Division of Infectious Diseases Research
Advancing new treatments for infectious diseases
Infectious diseases remain among the most pressing challenges in global health, from the rise of antimicrobial-resistant organisms to the ongoing fight against HIV and emerging viral threats.
At OHSU, the Division of Infectious Diseases brings together physician-scientists, clinical researchers and community resources to meet these challenges. We advance new treatments, create guidelines, improve patient outcomes and train the next generation of ID specialists.
OHSU ID researchers study:
- Antimicrobial resistance and stewardship
- HIV prevention, treatment and health equity
- Mycobacterial lung disease (tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacteria)
- Infections in immunocompromised hosts
- Substance use-related infections
- Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT)
- Infection prevention and hospital epidemiology
- Fungal infections
- New treatments for parasitic infections
- Immunology of viral infections
- Antiviral therapy of cytomegalovirus infection
We work closely with the VA Portland Health Care System, the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health and OHSU's Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute to bridge clinical care, population health and translational science.
The Center for Infectious Disease Studies in the School of Public Health specializes in evaluations of infectious disease, in individual patients and the population as a whole. The center’s experts are national leaders in nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) and bronchiectasis.
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Infectious diseases research labs
Doggett Lab
Our lab is dedicated to discovering new treatments for neglected protozoan diseases using molecular tools to identify new drug targets and medicinal chemistry to optimize small molecules for clinical use.
Homer Lab
We seek to understand the molecular mechanisms of fungal pathogenesis, with the goal to develop better treatments and ultimately a cure for challenging disseminated Valley Fever infections.
Chou Lab
Our lab focuses on resistance to antiviral agents in cytomegalovirus, which is an important pathogen in immunocompromised patients, such as transplant recipients.
Messer Lab
Our research focuses on the interplay between the arthropod-borne RNA viruses dengue virus, yellow fever virus, Zika virus and Chikungunya virus and the human antibody response following viral infection.
Egge Lab
Our lab focuses on Gram-negative antimicrobial resistance, with a particular emphasis on strategies to curtail resistance trajectories and preserve the existing antimicrobial arsenal.
ID research in the news
- NIH awards $8.4 million to pursue an HIV cure
OHSU scientists and national collaborators received a major NIAID MERIT award to study people functionally cured of HIV after stem-cell transplants and develop curative therapies that can be offered more broadly.
- OHSU emphasizes lifesaving impact of infant hepatitis B vaccination
OHSU clinicians and public health researchers underscore the importance of on-time hepatitis B vaccination for newborns, calling attention to how delayed doses increase infection rates and long-term health care costs.
Key funding and partnerships
Our researchers are supported by multi-year federal grants, institutional partnerships and regional and national collaborations.
Federal and grant support includes:
- Awards from the National Institutes of Health for HIV cure research, antimicrobial resistance, mycobacterial lung disease and hepatitis C outcomes
- The 2025 $8.4 million NIAID MERIT grant for HIV cure research, which reflects the scale and competitiveness of the division's funded portfolio
Institutional and regional partnerships include:
- VA Portland Health Care System: Many division faculty hold joint OHSU-VA appointments, enabling large-scale research using Veterans Health Administration data and clinical populations.
- OHSU-PSU School of Public Health: Faculty with joint appointments lead epidemiologic and health equity research on infectious diseases, sexually transmitted infections and substance use-related infections.
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute: Division faculty collaborate with VGTI investigators on HIV vaccine and cure science, viral pathogenesis and emerging infections.
- Oregon National Primate Research Center: Preclinical models developed at ONPRC support division-affiliated translational research in HIV, TB and viral pathogenesis.
- Oregon Health Authority and county public health departments: Division clinicians partner with state and local agencies to manage tuberculosis and track emerging infections across Oregon.
Trainee Research Program
The Infectious Disease Trainee Research Program is designed to streamline access for trainees to scholarly projects related to infectious diseases.
The program encourages collaboration among faculty, fellows, residents and students across medical, pharmacy, MPH and PhD disciplines, enriching opportunities for interdisciplinary research and publication.
