Adam Bailey

Adam Bailey, M.D., Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Medicine and Public Health. He leads the Bailey Laboratory, which focuses on viral pathogenesis, zoonotic diseases, and the development of medical countermeasures. His research integrates clinical pathology, animal models, and molecular virology to study emerging infectious diseases, including SARS-CoV-2 and viral hemorrhagic fevers.

Dr. Bailey earned his B.A. in Molecular Biology from Colgate University (2009), followed by a Ph.D. in Molecular Pathology (2015) and an M.D. (2017) from the University of Wisconsin–Madison through the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP). He completed residency training in Clinical Pathology at Washington University in St. Louis (2020) and a postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Dr. Michael Diamond, where he contributed to pivotal research on SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics and therapeutics.

His research interests include:

• Viral pathogenesis and host-pathogen interactions
• Development of animal models for viral diseases
• Molecular mechanisms of viral hemorrhagic fevers
• SARS-CoV-2 and flavivirus biology
• Emerging infectious disease diagnostics and countermeasures

The recent articles from the Bailey lab reflect a strong focus on emerging and re-emerging viruses, particularly arteriviruses, pegiviruses, and coronaviruses. Research themes include viral entry mechanisms, host receptor usage (e.g., FcRn, CD163), animal model development, and therapeutic interventions. There is a clear trajectory toward understanding zoonotic potential and pathogenesis of understudied viral families, with significant contributions to SARS-CoV-2 research during the pandemic.

Scientific awards include:

• NIH Director’s Early Independence Award (DP5), 2020

Dr. Bailey mentors several graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, including Xueer Qiu, Sara Maloney, Andrew Norton, and Logan Borsinger. His lab has received significant grant support, notably the NIH DP5 award, enabling independent investigation at the intersection of clinical pathology and virology. He also contributes to the clinical mission by helping direct the clinical laboratories at the University of Wisconsin Hospital.

The Bailey Laboratory fosters a collaborative and rigorous research environment focused on tackling global infectious disease challenges. The team utilizes advanced techniques in virology, immunology, and molecular biology, working across high-containment settings and translational platforms to develop diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines.