Michael Grigg

Dr. Michael Grigg is Chief of the Molecular Parasitology Section at the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), within the Division of Intramural Research. He is also an adjunct professor at both the University of British Columbia and Oklahoma State University, reflecting his significant contributions to parasitology research and academic mentorship.

Dr. Grigg earned his B.Sc. in 1989 from the University of British Columbia and his Ph.D. in 1994 from the Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine, University of London. He completed postdoctoral training as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute senior fellow at the University of Washington (1994-1997) and as a postdoctoral scholar in molecular parasitology at Stanford University (1997-2001). In 2002, he was appointed as an assistant professor at the University of British Columbia, and in 2006 he joined the NIAID Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases as a tenure-track investigator. He was promoted to senior investigator at NIH in 2013.

Dr. Grigg's research focuses on molecular parasitology, particularly the study of protozoan pathogens including Toxoplasma gondii, Giardia spp., Blastocystis spp., Entamoeba spp., Trichomonas spp., Leishmania spp., and Trypanosoma spp. His work investigates virulence shifts in these parasites, host-pathogen interactions, immunoparasitology, and the genetic determinants of pathogenesis. His laboratory employs whole genome sequencing, population genetics, molecular epidemiology, and both forward and reverse genetics approaches to identify factors governing virulence in parasitic protozoa.

Analysis of Dr. Grigg's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on Toxoplasma gondii pathogenesis, with expanding research into other protozoan parasites including Giardia and Sarcocystis. His work spans molecular genetics, immunology, epidemiology, and clinical manifestations of parasitic infections, with particular attention to ocular toxoplasmosis, congenital transmission, and host immune responses. Recent publications show increased collaboration with international research groups and application of advanced genomic techniques to understand parasite evolution and host adaptation.

Dr. Grigg leads the Molecular Parasitology Section, which conducts research on four main projects: investigating protozoan outbreaks to assess the contribution of sexual reproduction in virulence evolution; identifying virulence factors through functional genomic approaches; bioimaging host-pathogen interactions; and determining how parasite surface antigens regulate host immunity. His laboratory maintains active collaborations with researchers worldwide and contributes significantly to understanding eukaryotic pathogenic processes, which remain less studied compared to bacterial or viral pathogenesis.