Sara Suliman

Sara Suliman is an Assistant Professor in Residence at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), affiliated with the UCSF Center for Tuberculosis Initiatives. Her research focuses on understanding host factors influencing tuberculosis (TB) progression, integrating systems biology approaches like genome-wide association studies and metabolomic profiling. She leads efforts to identify genetic and immunological biomarkers predicting TB risk and treatment outcomes.

Her work spans epidemiological studies in high-burden countries (e.g., Peru, Kenya) and translational research on immune profiling technologies. Key collaborations include the Global Forum on Tuberculosis Vaccines and the Coronavirus Standards Working Group. She has published extensively on TB pathogenesis, BCG vaccine mechanisms, and co-infections with SARS-CoV-2.

Research Highlights:

• Discovery of RISK6, a 6-gene transcriptomic signature predicting TB progression
• Identification of metabolic dysregulation as a TB susceptibility factor
• Development of age-specific host biosignatures for pediatric TB diagnosis
• Investigation of viral-TB co-infection dynamics

Her team employs cutting-edge single-cell profiling and CRISPR-Cas9 knockout models to dissect immune cell states associated with TB progression. She advocates for community-driven research prioritization and equitable global health solutions.