Infectious Diseases Research: from immunity to community
Infectious Diseases Research: from immunity to community at Hennepin is broadly focused on infectious diseases that disproportionately affect the community we serve, involving approaches that span immunology, disease pathogenesis, translational intervention studies, prevention strategies, implementation science, and large-scale clinical trials.
The HIV/ID clinical research portfolio included studies to improve prevention, treatment, and broad health outcomes. This includes evaluating biomedical prevention strategies for sexually transmitted infections among cisgender women, improving the delivery of HIV prevention and treatment services, and evaluating intervention strategies to reduce chronic inflammation and improve the ‘healthspan’ for those aging with HIV. Studies include those conducted locally at the Positive Care Center and through collaborations internationally in Kenya and South Africa
The Infectious Diseases program also has a translational focus on understanding the immunology of effective and pathogenic host responses. This includes T and B cell responses to infections and vaccines, as well as exploring how host-pathogen interactions may contribute to immune-mediated pathology in the context of malaria, COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. Specific to COVID-19, we are focused on understanding effective and protective immune responses, evaluating novel clinical treatments, and exploring the immunology of COVID-related cardiac injury.
Finally, our Infectious Diseases program serves as a clinical trial coordinating center for the NIH-funded global network STRIVE (Strategies and Treatments for Respiratory Infections and Viral Emergencies). This work entails conceiving and leading multi-center clinical trials among hospitalized patients with respiratory infections, and supporting over 20 sites within the U.S. and 6 sites in Mexico.
Our Researchers
Jason V. Baker, MD, MS
Professor of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School
I have been a physician-scientist at Hennepin Healthcare since 2007 and Director of the Infectious Diseases Division since 2018. I provide infectious diseases consultation and HIV primary care. I was drawn to Hennepin Healthcare for the clinical and research mission, and the opportunity to work alongside talented colleagues. My research program includes pathogenesis-oriented studies and clinical trials that inform the management of infectious diseases. My HIV research portfolio primarily involves the management of long-term complications of HIV disease, such as cardiovascular disease and risk for heart failure, conducted both locally as well as in South Africa. My COVID research portfolio includes clinical trials of novel treatments as well as a focus on cardiac complications. Finally, I direct an international clinical coordinating center within the NIH/NIAID-funded STRIVE (Strategies and Treatments for Respiratory Infections and Viral Emergencies) network, where I also serve as protocol chair for an ongoing trial.
Education and training
- Infectious Diseases Clinical and Research Fellowship, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
- Masters of Clinical Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
- Internal Medicine Internship and Residency, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR
- MD, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
- BS, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
Recent Publications
Grants
- 75N91020F00014 (NIAID): Strategies and Treatments for Respiratory & Viral Emergencies (INSIGHT 018); 5/1/2022-6/3/2025; Principal Investigator of Hennepin International Coordinating Center (ICC), and Protocol Chair for STRIVE Trial E-1
- R01-AG077989 (NIA): Optimization of a behavioral intervention to increase physical activity in older adults living with HIV; 9/1/2022-8/31/2027; Multiple Principal Investigator
- R01-HL158756A (NHLBI): Immunologic basis of cardiac disease after severe COVID-19; 4/1/2022-3/31/2026; Multiple Principal Investigator
- R01-HL160437 (NHLBI): Clinical and immunological factors underlying heart failure with preserved ejection fraction among persons living with HIV in South Africa; 9/1/2021-8/31/2025; Multiple Principal Investigator
- UO1-AI136780 (NIAID): An international multicenter, adaptive, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the safety, tolerability and efficacy of hyperimmune intravenous immunoglobulin for the treatment of adult outpatients in early stages of COVID-19 (INSIGHT 012 / OTAC); 1/1/2022-12/31-2023; Co-Investigator, Protocol Chair.
- R01 AI147912 (NIAID). Investigation of persistent HIV immune stimulation in lymphoid tissues during therapy as a cause of sustained immune activation. 04/03/2020 – 03/31/2025; co-investigator
- R34 MH116878 (NIMH). PrEP iT! A Pilot Test of a Mobile Peer Support Intervention to Optimize PrEP Adherence and Retention in PrEP Care; 12/1/2018-11/30/2022; Multiple Principal Investigator.
