John Beckham

John Beckham is a Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine and Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases & Geographic Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He specializes in infectious diseases, neurological infections, and HIV. He earned his medical degree and completed internal medicine residency at Baylor College of Medicine, followed by an infectious disease fellowship and neurovirology research at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

His research focuses on viral pathogenesis, particularly flaviviruses like West Nile and Zika, and their effects on the nervous system. His lab discovered mechanisms by which alpha-synuclein restricts viral infections in neurons and explored RNA structures critical for flavivirus replication. He also investigates neuroimmune responses and emerging RNA viruses.

Dr. Beckham has authored over 70 publications, including work on SARS-CoV-2 immune responses, Zika virus, and neuroinvasive diseases. He chairs the editorial board of the Journal of Neuroimmunology and reviews grants for the NIH. His awards include Fellowships from the American College of Physicians and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

He advises on NIH grant reviews and collaborates widely. His lab, the Beckham Research Lab, is a multidisciplinary team advancing virology, immunology, and neuroimmunology. Outside academia, he enjoys outdoor activities like running and mountain climbing.