Joanne MorrisonAbout Kirsten E. Lyke, MD
Kirsten Lyke, professor, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), has built an impactful career advancing the leading edge of translational research in infectious diseases immunology and vaccinology. Since joining the UMSOM faculty in 2002, Lyke’s work has informed global vaccine and public health policy, particularly through her pioneering research in emerging infections and human challenge models. She currently serves as director of the Vector-borne Diseases and Challenge Unit at the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD) and interim co-director of CVD’s Malaria Research Program. Her expertise focuses on infectious diseases, in particular malaria and dengue vaccine and immunology. Her research program in emerging infectious diseases is robust and well-funded through federal, foundation, and industry support.
Impact
At CVD,Lyke has rebuilt the University’s human malaria challenge models — specialized clinical studies in which healthy volunteers are safely exposed to pathogens in tightly controlled environments. These models, once thought to be too difficult to implement, became a critical tool under her leadership. Her team conducted groundbreaking malaria vaccine trials — the first of their kind in humans — and setstandards for what vaccine science could achieve. Lyke helped design and implement Phase I trials for Ebola vaccines, offering critical insights during a time when the world urgently sought protection against the devastating outbreaks in West Africa. She also contributed to the development of early dengue and Zika vaccines, tackling two of the fastest-spreading mosquito-borne threats in the Americas and beyond. But perhaps her most visible impact came during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Lyke was the principal investigator for pivotal early studies on the Pfizer BioNTech mRNA vaccine and in studies evaluating COVID-19 booster shots, producing data that directly informed U.S. national vaccination policy. Her work ensured that science moved at the speed of crisis, balancing urgency with rigorous evidence.
Quotes
“You need a purpose to get up every day. I’ve been fortunate to have been mentored by giants in the field. My colleagues are brilliant and dedicated, and it is humbling to work with people who are trying to make a difference in the world. Being part of the CVD team is rewarding in that we are all part of something bigger than ourselves, advancing science in ways that make a real difference in people’s lives.” — Lyke
“Dr. Lyke’s extraordinary contributions to the field of infectious diseases have improved our ability to develop effective vaccines and saved lives throughout the world. I cannot think of another investigator on our campus who has contributed clinically relevant evidence to support such a wide range of infectious disease control efforts in the U.S. and throughout the world.” — James D. Campbell, MD, MS, interim director of UMSOM’s Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health
