Vishwanath Venketaraman

Vishwanath Venketaraman, PhD, is a Professor of Microbiology/Immunology at the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University of Health Sciences. He joined the institution in January 2008 and has held academic roles since 2003, including Adjunct Professorships at Touro College and Ramapo College. His research focuses on tuberculosis pathophysiology, particularly in HIV and type II diabetes comorbidities, with groundbreaking work on glutathione’s role in immune modulation and antimycobacterial activity.

Education: Ph.D. in Immunology from the National Institute for Research on Tuberculosis; M.S. and B.S. in Biology from the University of Madras.

Research Interests: Venketaraman’s lab investigates how glutathione (GSH) depletion in HIV-positive individuals impairs immune control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), leading to increased susceptibility to active TB. His clinical trials with liposomal glutathione (L-GSH) demonstrate its potential to restore immune function, enhance TH1 cytokine production, and reduce immunosuppressive cytokines. Current projects include developing host-directed therapies for TB in immunocompromised populations.

Awards: Multiple accolades include the 2019 Provost’s Distinguished Scholar Award, 2017 Distinguished Teacher Award, and NIH Reviewer roles (2013–2019). He also received the Marquis Who’s Who-Lifetime Achievement Award (2017).

Grants & Funding: Over $5 million in grants, including NIH funding for studies on glutathione’s role in lung parenchyma and its effects on Mtb infection. Collaborations with companies like Your Energy Systems and Auro Pharmaceuticals focus on liposomal glutathione formulations for TB, HIV, and diabetes.

Teaching: Teaches infectious diseases, microbiology, and immunology to DO, DPM, MSBS, and MSMS students.

Labs/Teams: Leads a research group studying host-pathogen interactions, with emphasis on translational studies linking preclinical and clinical trials.