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Infectious Disease

Research and Divisional Highlights

New Awards 

Michelle C. Collins-Ogle, MD, was elected Vice Chair of the American Academy of HIV Medicine 

Julia A. Piwoz, MD, was appointed to the Clinical Affairs Committee, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, October 2024  

Betsy C. Herold, MD, was appointed as a voting member to the Committee on Infectious Diseases, American Academy of Pediatrics 


New and Active Grants 

R01AI187024 11/07/2024-10/31/2029  
The Unexpected Role of TNFRSF14 Signaling in Promoting Antibody-Dependent Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity  
PI: Herold  

Einstein 2030 Acceleration Fund 
“Accelerating the development of mAbs for prevention and treatment of HSV infections” 
PI: Herold 

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)/ “Prospective Observational Study of Asymptomatic Congenital CMV Transmission to Infants for Virological Evaluation in New York State (PROACTIVE NYS)”   
Site PI: Piwoz 

Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute Health Systems Implementation Initiative (PCORI HSII)  
“Implementation of Appropriate Antibiotic Prescribing for Children with Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in Outpatient Settings: Montefiore Health System.      
PI: M. Rinke and P Nori; Project co-leader: Piwoz  

Merck Investigator Initiated Grant 
“Letermovir for CMV Prophylaxis in Pediatric Solid Organ Transplant Patients” 
PI: Foca 

R01AI177673    06/06/2023-05/31/2028 
Optimizing the generation of monoclonal antibodies for prevention and treatment of HSV disease 
MPI: Herold (contact), coPI: Masayuki Kuraoka, Duke University 

2R01AI134367 12/05/2017-11/30/2028 
Mechanisms underlying the HIV-HSV-2 Syndemic 
PI: Herold  

R01AI159684    09/01/2021-08/31/2026 
Multi-center evaluation of the threat of established and emerging respiratory viral infections in pediatric transplant recipients 
MPI: William Steinbach (contact), Herold, Englund and Maron 


National/International Talks  

Betsy C. Herold, MD  
2nd International Conference on Advances in Herpesvirus Research  
“Thinking outside the Box to Prevent HSV”  
September 16-17, 2024  

National CFAR Scientific & Community Symposium  
“Impact of the Genital Tract Mucosa on HIV Risk and Treatment”  
October 29,2024  
New York, NY  

JOWMA Annual Conference Keynote Speaker  
“Exploring Unanticipated Findings: A New Approach to Prevention and Treatment of HSV”  
January 5, 2025  
Jewish Heritage Museum, New York, NY   

Herpes Cure Advocacy Advancing Science/HVTN  
“Disrupting the HIV-HSV Syndemic”  
March 25, 2025

New York Academy of Science  
Vaccines and Therapies for Chronic Viral Diseases  
“Challenging the Reliance on Neutralizing Antibodies for HSV Vaccine Development”  
May 21, 2025  

Michelle C. Collins-Ogle, MD 
Collins-Ogle, M., Clinical Care Options Educational Series. Be An Ally. Podcast recording. 
October 2024   

Marc D. Foca, MD 
World Transplant Congress 
“New(ish) Antivirals in Pediatric Solid Organ Transplantation”  
August 4, 2025  


New Publications

Since September 2024 (Fellows, postdocs or medical/graduate students are underlined; ID faculty are bolded) 

