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Above: Dr. Kobie with the Melody™ Flow Cytometric Cell Sorter which is used to identify and isolate SARS-CoV-2 specific B cells and create monoclonal antibodies.  

James Kobie, Ph.D., (Associate Professor, Infectious Diseases) Mark Walter, Ph.D., (Dept. Microbiology) and colleagues have published a study in the journal PLOS Pathogens highlighting their discovery of a neutralizing monoclonal antibody that could act as a potent universal coronavirus therapy. In an animal experiment, the antibody protected against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants when given as an intraperitoneal injection or a nasal dose. Researchers believe their findings could lead to the development of vaccines that provide immunity for all coronaviruses.

Above: Rheumatology fellows with their Program Directors Drs. Joanna Potera, Alex Edgil, Mariana Urquiaga, Angelo Gaffo (Professor), Vijay Kannuthurai, and Amanda Alexander (Assistant Professor) 

The Department was thrilled to celebrate our incoming fellows at its annual welcome reception Monday evening. We could not be more excited to have these exceptional trainees join us at UAB. Every year, DOM onboards roughly 50 new fellows in 20 training programs. We can't wait to see them shine!

Above: Dr. Adam Taylor, Dr. Raj Vachhani, Nursing Supervisor Angela Mcinish, and Division Administrator Jeff Foster at the new clinic. 

The UAB Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology is expanding community access to rheumatologic care at the Hoover Specialty Clinic starting this month. Two former UAB fellows, Adam Taylor, M.D., and Raj Vachhani, M.D., have joined the faculty and are working at the Clinic to provide expert diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory arthritis and numerous other autoimmune diseases. Way to grow, team!

Above: Renee Heffron, Ph.D., MPH, Professor in the UAB Division of Infectious Diseases  

Renee Heffron, Ph.D., MPH, (Professor, Infectious Diseases) is the new director for the Center for AIDS Research at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine, effective July 1. Heffron joins UAB from the Departments of Global Health and Epidemiology at the University of Washington. She succeeds previous director, Mike Saag, M.D., who officially retired from UAB last year. Congratulations on your new role and welcome to UAB, Dr. Heffron!

Above: Drs. Van Gerwen and Van Wagoner at Volker Plaza.  

UAB Division of Infectious Diseases faculty Olivia Van Gerwen, M.D., M.P.H., and Nicholas Van Wagoner, M.D., Ph.D., facilitated a spring workshop for Health Equity Scholars in the Heersink School of Medicine to help students better understand the unique health needs of LGBTQ+ individuals. Learners practiced introducing themselves as providers and explored the reasons for health disparities among the LGBTQ+ community. As a result, one scholar plans to develop a LGBTQ+ mini training module as a scholarly education project. The workshop was part of the Health Equity Scholars Program developed by Assistant Dean for Community Engaged Scholarship Caroline Harada, M.D