Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Infectious Diseases-Viral Diseases Branch
The Integrated Pathogen Therapeutics Department (IPT) at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research supports the discovery and development of novel therapeutics targeting high-priority infectious diseases that pose a threat to global health and military readiness. IPT conducts integrated drug discovery efforts spanning early target identification, compound screening, and preclinical evaluation, with a focus on antiviral and antiparasitic pathogens of military relevance. Our team maintains robust platforms for high-throughput screening, phenotypic and functional in vitro assays, and advanced imaging to accelerate therapeutic development.
Current research includes several funded projects which aims to optimize novel compounds for efficacy against both blood- and liver-stage Plasmodium species. This program focuses on identifying lead candidates with the potential to achieve radical cure, particularly targeting the hypnozoite forms of relapsing malaria. The IPT Department is seeking applicants with expertise in in vitro assay development and phenotypic drug screening to support this and other therapeutic development efforts. Ideal candidates will have experience with malaria culture systems, cellular viability assays, and high-content imaging. Familiarity with liver-stage malaria models, drug combination testing, and natural product pharmacology is strongly preferred. This opportunity will provide access to state-of-the-art facilities and the chance to work within a dynamic, multidisciplinary environment supporting mission-critical research for the U.S. military.
References:
1. Dodean RA, Li Y, Zhang X, Caridha D, Madejczyk MS, Jin X, Dennis WE, Chetree R, Kudyba K, McEnearney S, Lee PJ, Blount C, DeLuca J, Vuong C, Pannone K, Dinh HT, Mdaki K, Leed S, Martin ML, Pybus BS, Pou S, Winter RW, Liebman KM, Williams R, Kumar A, Chim-Ong A, Cui L, Orena S, Assimwe J, Tibagambirwa I, Byaruhanga O, Angutoko P, Legac J, Kreutzfeld O, Rosenthal PJ, Cooper RA, Nilsen A, Riscoe MK, Roth A, Kancharla P, Kelly JX. Development of Next-Generation Antimalarial Acridones with Radical Cure Potential. J Med Chem. 2025 Apr 3. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5c00419. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40179277.
2. Kumar A, Li Y, Dodean RA, Roth A, Caridha D, Madejczyk MS, Jin X, Dennis WE, Lee PJ, Pybus BS, Martin M, Pannone K, Dinh HT, Blount C, Chetree R, DeLuca J, Evans M, Nadeau R, Vuong C, Leed S, Black C, Sousa J, Nolan C, Ceja FG, Rasmussen SA, Tumwebaze PK, Rosenthal PJ, Cooper RA, Rottmann M, Orjuela-Sanchez P, Meister S, Winzeler EA, Delves MJ, Matthews H, Baum J, Kirby RW, Burrows JN, Duffy J, Peyton DH, Reynolds KA, Kelly JX, Kancharla P. Tambjamines as Fast-Acting Multistage Antimalarials. ACS Infect Dis. 2024 Nov 11. doi: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.4c00659. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39526703.
3. Kumar A, Chithanna S, Li Y, Zhang X, Dodean RA, Caridha D, Madejczyk MS, Lee PJ, Jin X, Chetree R, Blount C, Dennis WE, DeLuca J, Vuong C, Pannone K, Dinh HT, Leed S, Roth A, Reynolds KA, Kelly JX, Kancharla P. Optimization of B-Ring-Functionalized Antimalarial Tambjamines and Prodiginines. J Med Chem. 2024 Nov 14;67(21):19755-19776. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c02093. Epub 2024 Oct 19. PMID: 39425665; PMCID: PMC11563898.
Plasmodium, drug discovery, high-throughput screening, liver-stage malaria, radical cure, in vitro assays, antiviral, dengue
Additional Benefits
Relocation
Awardees who reside more than 50 miles from their host laboratory and remain on tenure for at least six months are eligible for paid relocation to within the vicinity of their host laboratory.
Health insurance
A group health insurance program is available to awardees and their qualifying dependents in the United States.