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The Children’s Research Institute Lecture Series encourages interaction between researchers investigating childhood diseases, and stimulates new research through exposure to cutting-edge, ongoing work.

Timothy Thoner, PhD

“Developing a pipeline for the discovery of anti-enterovirus cross-reactive monoclonal antibodies”

April 9, 2024
12:00-1:00 pm
3116 Mary Ellen Jones Building and Zoom

Dr. Thoner is a Postdoctoral Research Associate working in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases under the supervision of Matthew Vogt, MD, PhD. He is a PhD scientist who studies viruses that primarily cause disease in pediatric populations. Prior to arriving at UNC, his work addressed fundamental questions underlying the ways in which viruses balance the need to replicate efficiently within hosts while maintaining a high degree of genetic diversity. In his current role, he has developed methods that facilitate high-throughput discovery of monoclonal antibodies specific to enteroviruses, which are common childhood viral infections and can cause a broad range of mild to severe disease in infants and young children. Understanding the mechanism of monoclonal antibody binding to these viruses will assist in future enterovirus vaccine design and may identify monoclonal antibodies that prove to be useful in preventing or treating enterovirus infection.

Please contact childrensresearch@med.unc.edu for Zoom details.

Anisha Gerber, MD & Maria Ansar, MD, PhD

“Environmental impacts on pediatric kidney health” & “Progress in Research: Transition from PhD to Residency”

May 14, 2024
12:00-1:00 pm
3116 Mary Ellen Jones Building and Zoom

Anisha is a third-year pediatric nephrology fellow at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research interests are epidemiology and management of pediatric chronic kidney disease in resource limited settings. Her work focuses on environmental impact on pediatric kidney health in agricultural communities.

Maria is a PGY-3 resident in the Pediatrics Program. She completed her undergraduate studies at University of Maryland. She received her MD-PhD from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at University of Texas Medical Branch. Her research is focused on cystic fibrosis, pulmonary inflammatory conditions, and immunomodulation. At UNC she is also involved in Social Determinants of Health Research in the resident clinic.

Please contact childrensresearch@med.unc.edu for Zoom details.

Past Lectures