Kathleen F Walsh   Assistant Professor of Medicine

Phone
  • +1 212 746 2917

My research focuses on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis in resource-limited settings. Tuberculosis is a major cause of mortality and morbidity globally yet little progress has been made in its management. I conducted the first phase II early bactericidal activity trial in Haiti examining the efficacy of nitazoxanide against M. tuberculosis. This led to further translational studies examining the persistence of M. tuberculosis in humans as well as improved methods of measuring mycobacterial load in patients on treatment.

I have demonstrated high prevalence of first-line drug resistance in Haiti, preventing the adoption of the World Health Organization's shorter course regimen for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and prompting investigation into alternative short course regimens in Haiti. I have also shown that regimens including high dose isoniazid are associated with successful treatment outcomes prompting further research into the efficacy of this drug against multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

Currently my research is focused on understanding the epidemiology of isoniazid-resistant tuberculosis. Isoniazid-resistant tuberculosis is the most common form of drug-resistant tuberculosis yet due to lack of systematic testing, it is poorly understood. Future studies will examine prevention of this form of drug-resistant tuberculosis in high risk groups. 

Publications

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Funding awarded

  • Sentinel populations and transmission hotspots of isoniazid-resistant tuberculosis  awarded by National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases Principal Investigator 2023 - 2028
  • GHESKIO HIV Clinical Trial Unit (CTU)  awarded by Fogarty International Center Co-Investigator 2020 - 2027
  • Determinants of TB control, relapse and reinfection  awarded by National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases Co-Investigator 2021 - 2026
  • Tuberculosis Trials Consortium (TBTC) Clinical Research Services  awarded by Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Key Personnel 2021 - 2030
  • Tri-Institutional Tuberculosis Research Advancement Center  awarded by National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases Key Personnel 2022 - 2027

Background

Contact

full name

  • Kathleen F Walsh

primary email

  • kfw2001@med.cornell.edu