Vladimir F. Yamshchikov, Ph.D.

Senior Research Scientist
Southern Research Institute
2000 Ninth Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35205
Phone: 205-581-2866
E-mail: yamshchikov@southernresearch.org

Biography

Dr. Yamshchikov is an accomplished senior research investigator and academician with a unique combination of scientific, technical, and regulatory expertise. He received his Ph.D. in Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Biology from Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 1989. Prior to this, he completed studies in genetic and molecular characterization of tick-borne encephalitis virus at the Novosibirsk Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry. During his 20 years of experience performing molecular virology research in BSL-3 and ABSL-3 laboratories, Dr. Yamshchikov has developed extensive expertise in biothreat National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Category A-C pathogens, including: dengue; Rift Valley fever virus; Ebola virus; Western equine encephalitis; Japanese encephalitis; West Nile virus; yellow fever; and tick-borne encephalitis.

Since joining Southern Research in 2007, Dr. Yamshchikov has been extensively involved in NIAID research regarding in vitro testing and animal model development for emerging diseases and biodefense in addition to developing small and nonhuman primate models for select pathogens. In his former role as Director of the Infectious Disease Research Program at Southern Research, he managed research regarding small and nonhuman primate animal model development involving inhalation exposure of a biothreat agent. In his current role as a lead virologist and immunologist, Dr. Yamshchikov conducts research involving the development of influenza challenge models and serological assays to develop influenza vaccines. He is also working to develop a ferret model for the evaluation of vaccines and antivirals. Dr. Yamshchikov is also extensively involved in the development, optimization, and validation of virology and immunology Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and protocols, including virus quantification, virus neutralization, ELISA, FACS, Luminex, and ELISPOT.

Prior to joining Southern Research, Dr. Yamshchikov was an associate professor in the Department of Molecular Biosciences at the University of Kansas, where he was a Murphy Scholar. He has also served as an associate professor at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA, and as an assistant professor at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA. In addition, Dr. Yamshchikov was involved in vaccine development for Japanese encephalitis and West Nile virus at the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Review in Bethesda, MD. He spent a combined 10 years managing a CDC/USDA-certified BSL-3 and ABSL-3 facility at the University of Virginia (1997-2002) and the University of Kansas (2003-2007). The latter facility was approved by the USDA/CDC to handle select agents with laboratory personnel cleared by the FBI.

In addition, Dr. Yamshchikov has more than 10 years of experience working with the mouse model, which was routinely employed in his laboratories at the U.S. FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), the University of Virginia, and the University of Kansas for studies of flavivirus pathogenesis, vaccine development, and immunity to infectious pathogens in general. Studies of pathogenesis involved West Nile virus, Japanese encephalitis, dengue, Saint Louis encephalitis, Western equine encephalitis, Sindbis, and Rift Valley Fever viruses. Vaccine development and general immunology studies involved West Nile virus, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, Rift Valley fever, and Ebola viruses in addition to use of Shigella flexneri and Salmonella typhimurium as vaccine vectors. These studies were funded by several NIAID grants and spanned a period of seven years; study results have been reported in peer-reviewed journals and have earned Dr. Yamshchikov his current recognition in the field.

Dr. Yamshchikov has published more than 30 publications on various aspects of molecular biology, genetic engineering, virology, and vaccine development. In addition, he holds two patents in West Nile vaccine development. His additional research interests include: population genetics and functional genomics of susceptibility to tuberculosis; molecular genetics and evolution of influenza virus A in natural circulation loci; emergence of pandemic influenza strains; and molecular genetics of human evolution.

Research Focus: Monitoring and Prevention of Infectious Diseases

Dr. Yamshchikov's current research is focused on completing the development of a human attenuated West Nile virus vaccine, a four-year project funded by the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). He is also pursuing development of Luminex- and GeXP-based multiplexing assays that enable monitoring of host response to infection in the ferret influenza model.