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Focus on understanding disease mechanisms and mitigating ongoing pandemic risks our lab characterizes novel viruses to uncover how they cause disease in humans. While viral discovery has expanded known sequences many questions about viral biology require isolation and propagation in the lab. With human populations vulnerable to emerging pathogens we aim to advance knowledge that informs preparedness for future pandemics.

Research profile

The Jeffrey T. Fort Neuroscience Research Building is a 11-story, 609,000-square-foot facility dedicated entirely to neuroscience. It brings together more than 120 research teams in a collaborative environment for discovery and training.

Opened on January 18, 2024, the building was named in honor of a generous gift from longtime supporter Jeffrey T. Fort. It is one of the largest neuroscience facilities in the nation.

Designed to foster collaboration, the building features shared research spaces, equipment rooms, and offices with views of the Medical Campus and downtown St. Louis. Amenities include a Kaldi’s coffee shop, rooftop terrace, and an adjacent 1,846-space parking garage.

The project achieved LEED Gold certification and integrates diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout its design and construction.

Advancing understanding of vaccine effectiveness in diverse populations, the Kao Lab focuses on evaluating how vaccines perform in special groups to inform strategies that improve protection and public health outcomes. Led by Carol M. Kao, MD, MSCI, our team combines clinical insight with rigorous research to address critical questions in immunization and ensure equitable, evidence-based care.

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Exploring novel mechanisms of lung injury during mechanical ventilation and critical care, the Katira Lab is dedicated to developing personalized strategies for respiratory support and lung protection in critically ill patients. Leveraging expertise in large animal models and advanced cardio-respiratory tools such as electrical impedance tomography, we translate cutting-edge research into approaches that improve outcomes and redefine standards of care.

Research profile

Promoting health and reducing barriers, the Lactation Room Program provides secure, private spaces for students, faculty, staff, trainees and visitors who breastfeed. Established in 2014 by WashU Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital, the program raises awareness of breastfeeding’s importance while fostering a workplace culture that values new mothers and infant wellness.

Empowering faculty and staff to lead with confidence we provide structured programs that build essential skills for collaboration, decision-making and organizational growth. Our goal is to strengthen leadership capacity across the WashU Medicine community.

Investigating the molecular and metabolic mechanisms underlying pediatric liver disease, this laboratory focuses on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, ischemia-reperfusion injury and liver transplantation outcomes to advance therapies that improve liver health and recovery in children. Its research integrates translational and clinical approaches to better understand liver injury, inflammation, regeneration and long-term transplant outcomes.

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Focusing on pediatric gastrointestinal research, this lab investigates dietary fat digestion and the biological mechanisms underlying chronic pancreatitis, aiming to advance understanding of pancreatic disease and improve clinical outcomes for children through basic and translational research.

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Investigating the role of serpins in maintaining cellular balance and understanding rare genetic disorders, our lab explores how disruptions in protease-serpin interactions contribute to disease. By studying mechanisms of cell stress, protease activity and serpin blockade, we aim to uncover pathways that lead to tissue damage and dysfunction. Our work includes modeling variants of uncertain significance through the Undiagnosed Diseases Network to advance diagnosis and therapeutic strategies for conditions such as alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and other serpinopathies.

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Silverman research profile

Critical insights into causes of childhood leukemia and pioneering prevention strategies our lab investigates how leukemias arise from normal blood-forming stem cells, how malignant cells hijack developmental programs and why childhood and adult leukemias differ genetically. Using innovative mouse models we study leukemia evolution during early life and assess how stressors such as chemotherapy contribute to disease. Our goal is to develop new approaches to treat and ultimately prevent childhood leukemia.

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