- U01 AI136780 (NIAID): Strategic Timing Antiretroviral Treatment (START) Trial; 8/1/2017-4/30/2024; Co-investigator.
- R01 AG045032 (NIA): Treatment to Reduce Inflammation and Improve Immune Recovery among Older HIV Patients; 4/1/2014 – 3/31/2020; Principal Investigator.
- R21 HL137435 (NHLBI): The Effects of Age and Treated HIV Infection on Myocardial Disease in South Africa;1/1/2018 – 12/31/2020; Multiple Principal Investigator
- R01 HL126542 (NHLBI): Targeted anticoagulant therapy to reduce inflammation in treated HIV disease; 9/1/2014-5/31/2019; Multiple Principal Investigator.
Other Key Professional Activities
- Member, U.S. DHHS Panel on Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents for Adults and Adolescents Living with HIV.
- Member, U.S. NIH Panel on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-10) Treatment Guidelines.
Kristina Burrack, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School
My long-term research goal is to develop a comprehensive understanding of host-pathogen interactions to enhance immunity and limit immune-mediated pathology with an emphasis on investigating infections and improving vaccination strategies against deadly diseases such as malaria and other pathogens of global health importance. Additionally, the knowledge gained from these studies will be applied to improving adoptive cell therapies to treat cancer and limit immune-mediated damage.
Education and training
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
- PhD, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
- BA, St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
Recent Publications
Grants
- R01 HD108015-01 (NICHD): Mechanisms of innate immune dysfunction in SIV/malaria co-infection in pregnancy role; 01/2022 – 12/2026; Consultant
- R01 RHL158756A (NHLBI), role: Immunologic basis of cardiac disease after severe COVID-19; 04/2022 – 03/2026; Co-Investigator
- K22 AI143969-01A1 (NIAID): Investigating IL-10-producing suppressive NK cells; 06/2020 – 09/2022; PI
- UL1TR002494 (NCATS): Investigating IL-10-producing natural killer cells and their immune-modulatory functions; 03/2022 – 02/2024; K-R01 Scholar
Anne Frosch, MD MPH
Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School
Vaccine Committee Co-chair, Hennepin Healthcare
I am a physician-scientist who runs a laboratory that examines adaptive immune responses to vaccines and infection. Our laboratory does this through the recruitment and maintenance of clinical cohorts and advanced immunologic assays that allow us to study specialized immune system cells specific to a pathogen or vaccine. We have applied these tools in the study of malaria, HIV, COVID-19, and vaccination. Our long-term goal is to understand how unique characteristic of a patient or pathogen shape the immune response and future protection to guide the design of more effective and safe vaccines.
Education and training
- Infectious Disease Fellowship, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, Center for Vaccine Development, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
- MPH, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
- MD, Mayo Medical School, Rochester, MN
- BA, Art History and Biological Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Recent Publications
Grants
- K08-AI141761-01A1 (NIH): Memory T follicular helper cell kinetics and localization during recall immune responses to tetanus vaccination; 2019-2024; Principal Investigator
- R01 (NHLBI): Immunologic basis of cardiac disease after severe COVID-19; 2022-2027; Co-investigator
- (CDC): Influenza and Other Viruses in the Acutely Ill (IVY) Network; 2022-present; Co-investigator
- University of Minnesota Masonic Cross Departmental Grant for Children’s Health: Optimizing iron status while minimizing morbidity in HIV-infected Ugandan children; 2016-2018; Co-Principal Investigator
- F32 (NIAID). AI109808-01: The effects of HIV on malaria specific T and B cell responses; 2014-2015; Principal Investigator
- (American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene): Centennial Award
Teaching Activities
My teaching focus is in providing one on one mentorship for physicians and scientists interested in translational research. Numerous mentees have gone on to obtain PhD’s and faculty positions in biomedical science in the United States and abroad. All of these students and collaborators have significantly shaped our work through their intellect, passion and commitment to research that improves human health.
