Christopher R. Frei

Dr. Christopher R. Frei is a Professor and Division Head of Pharmacotherapy and Translational Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy. He also serves as the William J. Sheffield Centennial Endowed Professor and Program Director for the Translational Science PhD Program, collaborating across four UT institutions. His roles include Director of the Pharmacotherapy Education & Research Center at UT Health San Antonio and Research Investigator at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System.

Education:

• PharmD, The University of Texas at Austin (2001)
• MS in Pharmacy Research, UT Austin (2003)
• NIH Postdoctoral Fellowships (2005–2013)

Research focuses on antibiotic pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD), clinical epidemiology, and community-based studies on MRSA infections. He pioneered PK/PD models to revise antibiotic breakpoints for Gram-negative bacteria, impacting global clinical microbiology practices. His work on drug safety includes studies on statins and azithromycin in veteran populations.

Publications span over 95 peer-reviewed articles in JAMA, Antimicrob Agents Chemother, and others, emphasizing translational research and policy impact. Awards include the Young Investigator Award (SIDP) and Distinguished Young Alumnus recognition from UT Austin.

Key contributions include:

• Leading multidisciplinary teams in PBRN studies on MRSA treatment failure
• Patented point-of-care testing devices for bacterial infections
• NIH-funded grants on antibiotic resistance and HIV disparities