERIFIC) is a program focused on the complex role of host immunity to inform treatments, assess vaccines, and determine preventative strategies in high-risk oncology and transplant patients.

Antimicrobial Stewardship

The Antimicrobial Stewardship Program is a collaborative effort to promote the most appropriate choice, dose, duration and route of antimicrobial therapy. Through this effort, we hope to improve outcomes and decrease adverse effects of antibiotic therapy.

Infection Prevention & Control

The Infection Prevention & Control Program conducts surveillance for infectious diseases that we diagnose in the hospital. We work with local, regional and national programs to track and report infectious diseases.

Vaccines

Thanks to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and industry support, our Gamble Vaccine Research Center and the Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Unit (VTEU) conduct clinical research trials that evaluate vaccine and antiviral strategies in humans. For instance, we are developing specific challenge models for gastrointestinal and respiratory pathogens that will allow us to test the next generation of therapies and vaccines.

Laboratory for Specialized Clinical Studies

The Laboratory for Specialized Clinical Studies (LSCS) performs state-of-the-art virology, serology and immune evaluations. This work supports ongoing studies within the division in addition to national and international consortia.

Research Funding

Each year, we are grateful to receive funding from a variety of sources, such as:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• U.S. Department of Defense
• March of Dimes
• NIH
• National Vaccine Program Office
• Other industry sponsors

Research By the Numbers

The Division of Infectious Diseases includes a large team of researchers who publish findings in top journals and present findings nationally and internationally each year.