- Morgan Harris, Scripps Research
- Gayathri Dileepan, Ohio State University
- Eliud Odhiambo, Indiana University
- Oludare Odumade, Harvard Medical School
- Bartholomew Ondigo, Egerton University
- Kristina Burrack, Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute, University of Minnesota
Other Key Professional Activities
With my research and clinical experience in the care of patients with malaria, I have advocated within Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute, Minnesota, and nationally for the availability of medications for the treatment of severe malaria in travelers. This has included partnering with members of Congress, community members who work with high-risk travelers, and the Minnesota Department of Health to increase access to safe and affordable malaria treatment and prevention.
Minnesota Department of Health Malaria Community Advisory Board
Working with CDC and Congress to provide easy access to severe malaria treatment for Minnesotans
Amanda Noska, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School
Medical Director, Positive Care Clinic, Hennepin Healthcare
I was drawn to Hennepin Healthcare because of the organization’s mission to care for marginalized populations and because of the outstanding caliber of colleagues within this organization. My research interests include clinical pharmaceutical trials for HIV and viral hepatitis B and C. In the past, I’ve also examined factors that influence the quality of care for persons living with HIV, HCV, and/or HBV, those with substance use disorders, homelessness, and/or a history of incarceration. I have been Medical Director of Positive Care at Hennepin Healthcare since January 2022.
Education and training
- Infectious Disease Fellowship, Brown University, Lifespan Hospitals, Providence, RI
- Internal Medicine Internship and Residency, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN
- MD, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
- MPH, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN
- BA, The College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, MN
Recent Publications
Note: The link above brings you to a PubMed search by author name and, as such, may incorrectly contain publications authored by others with a similar name.
Grants
GSK-219288 (GlaxoSmithKline); Study of Bepirovirsen in Nucleos(t)Ide Analogue-treated Participants With Chronic Hepatitis B (B-Well 2) (B-Well 2); 2023-Present; Principal Investigator
Jenell Stewart, DO, MPH
Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School
I am a board-certified physician providing infectious diseases and HIV specialty care at Hennepin Healthcare (starting in 2022) following clinical training and launching my research career at the University of Washington. I am researching the prevention of STIs and HIV among women. Over the past decade, I worked in clinics and conducted collaborative research on HIV and sexually transmitted diseases among cisgender women exchanging sex in Callao, Peru; Mombasa, Kenya; Naivasha, Kenya; and Seattle, USA. My current clinical and behavioral research is at the intersection of HIV/STIs, adherence, and gender in two primary areas of research: first, clinical trials of doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (dPEP) for prevention of bacterial STIs among cisgender women taking HIV PrEP, and second, community-based care models for women who exchange sex and inject drugs.
Education and training
- Infectious Diseases Fellowship, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
- Global Health Chief Resident, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
- Internal Medicine Internship and Residency, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
- DO, Des Moines University, Des Moines, IA
- MPH, Des Moines University, Des Moines, IA
- BA, St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
Recent Publications
Grants
- R01 AI145971 Supp (NIAID): Doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis for prevention of sexually transmitted infections among Kenyan women using HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP and dPEP); 09/01/19—07/31/24; Project Director, Co-Investigator
- K23 MH124466 (NIMH): Understanding STI and HIV prevention adherence among Kenyan women;07/01/20-06/30/25; Principal Investigator
- R34 DA054588-01A1 (NIAID): Combination primary care and prevention services for women who inject drugs and exchange sex in Seattle, Washington;08/25/22-08/24/25; Multiple Principal Investigator (contact PI)
- INV-017062 (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation): Efficacy of Novel Agents for Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among High-Risk Outpatient Adults: An Adaptive Randomized Platform Trial; 04/15/20-04/14/21; Site Principal Investigator
- INV-016204 (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation): Efficacy of post‐exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection: A open‐label, randomized study of hydroxychloroquine among adults exposed to coronavirus disease (COVID‐19); 03/24/20-09/30/21; Co-Investigator
- T32 AI007044 (NIAID): Host defense training in allergy and infectious diseases.07/01/18-06/31/20; Trainee, Infectious Diseases Fellow.
- R24 TW007988: Fogarty International Clinical Research Scholars Support Center.07/01/11-06/31/12; Scholar