Gerard A. Cangelosi, PhD
About
Working in both the public and private sectors, Dr. Cangelosi's research teams have generated 10 patents and over 90 publications in relevant areas, including tuberculosis and related diseases, COVID-19, oral microbiology, water-borne pathogens and health care-associated infections. These activities share strong emphases on translation and global health impact. In recent years, he has led or co-led infectious disease studies in the United States, Bangladesh, South Africa, Uganda and Kenya. Among the outputs are novel, non-invasive tuberculosis screening methods that are now in expanded clinical studies worldwide. In spring 2020, amidst the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, his team helped demonstrate similarly non-invasive methods for COVID-19 screening. These methods received accelerated FDA clearance and have become widely implemented in the US and throughout the world. Non-invasive screening for TB and COVID-19 could help to significantly reduce the global burdens of both diseases.
Dr. Cangelosi is also adjunct professor in the departments of Global Health and Epidemiology. He teaches environmental health courses on environmental change and infectious diseases.
Education
- PhD, University of California (Davis)
- BS, Michigan State University
Affiliations
Mentorship
Not accepting new students.
DEOHS Students Mentored
Tongue Swab User Acceptance for Tuberculosis Diagnosis: Characterizing the Facilitators and Barriers of Tongue Swab Use During the Era of COVID-19
Renee Codsi | MPH | 2021 | View
Tongue dorsum swab processing for the detection of tuberculosis with Cepheid Xpert® MTB/RIF Ultra
Grant Whitman | MPH | 2021 | View
Sample Adequacy Controls for Infectious Disease Diagnosis by Oral Swabbing
Meagan Deviaene | MS Thesis | 2017 | View
Oral Swab PCR as an Alternative to Sputum-based Methods for Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Rachel Wood | MS Thesis | 2014 | View
Molecular Viability Testing for Improved Diagnosis of Healthcare Associated Infections
Herakles Li | MPH | 2014 | View
Research
Interests: Reduced exposure to infectious diseases. Improved tuberculosis case finding and transmission control. Improved detection of pathogens in food and water. Improved understanding of infectious disease exposure and epidemiology.
Projects
• High-throughput screening for SARS-CoV-2. Using non-invasive sampling strategies that we initially developed for tuberculosis, we helped to demonstrate similarly non-invasive methods for COVID-19 screening. These methods received accelerated FDA clearance and have become widely implemented in the United States and throughout the world. Non-invasive screening for TB and COVID-19 could help to significantly reduce the global burdens of both diseases.
• Tuberculosis biomarkers and diagnosis. In collaboration with research and clinical partners in Washington, California, Kenya, and South Africa, we are working to identify biomarkers of active TB and to develop improved point-of-care tools for detecting TB biomarkers in patient samples.
• Molecular detection of pathogens in environmental and clinical samples. As a method for detecting microorganisms in samples, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is fast, sensitive, and specific. However, it is unable to distinguish viable pathogen cells from dead cells and free nucleic acid fragments. We have shown that PCR tests for ribosomal RNA precursors (pre-rRNA) can overcome this problem. In collaboration with a Seattle-based commercial licensee, AttoDx, Inc, we are developing pre-rRNA tests for pathogen detection in environmental as well as clinical samples.
• Understanding human exposure to tuberculosis and related diseases. Transmission and exposure are among the most poorly understood aspects of bacterial disease. Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a globally important microbial pathogen, and related environmental mycobacteria are useful models for understanding how infectious diseases emerge and spread. Molecular and epidemiological methods are being used to characterize the host, pathogen, and environmental factors involved in the acquisition of mycobacterial infections.
Publications
Selected publications
- Preferences of healthcare workers using tongue swabs for tuberculosis diagnosis during COVID-19
- Swabs Collected by Patients or Health Care Workers for SARS-CoV-2 Testing
- Association between Mycobacterium avium Complex Pulmonary Disease and Mycobacteria in Home Water and Soil: A Case-Control Study
- Microbiological diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in children by oral swab polymerase chain reaction.
- Noninvasive Detection of Tuberculosis by Oral Swab Analysis.
Engagement
Equity, diversity and inclusion
We prioritize research that addresses the most significant public health gaps and has the greatest likelihood of demonstrable impact. Our disease screening research is designed to help mitigate the impacts of environmental change, including climate change, and to address health disparities, environmental racism and the unique health needs of disaster victims (domestic and overseas), migrants and refugees. We also strive to empower our diverse research partners. Those who do not share my privileged life experience face research career challenges that go well beyond funding. Public health research has structures that constrict and constrain scientists from under-represented groups. The squeeze becomes tighter the higher one climbs. Scientific colonialism is a problem not only in global health research, but also in research conducted with domestic community groups. Therefore, we work to recognize and empower our community and global partners to the greatest extent possible.
Community and research partnerships
Public Health — Seattle & King County
UnitedHealth Group
South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative
Global Health Laboratories
University of Cape Town
Makerere University College of Health Sciences
FIND
PATH
University of California, San Francisco
Ospedale San Raffaele
Copan Italia University of KwaZulu Natal
Stellenbosch University