Jerry Simecka

Jerry Simecka is a Regents Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Associate Dean for Research at the UNT System College of Pharmacy. He holds a PhD in Microbiology from the University of Alabama and a BS in Biology from the University of California, Irvine. His research focuses on evaluating new therapies against infections using animal models, particularly involving Mycoplasma species and other respiratory pathogens. Key areas include immune response mechanisms, cytokine-driven pathogenesis, and translational pre-clinical drug testing.

Dr. Simecka has led 49 sponsored projects with collaborators like Janssen Pharmaceuticals and the Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center, focusing on fungal infections, bacterial respiratory diseases, and antimicrobial efficacy. His work bridges basic science and clinical applications, with over 87 peer-reviewed publications spanning Mycoplasma diagnostics, Clostridioides difficile virulence, and cytokine biology.

Research interests emphasize immunopathology (e.g., IL-17A roles in lung damage), bacterial pathogenesis (e.g., Mycoplasma pulmonis and Clostridioides difficile), and drug development for infectious diseases. His studies use murine models to assess therapy efficacy and disease mechanisms, contributing to clinical treatments for respiratory and gastrointestinal infections.

Notable collaborations include developing chronic lung infection models for S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, and investigating antifungal efficacy in disseminated fungal infections. His work highlights the interplay between host immunity and pathogen virulence, with implications for vaccine design and targeted therapeutics.