Steven R. Blanke

Steven R. Blanke is a Professor of Microbiology and Ralph S. Wolfe Professorial Scholar at the University of Illinois, affiliated with the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology. He holds additional roles at the College of Veterinary Medicine and Carle Illinois College of Medicine. His research focuses on bacterial pathogenesis, particularly mechanisms by which pathogens like Helicobacter pylori and Bacillus anthracis modulate host cells through toxins. Key areas include toxin-mediated cellular entry, immune evasion, and metabolic reprogramming in chronic infections. Blanke completed his B.A. at Virginia Tech (1982), Ph.D. at University of Illinois (1989), and postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School (1990-1995).

He has received numerous awards, including the American Academy of Microbiology Fellowship (2015), and has led international conferences on microbial pathogenesis and biodefense. His work combines basic science with translational goals, aiming to develop countermeasures against pathogenic bacteria.