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Matthew B. Laurens, MD, MPH

Academic Title:

Professor

Primary Appointment:

Pediatrics

Secondary Appointment(s):

Pathology, Medicine

Additional Title:

FAAP; FPIDS; FIDSA; Director, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship; Director, Typhoid Vaccine Acceleration Consortium (TyVAC); Director, International Clinical Trials Unit, Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD)

Location:

HSF-I, 480

Phone (Primary):

410-706-5328

Phone (Secondary):

410-706-8695

Fax:

410-706-1204

Education and Training

Oglethorpe University, B.S., Biology, 1992

The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, M.P.H., 1996

Mercer University School of Medicine, M.D., 2001

Internship and Residency, Tulane University School of Medicine, Pediatrics, 2001-2004

Chief Residency, Tulane University School of Medicine, Pediatrics, 2004-2005

Fellowship, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Tropical Pediatrics, 2005-2008

Vaccinology Fellow, NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award for T32 Program in Vaccinology, 2006-2008

Biosketch

Dr. Laurens is a pediatric infectious disease specialist with a primary research interest in malaria, typhoid fever, and other diseases that disproportionately affect people who live in resource-limited settings. He conducts studies at the Center for Vaccine Development (CVD) in Baltimore and at international sites in Burkina Faso, Mali, Malawi, and Uganda. Dr. Laurens evaluates vaccines and therapeutics that target infectious pathogens, studies the interaction of HIV and malaria and investigates the acquisition of antimalarial immunity. The broad goal of Dr. Laurens’ research is to illuminate the mechanisms of vaccine-induced immunity with the aim to inform development of vaccines and therapeutics.

Research/Clinical Keywords

Malaria, typhoid, vaccines, antimalarial immunity, HIV-malaria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Malawi.

Highlighted Publications

Friedman-Klabanoff DJ, Berry AA, Travassos MA, Shriver M, