Feldmann Research Group

The Disease Modeling and Transmission section aims to investigate emerging and re-emerging viral pathogens that cause serious illness in humans. Our group focuses on vector-borne viruses spread by rodents such as Lassa virus and Hantaviruses and insects such as Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus. To investigate these viruses we develop animal models that recapitulate human disease, use these models to understand how the virus causes disease and then evaluate antivirals and vaccines that protect against disease. Additionally, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic our lab has evaluated candidate antivirals and vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. Research from our lab has resulted in multiple vaccines and antivirals against these serious human pathogens. These therapeutics are in multiple stages of pre-clinical and clinical development.

In addition to our laboratory activities, our lab has active research ongoing at field sites in Mali and Uganda where we conduct surveillance in vector and human populations to understand disease prevalence and transmission in regions where these viruses are endemic. Our efforts aim to support local public health systems and develop public health strategies that limit infection of at-risk populations.

Photo of Feldmann Research Group Members

Disease Modeling and Transmission Section, 2022: Front Row (left to right): Kyle Rosenke, Ph.D., Julie Callison, M.Sc., Deepashri Rao, Ph.D., Shanna Leventhal, BS; Back Row (left to right): Heinz Feldmann, M.D., David Hawman, Ph.D., Kimberly Meade-White, M.Sc., Thomas Tipih, Ph.D.

Credit: NIAID

Heinz Feldmann, M.D.

Chief, Disease Modeling and Transmission Section
Chief, Laboratory of Virology
Chief Scientist of the RML BSL4 Laboratories

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Education:

Ph.D., 1988, University of Marburg, Germany

M.D., 1987, University of Marburg, Germany

Heinz Feldmann graduated from Medical School in 1987 (MD) and received his Ph.D. in 1988 both from the University of Marburg, Germany. His postdoctoral research was conducted in the field of virology (filoviruses and hantaviruses) at the Institute of Virology in Marburg and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, USA (‘National Research Council’ fellowship).

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Photo of Heinz Feldmann, M.D.

Julie A. Callison, M.Sc.

Biologist

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Education:

M.S., Microbiology, University of Montana
B.S., Microbiology, University of Montana

My work and interests are to assist research projects that focus on disease modeling and transmission of emerging viral pathogens. These projects also involve evaluating vaccines and therapeutics.

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David W. Hawman, Ph.D.

Staff Scientist

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Education:

Ph.D., Microbiology, University of Colorado Denver
B.S., Microbiology, Penn State University

My research projects focus on understanding the host and viral determinants of tick-borne viral pathogens that cause severe disease in humans. My work uses in vivo animal models of Crimea-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome virus and Heartland virus infection to investigate how these viruses overcome host defenses to cause disease. These studies aim to...

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Shanna S. Leventhal, B.S., B.A.

Predoc Fellow

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Education:

B.S., Molecular and Cellular Biology, Johns Hopkins University
B.A., Public Health, Johns Hopkins University

My research focuses on understanding viral determinants of disease and evaluating vaccine candidates against pathogenic viruses. My work involves in vivo animal models and in vitro assays which are aimed at uncovering viral proteins that cause disease, these are used to inform the development of therapeutics and vaccine candidates.

Learn more about Shanna S. Leventhal, B.S., B.A.

Matthew C. Lewis, Ph.D.

Biologist

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Education:

Ph.D., Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California Irvine
B.S., Chemistry, Oregon State University
B.S., Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University

My research interests lie in modeling novel viral diseases and testing vaccines and drugs for efficacy against those viral diseases. I provide support and assistance with various research projects involving diseased modeling and transmission of emergent viral pathogens.

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Kimberly D. Meade-White, M.Sc.

Biologist

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Education:

M.S., Microbiology/Biochemistry, University of Montana
B.S., Biology, Carroll College

My research focuses on assisting with projects understanding the host and viral determinants of tick-borne viral pathogens that cause severe disease in humans. My work includes assisting in developing animal models for Crimea-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome virus and Heartland virus. We investigate how these viruses overcome host defenses to cause disease...

Learn more about Kimberly D. Meade-White, M.Sc.

Atsushi Okumura, Ph.D., D.V.M.

Biologist

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Education:

Ph.D., Veterinary Medicine/Veterinary science, Azabu University

M.S./D.V.M., Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University

B.S., Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University

Languages Spoken: Japanese

My research interests are focused on the host immune response to virus infection with a current concentration on the host response.

Learn more about Atsushi Okumura, Ph.D., D.V.M.

Deepashri Rao, Ph.D.

Visiting Fellow

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Education:

Ph.D., Viral Immunology, NIMHANS University, India

M.Sc, Microbiology, Bangalore University, India

B.Sc, Chemistry, Botany, Microbiology, Bangalore University, India

Languages Spoken: Kannada, Hindi

My research is primarily focused on the immunology of viral infections, especially innate immunity. I investigate immune mechanisms that are protective or detrimental to the host, which can then lead to the development of therapeutics for pathogenic viruses.

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Kyle T. Rosenke, Ph.D.

Staff Scientist

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Education:

Ph.D., Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
B.S., Science, University of Wyoming

My research projects focus on disease modeling of Lassa virus and other emerging viral pathogens. My work characterizes and uses different disease models to evaluate therapeutics and vaccines. I also focus on host-pathogen interactions between Lassa virus and its natural reservoir, the Mastomys natalensis. These studies aim to define the host response to viral infection, providing insight into how...

Learn more about Kyle T. Rosenke, Ph.D.

Thomas Tipih, Ph.D.

Visiting Fellow

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Education:

Ph.D., Medical Virology, University of the Free State

M.Sc, Virology, Liverpool John Moores University

B.Sc, Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Zimbabwe

Languages Spoken: Shona

My research focuses on development of vaccines and therapeutics for emerging and re-emerging zoonotic viral pathogens. My work involves the development of animal models to study pathogenesis, immunology of viral infections and evaluating vaccines and therapeutics.

Learn more about Thomas Tipih, Ph.D.

Former Research Group Members

Laura Baseler, DVM, Ph.D. (Predoctoral Fellow) (7/2012 – 8/2015) - Veterinary Pathologist, NAMSA (North American Science Associates), Northwood, OH, USA

Bharti Bhatia, Ph.D. (Postdoctoral Fellow) (1/2018 – 5/2021) – Delhi, India

Blair DeBuysscher, Ph.D. (Predoctoral Fellow) (6/2008 – 9/2014) – Researcher, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA

Emmie de Wit, Ph.D. (Postdoctoral Fellow, Staff Scientists) (9/2009 – 8/2019) – Tenure-Track Investigator, DIR, NIAID, Hamilton, MT, USA

Hideki Ebihara, Ph.D. (Staff Scientist) (3/2009 – 7/2016) – Director, Department of Virology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan

Darryl Falzarano, Ph.D. (Postdoctoral Fellow) (6/2010 – 11/2014) – Research Scientist, VIDO-InterVac, Saskatoon, SK, Canada

Wakako Furuyama, Ph.D. (Postdoctoral Fellow) (6/2017 – 9/2019) - Assistant Professor, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan

Thomas Hoenen, Ph.D. (Postdoctoral Fellow) (3/2011 – 8/2015) – Laboratory Head (Privatdozent), Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Greifswald, Germany

Caleb Marceau, Ph.D. (Postdoctoral Fellow) (1/2017 – 1/2018) - Sr Research Scientist-Clinical Virology, Gilead Sciences, San Francisco, CA, USA

Joshua Marceau, Ph.D. (Predoctoral Fellow) (8/2011 – 12/2016) – Postdoctoral Researcher, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA

Andrea Marzi, Ph.D. (Postdoctoral Fellow, Staff Scientist, Associate Scientist) (10/2008 – 8/2019) – Tenure-Track Investigator, NIAID, Hamilton, MT, USA

Masfique Mehedi, Ph.D. (predoctoral Fellow) (12/2010 – 10/2012) – Assistant Professor, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA

Vincent Munster, Ph.D. (Postdoctoral Fellow) (9/2009 – 1/2013) – Senior Investigator, DIR, NIAID, Hamilton, MT USA

Joseph Prescott, Ph.D. (Postdoctoral Fellow, Research Fellow) (6/2009 – 6/2017) – Research Group Lead, Robert-Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany

Barry Rockx, Ph.D. (Postdoctoral Fellow) (7/2008 – 8/2012) – Principal Investigator, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Jessica Spengler, DVM, Ph.D. (Predoctoral Fellow) (9/2008 – 5/2012) – Research Veterinary medical Officer, CDC, Atlanta, GA, USA

David Safronetz, Ph.D. (Postdoctoral Fellow, Staff Scientist) (10/2008 – 7/2015) – Chief Special Pathogens, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

Tsing-Lee Tang-Huau, Ph.D. (Postdoctoral Fellow) (6/2018 – 11/2021) – Research Lead, Sanofi, Orlando, FL, USA

Yoshimi Tsuda, Ph.D. (Postdoctoral Fellow) (6/2009 – 2/2011) – Researcher, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan

Marko Zivcec, Ph.D. (Predoctoral Fellow) (9/2009 – 12/2013) – Researcher, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

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