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Erol Fikrig, MD

Waldemar Von Zedtwitz Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) and Professor of Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases) and of Microbial Pathogenesis
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Additional Titles

Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health

Section Chief, Infectious Diseases, Internal Medicine

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 Medicine

Biography

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

Education & Training

Fellow
Yale University School of Medicine (1991)
Resident
Vanderbilt University Hospital (1988)
MD
Cornell University (1985)
BA
Cornell University, Chemistry (1981)

Research

Overview

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

Bacteria; Borrelia burgdorferi; Ehrlichiosis; Epidemiology; Global Health; Infectious Disease Medicine; Lyme Disease; Malaria Vaccines; Parasitology; Public Health; Ticks; Viruses; West Nile virus

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of Erol Fikrig's published research.

Publications

2024

Clinical Trials

Current Trials

Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

  • activity

    NIH Tick Borne Disease Group

  • activity

    Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

  • activity

    Acquired Tick Resistance

  • activity

    Borrelia-Tick Interactions

  • activity

    European Tick Vaccine Consortium

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

Internal Medicine; Infectious Diseases

Board Certifications

  • Internal Medicine

    Certification Organization
    AB of Internal Medicine
    Original Certification Date
    1988

Get In Touch

Contacts

Academic Office Number
Appointment Number
Office Fax Number

Administrative Support

Locations

  • Section of Infectious Diseases

    Academic Office

    The Anlyan Center

    300 Cedar Street, Rm 169

    New Haven, CT 06519

    Business Office

    203.785.4140
  • Patient Care Locations

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