A newly developed, comprehensive Transplant and Oncology Infectious Diseases program has been launched in 2008. The mission of the comprehensive Transplant and Oncology ID (TOID) Program, directed by Dr. Kieren Marr, is to expand institutional expertise in clinical and academic activities focused on infectious complications in transplant (solid organ and stem cell) and oncology patients at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. In addition to clinical expertise (see below), key efforts are currently directed to developing standardized algorithms for prevention and treatment of infections in these patient populations and to establish an expanded infrastructure to facilitate clinical and translational studies in TOID.
The clinical transplant and oncology service, named the Tucker Service, is dedicated to the scholarship and spirit of Dr. Pamela C. Tucker, who served as teacher and mentor, and advocate and healer to patients with infectious diseases, particularly in the fields of transplant and oncology, before her untimely death in November, 2000. The goal of this service is to provide comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care for medically immunocompromised patients at Johns Hopkins. The Pamela Cresson Tucker Scholarship Award was established to honor Dr. Tucker's memory by her friends and family. Additional information on the life and career of Dr. Tucker as well as how to apply for a scholarship award or to donate are available at The Pamela Tucker Foundation.
The TOID program currently includes three full-time attending physicians specializing in infectious disease care of medically immunocompromised patients. Dr. Kieren Marr, Professor of Medicine and TOID Program Director, trained at Hahnemann University, Duke University and the University of Washington / Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, where she was on faculty for several years before relocation. Dr. Marr is a member of several national and international professional organizations, several national scientific steering committees, and has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and textbook chapters, and edited two books in the area of infectious diseases involving immunosuppressed hosts. Dr. Aruna Subramanian, Assistant Professor of Medicine, trained at the University of Michigan and Johns Hopkins, where she has been on faculty for several years. Dr. Subramanian has multiple years experience in conducting research studies as both principle investigator and co-investigator. She has published and lectured on infections in solid organ transplant recipients and has been an active member in the American Society of Transplantation. Dr. Dionissios Neofytos, Assistant Professor of Medicine, received his training at the University of Athens Medical School, and Thomas Jefferson University before relocating to JHU. Dr. Neofytos also has multiple years experience conducting research studies, most recently focusing on epidemiology and outcomes of fungal infections.
The clinical research infrastructure of the TOID program is managed by Darin Ostrander, PhD. Dr. Ostrander has more than twenty years experience in antimicrobial pharmaceutical research and development. Dr. Ostrander is an experienced research protocol analyst who regularly assists young faculty and fellows in the planning, submission, and execution of clinical and translational studies. The clinical research group employs two full-time clinical research coordinators, a database specialist, and an administrative coordinator. The clinical research efforts include a) the design, implementation, and execution of investigator-initiated and sponsored clinical trials; b) development and management of a prospective cohort study of transplant recipients to facilitate analysis of risk factors and outcomes of infectious complications; and c) the creation of the administrative infrastructure used by ID and ID-associated investigators and fellows for the funding, approval, implementation, and reporting of clinical and translational studies.
