Peter Hotez
Encyclopedia
Dr. Peter J. Hotez is a scientist, pediatrician, and leading advocate and expert in the fields of global health, vaccinology, and neglected tropical disease control. He is President of the Sabin Vaccine Institute
, headquartered in Washington, DC; and will lead the Sabin vaccine development program at Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) beginning in August 2011. He also will serve as founding dean of a new School of Tropical Medicine
at BCM, chief of a new Section of Tropical Diseases
in the BCM Department of Pediatrics
and hold the Texas Children’s Hospital Endowed Chair in Tropical Pediatrics.
Hotez leads an international team of scientists working to develop vaccines to combat hookworm infection
, schistosomiasis
, and other infectious and neglected diseases, including malaria
. These diseases are the most common infections of the world’s poorest people.
Together with Philip K. Russell, Hotez founded the Human Hookworm Vaccine Initiative (HHVI) in 1999, a non-profit product development partnership of Sabin’s vaccine development program. Innovations developed by Sabin Vaccine Development--funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and others--are sometimes referred to as “antipoverty vaccines” because of their impact on both global health and economic development. Today, antipoverty vaccines against hookworm and schistosomiasis will soon undergo clinical testing in Brazil. Hotez writes extensively about the opportunity of using vaccines as instruments of foreign policy and to promote global peace, especially among poor countries seeking nuclear weapons technology.
Hotez has also highlighted the importance of related neglected infections among people living in areas of poverty in the United States, including post-Katrina Louisiana and elsewhere on the Gulf Coast, the border with Mexico, and in U.S. inner cities.
In order to maximize access to existing medicines for neglected tropical diseases, in 2006 Hotez co-founded the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (“Global Network”)
with leading experts in the field. The Global Network, launched at the Clinton Global Initiative and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
, highlights the horrific health and educational effects of neglected tropical diseases and advocates for their control and elimination. As a result of these activities, and the effort of public-private partnerships and NGOs, today more than 100 million people are receiving essential medicines for neglected tropical diseases.
Hotez is also the founding Editor-In-Chief of the Public Library of Science (PLoS) Neglected Tropical Diseases
, the first online open access medical journal focused exclusively on neglected tropical diseases.
. He received a BA in Molecular Biophysics
and Biochemistry
magna cum laude (phi beta kappa) from Yale University
in 1980, a PhD from Rockefeller University
in 1986, and a Doctorate in Medicine from Weill Cornell Medical College in 1987. His doctoral dissertation and postdoctoral training were in the area of hookworm molecular pathogenesis and vaccine development.
He obtained pediatric residency training at the Massachusetts General Hospital
, and postdoctoral training in clinical pediatric infectious diseases and molecular parasitology at Yale University School of Medicine. Hotez holds a license to practice medicine in the District of Columbia, was board certified in pediatrics
in 1998, and re-certified in 2005.
In 2008, he was elected to membership in the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. He is an ambassador of the Paul G. Rogers Society for Global Health Research, a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP)
, a member of the World Health Organization Scientific and Technical Advisory Group for Neglected Tropical Diseases, and in 2011, Hotez was appointed as a member of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Council of Councils. He is also currently President of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
.
Selected works:
Sabin Vaccine Institute
The Sabin Vaccine Institute is a non-profit, 501 organization dedicated to reducing needless humansuffering from vaccine preventable and neglected tropical diseases through prevention and treatment...
, headquartered in Washington, DC; and will lead the Sabin vaccine development program at Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) beginning in August 2011. He also will serve as founding dean of a new School of Tropical Medicine
Tropical medicine
Tropical medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with health problems that occur uniquely, are more widespread, or prove more difficult to control in tropical and subtropical regions....
at BCM, chief of a new Section of Tropical Diseases
Tropical disease
Tropical diseases are diseases that are prevalent in or unique to tropical and subtropical regions. The diseases are less prevalent in temperate climates, due in part to the occurrence of a cold season, which controls the insect population by forcing hibernation. Insects such as mosquitoes and...
in the BCM Department of Pediatrics
Pediatrics
Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
and hold the Texas Children’s Hospital Endowed Chair in Tropical Pediatrics.
Hotez leads an international team of scientists working to develop vaccines to combat hookworm infection
Hookworm
The hookworm is a parasitic nematode that lives in the small intestine of its host, which may be a mammal such as a dog, cat, or human. Two species of hookworms commonly infect humans, Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus. A. duodenale predominates in the Middle East, North Africa, India...
, schistosomiasis
Schistosomiasis
Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by several species of trematodes , a parasitic worm of the genus Schistosoma. Snails often act as an intermediary agent for the infectious diseases until a new human host is found...
, and other infectious and neglected diseases, including malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
. These diseases are the most common infections of the world’s poorest people.
Together with Philip K. Russell, Hotez founded the Human Hookworm Vaccine Initiative (HHVI) in 1999, a non-profit product development partnership of Sabin’s vaccine development program. Innovations developed by Sabin Vaccine Development--funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and others--are sometimes referred to as “antipoverty vaccines” because of their impact on both global health and economic development. Today, antipoverty vaccines against hookworm and schistosomiasis will soon undergo clinical testing in Brazil. Hotez writes extensively about the opportunity of using vaccines as instruments of foreign policy and to promote global peace, especially among poor countries seeking nuclear weapons technology.
