Eric Isaac Elliott

Dr. Eric Isaac Elliott is an Instructor in the Department of Internal Medicine, specifically in the Infectious Diseases section, at Yale School of Medicine. His work bridges clinical practice in infectious diseases with fundamental research in immunology, focusing particularly on innate immune mechanisms that sense pathogens and cellular stress.

• MD, PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology - University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine (2018)
• BS in Biology - Wheaton College (2010)

Dr. Elliott's research focuses on innate immune mechanisms for sensing pathogens and cell stress, and how activation or dysregulation of these systems relate to infectious disease susceptibility and autoimmune/inflammatory disease processes. His work particularly centers on inflammasome biology, exploring how cells sense infection through sensors like NLRP3 and how inflammation alters metabolism during infection. He investigates the role of mitochondria and cardiolipin in NLRP3 inflammasome assembly and activation, with implications for understanding severe infections like sepsis. His research spans from fundamental molecular mechanisms to clinical applications in HIV/AIDS and emerging infectious diseases.

Dr. Elliott's publication history shows a strong trajectory from fundamental immunology research on inflammasome mechanisms to clinical investigations in infectious diseases. His earlier work focused on the molecular mechanisms of NLRP3 inflammasome activation, particularly the role of mitochondria and cardiolipin, while more recent publications address clinical aspects of HIV/AIDS, SARS-CoV-2 complications, and bacterial co-infections. His research demonstrates how basic immunological discoveries can inform clinical understanding of infectious disease pathogenesis.

As a physician-scientist trained through the ABIM Physician-Scientist Research Pathway, Dr. Elliott bridges clinical care and research. He provides diagnostics, treatment, and counseling for people with a wide range of infections while conducting research aimed at finding new treatments for severe infections. His work in the Janeway Society suggests engagement with physician-scientist development initiatives at Yale.

Dr. Elliott is actively involved in the HIV & Aging Center for Implementation Science and the Malaysian Implementation Science Training (MIST) Program at Yale, contributing to research on HIV in older adults and implementation science approaches to improve HIV care. His clinical work spans vector-borne and zoonotic diseases, microbial pathogenesis, HIV/AIDS, and antivirals and vaccines research.