Melinda Tanabe

Dr. Melinda Tanabe is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, specializing in Infectious Diseases at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). Her research focuses on Travel Medicine, Global Health, and Neglected Infectious Parasites, particularly in tropical regions like Peru. She completed her MD at Universidad Favaloro in Argentina, followed by residency at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, and an Infectious Diseases fellowship at UTMB. Dr. Tanabe is also pursuing a master's in clinical sciences at UTMB. Her work emphasizes geospatial analysis of parasitic infections, diagnostic method development, and public health interventions in underserved communities.

Education:

• MD: Universidad Favaloro, Buenos Aires, Argentina (2012)
• Internal Medicine Residency: John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago (2017)
• Infectious Diseases Fellowship: UTMB, Galveston (2020)
• Master's in Clinical Sciences (current): UTMB

Research Interests: Dr. Tanabe's research spans tropical medicine, with a focus on Fascioliasis and other neglected parasitic infections. She employs geospatial tools to study disease transmission dynamics and evaluates diagnostic techniques like PCR and recombinase polymerase amplification. Her work addresses challenges in pediatric populations and high-risk communities in Peru, aiming to improve treatment efficacy and public health strategies.

Key Contributions:

• Lead author on studies analyzing Fasciola hepatica prevalence and treatment failures in children
• Developed novel diagnostic protocols for Fascioliasis and Strongyloidiasis
• Investigated travel-related infectious diseases and mortality patterns in South America

Grants & Awards: Multiple academic scholarships during residency and fellowship training. Active in collaborative research networks focused on tropical diseases in Peru.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with the UTMB Infectious Diseases Division and international teams in Peru, including researchers like Dr. Cabada MM and Dr. White AC Jr.