Graviss Laboratory
Tuberculosis is the most prevalent infectious disease in the world today. The complexity of the disease is manifested through a triad of interactions, including: human susceptibility, mycobacterial genetic adaptations and environmental factors. One focus of our group has been studies of polymorphisms in select human genes and their contribution to TB susceptibility. The main stay of my lab has been the molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis in Houston . We are exploring the contribution of genotypically-defined Mycobacterium tuberculosis clusters to the population-based dynamics of tuberculosis dissemination. We also have a keen interest in epidemiologic and diagnostic issues related to tuberculosis and other infectious disease agents.
Recently we have become more intimately involved in the public health aspects of tuberculosis, locally, nationally and internationally. I am currently the PI for Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) site of the Tuberculosis Epidemiologic Studies Consortium (TBESC). This consortium consists of 15 sites throughout the US and conducts most of the epidemiologic research for the CDC's Tuberculosis Elimination Division. I am also a member of the TBESC Research Committee. With my group's association with DSHS, I have also become more involved as a consultant to the TB programs for the Houston area. Approximately, one-third of the reported cases in Texas occur in Harris County and my laboratory facilitates the acquisition of M. tuberculosis isolates in the Houston area and sends the isolates to Austin as part of the CDC's National Genotyping project.
One of my goals at Baylor is to create a core epidemiologic unit which can integrate the public health aspects of BCM along with its translational focus over the next decade(s). Our group also continues to provide statistical consultation for several collaborating groups within Baylor including Surgery and Infectious Diseases.