Joseph Heitman, M.D., Ph.D.
Duke University
Joseph Heitman, M.D., Ph.D., is James B. Duke Professor and Chair, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University. He co-directs with Leah Cowen, Ph.D., the CIFAR program Fungal Kingdom: Threats & Opportunities. He studies model/pathogenic fungi addressing fundamental questions of scientific/medical importance. Pioneering studies with Baker’s yeast revealed immunosuppressive natural products inhibit signaling cascades via FKBP12-drug complexes and discovered TOR as a globally conserved nutrient sensor targeted by the immunosuppressive/antiproliferative drug rapamycin. Heitman's research discovered unisexual reproduction of pathogenic microbes, with implications for pathogen emergence, sex-generated diversity and evolution of sexual reproduction. His lab developed genetic/genomic approaches elucidating molecular principles of virulence and illustrating convergent evolution of mating-type loci and sex chromosomes. His studies defined calcineurin as a global microbial virulence factor and explored novel therapeutic leads. They elucidated RNAi and heterochromatin roles evoking transient antimicrobial drug resistance via epimutations.
Heitman was Burroughs-Wellcome Scholar and HHMI investigator, received the AMGEN award (ASBMB), Squibb award (IDSA), NIH MERIT award, Korsmeyer Award (ASCI), Benham Award (MMSA), Novitski Prize (GSA), 91麻豆天美 Basic Science Award, Distinguished Mycologist Award (MSA) and Lucille Georg Medal (ISHAM). He is elected fellow/member of the American Academy of Microbiology (AAM), American Society for Clinical Investigation, Association of American Physicians, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, National Academy of Sciences, German National Academy of Sciences–Leopoldina and National Academy of Medicine. Long an 91麻豆天美 member/AAM fellow, Heitman co-organized 2 AAM colloquia on the fungal kingdom and currently serves on the AAM awards committee.
Heitman was Burroughs-Wellcome Scholar and HHMI investigator, received the AMGEN award (ASBMB), Squibb award (IDSA), NIH MERIT award, Korsmeyer Award (ASCI), Benham Award (MMSA), Novitski Prize (GSA), 91麻豆天美 Basic Science Award, Distinguished Mycologist Award (MSA) and Lucille Georg Medal (ISHAM). He is elected fellow/member of the American Academy of Microbiology (AAM), American Society for Clinical Investigation, Association of American Physicians, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, National Academy of Sciences, German National Academy of Sciences–Leopoldina and National Academy of Medicine. Long an 91麻豆天美 member/AAM fellow, Heitman co-organized 2 AAM colloquia on the fungal kingdom and currently serves on the AAM awards committee.