Heather Mead

Heather Mead, Ph.D. is a Research Assistant Professor with the Immunology Core within TGen's Immunology and Microbial Genomics Division. She focuses on the adaptive immune response to pathogens with an emphasis on Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis), a fungal infection endemic to the Southwestern United States. Her research bridges immunology, microbial genomics, and infectious disease pathogenesis.

Dr. Mead received her B.S. in Microbiology and Ph.D. in Biology from Northern Arizona University, where she studied Coccidioides genetics. Her educational background directly informs her current research focus on this pathogen.

Her research interests center on understanding host-pathogen interactions, particularly the adaptive immune response to fungal and bacterial pathogens. She employs highly-multiplexed genomic assays to characterize T and B cell responses to human-infecting viruses, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Coccidioides, and Plasmodium species. Her long-term goal is to apply insights from pathogenic host evasion and human immunity to develop improved surveillance techniques, diagnostics, and treatments for infectious diseases, with particular emphasis on Valley fever.

Analysis of Dr. Mead's recent publications reveals a strong focus on Valley fever research, with multiple studies examining Coccidioides biology, host-pathogen interactions, and diagnostic approaches. Her work spans fundamental research on fungal pathogenesis to translational applications, including the development of laboratory protocols for safe handling of these pathogens. She has also contributed to broader immunological research, including studies on COVID-19 immune responses and multiplexed serological techniques.

Dr. Mead has been actively involved in collaborative research across multiple institutions, as evidenced by her extensive publication record in high-impact journals including Frontiers in Immunology, Journal of Fungi, and Nature Communications. Her work demonstrates expertise in both laboratory techniques for handling dangerous pathogens and advanced genomic and immunological analysis methods.

As part of TGen's Immunology Core, Dr. Mead contributes to the institute's mission of advancing translational genomics research. Her work supports the development of novel diagnostic tools and therapeutic approaches for infectious diseases, with potential applications for both endemic fungal infections and emerging pathogens.