Rhea Coler

Rhea Coler serves as Senior Vice President of Preclinical and Translational Research at the Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI) and Affiliate Professor of Global Health at the University of Washington School of Public Health. Her work bridges laboratory innovation and real-world health impact, focusing on vaccine development for tuberculosis, West Nile, and Zika viruses.

Her educational foundation includes:

• Physiology undergraduate degree from McGill University
• Master's in Medical Parasitology from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
• Doctoral degree in Pathobiology from University of Washington

Coler's research pioneers antigen-adjuvant combinations for tuberculosis vaccines, creating IDRI's world-leading TB antigen library. She investigates immune response mechanisms across age groups and pathogens, recently advancing a TB vaccine through South African clinical trials. Her approach integrates genomic screening with practical formulation science, likening vaccine design to 'cooking with precise ingredients and spices.'

Mentorship defines her academic contribution: she guides PhD candidate Emily Gage in antigenic sin research while having trained 14 early-career scientists (4 pre-doctoral, 10 post-doctoral). Her protégés now drive global health initiatives at NIH, Gates Foundation, and EDCTP.

At IDRI, Coler leads a multidisciplinary team conducting animal model testing (mice to primates) and field work in Tanzania. She champions 'low-tech' solutions like insecticide-treated bed nets while developing next-generation virology platforms for flavivirus vaccines.