Jeffrey Cirillo

Jeffrey Cirillo, PhD, is a Regents' Professor in the Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology at Texas A&M University Health Science Center's School of Medicine. He directs the Center for Airborne Pathogen Research and Imaging (CAPRI), focusing on respiratory infectious diseases, bacterial pathogenesis, and imaging technologies. His work bridges basic science and translational medicine, developing diagnostics, vaccines, and therapies for TB, Legionella, and ESCAPE pathogens.

Education:

• B.A. in Biology, Pitzer College (1986)
• M.S. in Microbiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine (1989)
• Ph.D. in Microbiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine (1992)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, Stanford University School of Medicine (1992-1995)

Research Interests: His lab investigates host-pathogen interactions in respiratory infections, leveraging genomic, proteomic, and imaging tools. Key areas include TB pathogenesis, antimicrobial development, and immune mechanisms. CAPRI advances optical imaging for pathogen detection and photodynamic therapies.

Awards:

• Excellence in Innovation Award (Texas A&M University System)
• Technology Innovation Award (Qatar Science and Technology Park)
• ASM Minority Mentorship Recognition

Advising & Labs: Current lab members include postdocs (Kent Koster, Aaron Benjamin) and graduate student Ammar Abdullah. Research spans drug delivery innovation, peptoid antimicrobials, and BCG's non-specific immune effects. Collaborations address TB diagnostics and SARS-CoV-2 cross-protection.

Labs/Teams: Leads CAPRI and the Cirillo Research Lab, integrating multidisciplinary approaches to combat airborne pathogens and drug-resistant infections.