Kelly J. Henrickson

Dr. Kelly J. Henrickson is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology and Pediatrics (Infectious Diseases) at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), and Director of the Midwest Respiratory Virus Program (MRVP). He holds an MD from the University of Washington (1984). His research focuses on molecular epidemiology and natural history of negative-strand respiratory viruses, antigenic variation of viral glycoproteins, and development of rapid molecular diagnostics for pathogens like influenza and parainfluenza viruses. He has led NIH-funded projects on pandemic influenza, bioterrorism agents, and multiplex diagnostic assays. His work includes collaborations with the NIH to study the 2009 H1N1 pandemic and paramyxovirus genomics.

Key research areas include respiratory virus molecular evolution, diagnostic assay innovation, and clinical epidemiology. His grants include NIAID support for influenza subtyping (2006–2011), bioterrorism agent diagnostics (2003–2012), and BARDA contracts for influenza diagnostics (2010–2015). He has developed over a dozen molecular diagnostic assays targeting respiratory pathogens and bioterrorism agents.

• Education: MD, University of Washington, Seattle (1984)
• Labs/Teams: Director of the Midwest Respiratory Virus Program
• Grants: NIAID, BARDA, NIH

Publications span SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology, Blastomycosis in pediatric populations, and antiviral drug development. His work emphasizes translational research bridging molecular diagnostics and clinical applications.