  • Demirhan, S., Burgos, K., Escobar Lee, K., Lee, P, Sy, S., Herold, B.C. and Anosike, B.I.  Pediatric clinical outcomes of nasal MRSA PCR utilization.  Pediatric Infectious Diseases Journal, 2025 Jan1;44(1):33-38  
  • Ciuchta, J.L., Anosike, B.I., Silver, A.H., and Herold, B.C.  Impact of social determinants of health on healthcare utilization in pediatric appendicitis. Hospital Pediatrics, 2025;15 (2): 177-185. 
  • Miller, I.G., Mahant, A.M., Jenks, J.A., Semmes, E.C., Rochat, E., Herbek, S.L., Andy, C., Rodger, N.S., Pollara, J. Gerber, L.M. Herold, B. and Permar, S.R.  Influence of distinct maternal cytomegalovirus-specific neutralizing and Fc receptor-binding responses influence on congenital CMV transmission in HIV-exposed neonates. Viruses, 2025 17 (3): 325. PMC11946089   
  • Mahant, A.M., Fong, V., Gromisch, M., Hunte, R., Michael, I., Aguilan, J.T., Murphy, K., Keller, M.J., and Herold, B.C.  Neutralizing activity of cervicovaginal secretions against herpes simplex virus is mediated by mucosal IgG and viral glycoprotein E and adversely impacted by vaginal dysbiosis. bioRxiv 2025.05.15.654401 PMC12132503 
  • Downes, K.J., Danziger-Isakov, L, Varela-Fascinetto, G., Herold, B.C., Green, M., and L’Huillier, A.G. Debates in management and treatment of CMV in pediatric solid organ transplant recipients: a case-based discussion. Pediatric Transplantation, 2025.   
  • Keller, MJ., Wang, T., Murphy, K., Serrano, MG., Kandalaft, W., Michael, I., Decety, G., McWalters, J., Buck, GA., Kelly, L. and Herold, BC. Cervciovaginal secretions in young women with bacterial vaginosis enhance HIV infection.  J Infect Dis 2025, Aug 21, in press.  
  • Kotton, C.N., Kumar, D., Manuel, O., Chou, S., Hayden, R.T., Danziger-Isakov. L., Asberg, A., Teseco-Silva, Hl, Humar, A. on behalf of the Transplantation Society International CMV Consensus Group (Herold, B.C.).  The Fourth International Consensus guidelines on the Management of Cytomegalovirus in Solid-Organ Transplantation. Transplantation, 2025, April 9; PMID 40200403.  
  • Muller, W.J., Demirhan, S. and Herold, B.C.  “Herpes simplex virus and varicella zoster virus” in Steinbach, et al: Infectious Diseases in the Immunocompromised Child: Transplant, Oncology and Other Immune Compromising Conditions, 2nd edition. Elsevier, 2025. 
  • Escobar Lee, K., MD, Bolkent, M., Collins-Ogle, M., Anosike, B.  A Rare Presentation of Late Latent Syphilis with Alopecia and Poly-articular Joint Pain in a 17-Year-old Teenager. Letter to the Editor, The Pediatric Infectious Dis. Journal. 2025 Jan: DOI: 10.1097/INF. 0000000000004626 
  • Feldman, AG., Beaty, BL…. Foca, M, … and Danziger-Isakov, L.A. Postvaccination immunogenicity among pediatric solid organ transplant recipients.  JAMA Pediatr 2025, April 1;179(4):467-71. Doi:10.10001/jamapediatrics.2024.6778.
  • Lee, P., Lee, K.E. and Anosike BI.  Evolving COVID-19 landscape: assessing the effectiveness and safety profile of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in adolescents.  Pediatr Infect Dis J 2025 Mar1; 44(3):e81-84.
  • King, Z., Anosike BI, Offenbach, R, Strumph, K. A 7-year-old boy with prolonged fever.  NEJM Evid. 2025 May; 4(5).  
Trial Description
Disease / Condition
Principal Investigator
Contact
Trial DescriptionA Multicenter Access and Distribution Protocol for Unlicensed Cryopreserved Cord Blood Units (CBUs) for Transplantation in Pediatric and Adult Patients With Hematologic Malignancies and Other Indications - Principal Investigators: The principal investigators (PIs) will be transplant physicians at all participating U.S. transplant centers. Study Design: This study is an access and distribution protocol for unlicensed cryopreserved cord blood units (CBUs) in pediatric and adult patients with hematologic malignancies and other indications. Primary Objective: The primary objective of this study is to examine the incidence of neutrophil recovery of ≥500/mm3 after cord blood transplantation in a multi-institution setting using CBUs that are not Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed. Secondary Objectives: In patients receiving a non-licensed CBU: * Assess incidence of transmission of infection * Assess incidence of serious infusion reaction * Determine 1 year overall survival after cord blood transplantation * Assess cumulative incidence of acute graft vs. host disease (GVHD) grades II to IV and grades III to IV * Assess cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD * Determine platelet engraftment of \>20,000 mcL and \>50,000 mcLNCT01351545
Disease/ConditionHEMATOLOGIC MALIGNANCIES
INHERITED DISORDERS OF METABOLISM
INHERITED ABNORMALITIES OF PLATELETS
HISTIOCYTIC DISORDERS
ACUTE MYELOGENOUS LEUKEMIA (AML OR ANLL)
ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA (ALL)
OTHER ACUTE LEUKEMIA
CHRONIC MYELOGENOUS LEUKEMIA (CML)
MYELODYSPLASTIC (MDS) / MYELOPROLIFERATIVE (MPN) DISEASES
OTHER LEUKEMIA
HODGKIN LYMPHOMA
NON-HODGKIN LYMPHOMA
MULTIPLE MYELOMA/ PLASMA CELL DISORDER (PCD)
INHERITED ABNORMALITIES OF ERYTHROCYTE DIFFERENTIATION OR FUNCTION
DISORDERS OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES
SEVERE APLASTIC ANEMIA
Principal InvestigatorDavid Loeb
Contact
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