Goals of trainee research
- Easy access to research: Streamlined entry for OHSU trainees to infectious diseases-related scholarly projects.
- Collaboration: Opportunity to take part in multi-level projects involving faculty, fellows, residents and students.
- Interdisciplinary partnerships: Increased scholarly interactions between OHSU School of Medicine divisions and the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health.
- Enhanced research skills: Increased trainee knowledge of methodology, approaches and limitations of ID research.
- Support for publication: More opportunities to publish scholarly work.
Interested in joining the ID Trainee Research program? Contact Cara Varley, M.D., M.P.H., to discuss how to get started.
Infectious diseases research focus areas
Antimicrobial resistance and stewardship
Division faculty study patterns of resistance in high-risk organisms such as carbapenem-non-susceptible Pseudomonas aeruginosa and drug-resistant Enterococcus, with a focus on patients who are immunocompromised or critically ill. This work generates evidence that directly shapes hospital formulary decisions, clinical guidelines and national stewardship best practices.
Impact: Reduced inappropriate antibiotic use, improved patient safety and contributed to a growing evidence base that informs stewardship programs regionally and nationally.
Viral hepatitis, STIs and substance use-related infections
Using large Veterans Health Administration datasets, division faculty map the care cascades for hepatitis C and hepatitis B, quantify the impact of direct-acting antivirals and identify gaps in screening, vaccination and follow-up. Complementary studies examine STI rates, vaccination opportunities and co-infection screening among people with substance use disorders and other key populations.
This research informs system-level interventions to increase hepatitis C screening, improve HBV management in patients with HIV coinfection and expand vaccination during hospitalizations for substance use-related infections.
Impact: Evidence-based recommendations to close care cascade gaps, improve hepatitis and STI outcomes and reduce missed prevention opportunities, especially for underserved and high-risk populations.
Infections in immunocompromised hosts
Research focuses on cytomegalovirus (CMV) prevention and treatment, invasive fungal prophylaxis and management of resistant bacterial infections in these vulnerable populations.
OHSU faculty have contributed to international guidelines for CMV management in transplant recipients and advanced the understanding of antiviral resistance mechanisms for agents such as letermovir and maribavir. Studies on isavuconazole prophylaxis and outcomes in patients with invasive fungal infections have been recognized in top publications on medical mycology.
Impact: Improved survival and fewer infectious complications for transplant and cancer patients, with guideline-shaping research that influences clinical practice worldwide.
Mycobacterial lung disease and tuberculosis
Division faculty led MACCOR, the initiative that defined core outcome domains for MAC pulmonary disease clinical trials. They have also characterized emerging NTM pathogens such as Mycobacterium nebraskense.
Impact: Standardized outcome measures for future NTM clinical trials, improve long-term outcomes data and facilitate clinical trials. Established a robust regional TB and NTM management and referral network.
HIV prevention, treatment and health equity
OHSU infectious diseases researchers use national VA datasets and electronic health records to understand and improve the HIV care continuum, from diagnosis through viral suppression. Faculty lead studies on PrEP uptake following STI diagnoses, HIV testing in key populations and disparities in treatment outcomes among female veterans, people with substance use disorders and other underserved groups.
Division faculty bring the clinical and population health perspectives that are essential to translating laboratory breakthroughs into real-world impact.
Impact: Data-driven strategies to expand PrEP access, close testing gaps and reduce disparities across the HIV care continuum, improving outcomes for patients in Oregon and across the Veterans Health Administration.
Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT)
Division faculty study real-world outcomes, costs and patient experiences with long-acting agents such as dalbavancin and traditional agents like vancomycin and daptomycin, generating evidence to guide drug selection and health system policy.
A particular strength is research on OPAT for patients with substance use disorders, where faculty explore models that balance safety, patient autonomy and treatment completion.
Impact: Expanded access to effective outpatient infection treatment, reduced hospital stays and evidence that helps health systems design equitable OPAT programs.