Hotez has also highlighted the importance of related neglected infections among people living in areas of poverty in the United States, including post-Katrina Louisiana and elsewhere on the Gulf Coast, the border with Mexico, and in U.S. inner cities.
In order to maximize access to existing medicines for neglected tropical diseases, in 2006 Hotez co-founded the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (“Global Network”)
Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases
The Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases is an advocacy initiative of the Sabin Vaccine Institute dedicated to raising the awareness, political will, and funding necessary to control and eliminate the most common Neglected Tropical Diseases --a group of disabling, disfiguring, and deadly...
with leading experts in the field. The Global Network, launched at the Clinton Global Initiative and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest transparently operated private foundation in the world, founded by Bill and Melinda Gates. It is "driven by the interests and passions of the Gates family"...
, highlights the horrific health and educational effects of neglected tropical diseases and advocates for their control and elimination. As a result of these activities, and the effort of public-private partnerships and NGOs, today more than 100 million people are receiving essential medicines for neglected tropical diseases.
Hotez is also the founding Editor-In-Chief of the Public Library of Science (PLoS) Neglected Tropical Diseases
Public Library of Science
The Public Library of Science is a nonprofit open-access scientific publishing project aimed at creating a library of open access journals and other scientific literature under an open content license...
, the first online open access medical journal focused exclusively on neglected tropical diseases.
Biography and Education
Hotez was born in Hartford, ConnecticutConnecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. He received a BA in Molecular Biophysics
Molecular biophysics
Molecular biophysics is a rapidly evolving interdisciplinary area of research that combines concepts in physics, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and biology...
and Biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
magna cum laude (phi beta kappa) from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1980, a PhD from Rockefeller University
Rockefeller University
The Rockefeller University is a private university offering postgraduate and postdoctoral education. It has a strong concentration in the biological sciences. It is also known for producing numerous Nobel laureates...
in 1986, and a Doctorate in Medicine from Weill Cornell Medical College in 1987. His doctoral dissertation and postdoctoral training were in the area of hookworm molecular pathogenesis and vaccine development.
He obtained pediatric residency training at the Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital is a teaching hospital and biomedical research facility in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts...
, and postdoctoral training in clinical pediatric infectious diseases and molecular parasitology at Yale University School of Medicine. Hotez holds a license to practice medicine in the District of Columbia, was board certified in pediatrics
Pediatrics
Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
in 1998, and re-certified in 2005.
Awards and Memberships
Hotez has received several awards throughout his career, including:- 2006 - The Leverhulme Medal from the Liverpool School of Tropical MedicineLiverpool School of Tropical MedicineThe Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine is a research and teaching institution focused on neglected tropical diseases and the control of diseases caused by poverty. It is a registered charity affiliated to the University of Liverpool...
. - 2003 - The Bailey K. Ashford Medal from the American Society of Tropical Medicine and HygieneAmerican Society of Tropical Medicine and HygieneThe American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene is a non-profit organization of scientists, clinicians, students and program professionals whose longstanding mission is to promote global health through the prevention and control of infectious and other diseases that disproportionately...
for distinguished work in tropical medicine. - 1999 - The Ward Medal from the American Society of Parasitology for outstanding contributions to the field of parasitology.
In 2008, he was elected to membership in the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. He is an ambassador of the Paul G. Rogers Society for Global Health Research, a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP)
American Academy of Pediatrics
The American Academy of Pediatrics is the major professional association of pediatricians in the United States. The AAP was founded in 1930 by 35 pediatricians to address pediatric healthcare standards. It currently has 60,000 members in primary care and sub-specialist areas...
, a member of the World Health Organization Scientific and Technical Advisory Group for Neglected Tropical Diseases, and in 2011, Hotez was appointed as a member of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
Council of Councils. He is also currently President of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene is a non-profit organization of scientists, clinicians, students and program professionals whose longstanding mission is to promote global health through the prevention and control of infectious and other diseases that disproportionately...
.
Publications
Hotez is author of “Forgotten People, Forgotten Diseases: The Neglected Tropical Diseases and Their Impact on Global Health and Development,” co-author of “Parasitic Diseases, 5th Edition,” a co-editor of Krugman's Infectious Diseases of Children, 11th Edition, and the author of over 200 scientific papers.Selected works:
- Hotez PJ. Neglected infections of poverty in the United States of America. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2008; 2: e256.
- Hotez PJ, Fenwick A, Savioli L, Molyneux DH. Rescuing the “bottom billion” through neglected tropical disease control. The LancetThe LancetThe Lancet is a weekly peer-reviewed general medical journal. It is one of the world's best known, oldest, and most respected general medical journals...
2009; 373: 1570-4. - Hotez PJ. The Neglected Tropical Diseases and their Devastating Health and Economic Impact on the Member Nations of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2009; 3: e539.
- Hotez PJ. Nuclear Weapons and Neglected Diseases: The “Ten Thousand to One Gap.” PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2010; 4: e680.
- Hotez PJ. A plan to defeat neglected tropical diseases. Scientific AmericanScientific AmericanScientific American is a popular science magazine. It is notable for its long history of presenting science monthly to an educated but not necessarily scientific public, through its careful attention to the clarity of its text as well as the quality of its specially commissioned color graphics...
2010; 302: 90-6.