Dr. Victor Nizet, M.D.

Distinguished Professor
Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Professor, Division Chief and Vice Chair
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine

Victor Nizet Photo
Victor Nizet, M.D.
Email
vnizet@ucsd.edu
Phone
(858) 534-7408
Support

Human Resources

Lydia Heidt (formerly Napa)
lnapa@health.ucsd.edu
858-822-7861

Research Summary

Dr. Nizet’s laboratory interests lie in understanding the fundamental mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis and the innate immune system, with a special focus on invasive and antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Using a variety of molecular genetic approaches, the laboratory discovers and characterizes bacterial virulence factors involved in cytotoxicity, adherence, invasion, inflammation, molecular mimicry and resistance to immunologic clearance. In companion studies, we investigate the contribution of host factors such as antimicrobial peptides, leukocyte surface receptors, signal transduction pathways, and transcription factors in defense against invasive bacterial infection.

We have shown that the basic information gained through this platform can lead to novel treatment strategies for infectious diseases, involving targeted neutralization of bacterial virulence phenotypes and pharmacologic boosting of host innate immune cell function and drug repurposing. Additional studies examine innovative nano therapeutic and vaccine approaches to prevent infection by leading pathogens.

Academic Achievements

Education: B.A. in Biology (1984) Reed College; M.D. (1989) Stanford University, Pediatric Residency & Chief Residency (1993) Harvard University, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship (1997) University of Washington.

Awards and Honors: American Lung Associate Career Investigator Award (2004); American Heart Association Established Investigator Award (2004); American Society for Clinical Investigation (2006); E. Mead Johnson Award for Research in Pediatrics (2008); American Asthma Foundation Senior Investigator Award (2008); Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology (2012). UCSD Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Postdoctoral Fellow Mentoring (2013), UCSD Chancellor's Associates Award for Excellence in Research in Science and Engineering (2017).  UCSD Health Sciences Award for Excellence in Faculty Mentoring (2018), NIH Merit Award (2019), American Society of Microbiology DC White Award for Interdisciplinary Research and Mentoring (2022), Elected Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science (2022), Elected Fellow of the National Academy of Medicine (2022).

Leadership Experience: Track Leader, Microbiology & Immunology, UCSD Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program (2005); Chief, Division of Host-Microbe Systems & Therapeutics UCSD (2007-). Vice Chair for Basic Research, Department of Pediatrics (2015-); Director, UCSD Collaborative to Halt Antibiotic-Resistant Microbes (CHARM, 2019 -).

Teaching
  • Pathogens and Host Defense (BIOM 253)
  • From the Molecule to the Organism (BIOM 200)
Key Contributions
  • Discovered the genetic basis and mechanism of action of numerous virulence factors produced by the leading human bacterial pathogens, identifying new targets for therapy.
  • Elucidated many key functions of the mammalian innate immune system, highlighting strategies for boosting phagocytic cell defenses against drug-resistant pathogens.
  • Studied how existing pharmaceutical agents, including both antibiotics and other drug classes, can synergize with the innate immune system and thus may be repurposed to aid in infectious disease therapy.
Potential Collaborative Programs
  • 24 years’ experience in clinical infectious diseases and fundamental microbiology, immunology and anti-infective pharmacology research.
  • Broad array laboratory approaches to understanding host-pathogen interactions and develop innovative and therapeutic approaches against antibiotic-resistant pathogens
  • Numerous active laboratory collaborations with biotechnology and pharmaceutical company partners advancing therapeutic concepts.