Inci Yildirim

Inci Yildirim is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Infectious Disease) and Public Health (Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases) at Yale University. She holds dual appointments in the Yale School of Medicine and Yale School of Public Health. Her roles include Section Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Global Health, Medical Director of Transplant Infectious Diseases at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital, and Director of the Pediatric Vaccine Trials Program. Dr. Yildirim’s research focuses on vaccine-induced immune responses in immunocompromised children, particularly those with organ transplants or sickle cell disease.

• Education:
  • MD and MSc from Hacettepe University, Turkey
  • PhD in Epidemiology from Boston University
  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases Residency at Yale School of Medicine

Research Interests: Dr. Yildirim investigates vaccine efficacy in high-risk pediatric populations, including transplant recipients and patients with sickle cell disease. Her work emphasizes understanding immune responses to vaccines such as those for SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and pneumococcal infections. She leads studies on global health equity, including environmental surveillance for infectious diseases in resource-limited settings.

Key Contributions: Her research has advanced understanding of long COVID pathophysiology, mRNA vaccine safety, and pneumococcal vaccine effectiveness in vulnerable groups. She has pioneered the Yale Pediatric Vaccine Trials Program, contributing to clinical trials for vaccines targeting emerging pathogens.

Labs & Teams: Her lab, the Yildirim Laboratory, collaborates with global networks to address pediatric infectious disease challenges. She leads the Network of Vaccine Initiatives and is affiliated with the Yale Institute for Global Health and Center for Infection and Immunity.