Researcher | Research Overview
Dr. Moffitt’s research focuses on bacterial pathogenesis and host interactions with common human pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus. Her work has identified several novel pneumococcal proteins that confer protection against colonization of the nasopharynx and may be candidate components of a pneumococcal protein subunit vaccine. To study these proteins, she is investigating their interaction with the host immune system, specifically the role of activation of the innate immune system in acquisition of protective adaptive immune responses. Dr. Moffitt’s work also investigates bacterial RNA expression profiles in human infection. The overall goal of her research is to identify factors employed by bacteria to facilitate disease and to understand the mechanisms of immunity to infection. The long-term goal of her work is to use these findings to guide the development of preventive and treatment strategies for common bacterial infections.
Researcher | Research Background
Dr. Moffitt received her undergraduate degree at Wellesley College and her medical degree from University of Vermont College of Medicine. She completed her internship and residency training in pediatrics at Hasbro Children’s Hospital of Brown Medical School followed by fellowship in pediatric infectious diseases at Boston Children’s Hospital. She joined the faculty of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Boston Children’s Hospital in 2010.