Erol Fikrig, MD
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About
Titles
Waldemar Von Zedtwitz Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) and Professor of Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases) and of Microbial Pathogenesis
Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health; Section Chief, Infectious Diseases, Internal MedicineBiography
My laboratory investigates vector-borne diseases. Studies are directed toward understanding Lyme disease, flaviviral infections including dengue and West Nile viruses, and malaria. Efforts on Lyme disease include exploring immunity to Borrelia burgdorferi, selective B. burgdorferi gene expression in vivo, and the immunobiology of Lyme arthritis. Flaviviruses and Plasmodium are used as models to understand the molecular interactions between pathogens, their arthropod vectors and their mammalian hosts. Finally, we are developing new approaches to prevent ticks and mosquitoes from feeding on a vertebrate host, thereby interfering with pathogen transmission.
Appointments
Infectious Diseases
Section ChiefDualInfectious Diseases
ProfessorPrimaryMicrobial Pathogenesis
ProfessorSecondaryEpidemiology of Microbial Diseases
ProfessorSecondary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Center for Infection and Immunity
- Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases
- Fikrig Lab
- Global Health Studies
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Internal Medicine
- Microbial Pathogenesis
- Microbiology
- Molecular Virology
- Rheumatic Diseases Research Core
- Virology Laboratories
- Yale Combined Program in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS)
- Yale Institute for Global Health
- Yale Medicine
- Yale School of Public Health
- Yale Ventures
- Yale-UPR Integrated HIV Basic and Clinical Sciences Initiative
Education & Training
- Fellow
- Yale University School of Medicine (1991)
- Resident
- Vanderbilt University Hospital (1988)
- MD
- Cornell University (1985)
- BA
- Cornell University, Chemistry (1981)
Research
Academic Achievements and Community Involvement
Clinical Care
Overview
Erol Fikrig, MD, is chief of Infectious Diseases and specializes in treating patients with vector-borne diseases including Dengue fever, West Nile virus, Lyme disease, and malaria.
Vector-borne diseases are caused by infections transmitted to humans and other animals by mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and other blood-feeding invertebrates.
Dr. Fikrig’s research focuses on understanding Lyme disease, human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (a rare infectious disease), malaria, and flaviviruses (vector-borne viruses that can cause a variety of diseases including hepatitis, encephalitis, and congenital abnormalities).
He is interested in molecular approaches to prevent ticks and mosquitoes from feeding on mammalian hosts. For example, he and his team are developing a Lyme disease vaccine that uses mRNA technology to target deer ticks, which transmit the disease. Dr. Fikrig hopes to use this strategy to fight other illnesses, such as babesiosis, dengue, and malaria.
Dr. Fikrig has received numerous awards, including the National Foundation of Infectious Disease Young Investigator Award, Infectious Disease Society of America Vaccine Development Award, American Heart Association Young Investigator Award, Arthritis Foundation Investigator Award, and the Burroughs Wellcome Clinical Scientist Award in Translational Research. He was also a Pew Scholar in Biomedical Sciences and an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Clinical Specialties
Board Certifications
Internal Medicine
- Certification Organization
- AB of Internal Medicine
- Original Certification Date
- 1988
Links & Media
News
- July 08, 2024
Elucidating Host-microbe Interactions to Address Vector-borne Diseases
- May 27, 2024
Tick-Borne Diseases in the United States: An Escalating Challenge
- May 17, 2024
Novel Gene Controlling Mosquito Reproductive Cell Development and Immune System
- April 16, 2024Source: The New York Times
We Have Tick Medications for Dogs. Why Not for People?
Get In Touch
Contacts
Locations
Section of Infectious Diseases
Academic Office
Patient Care Locations
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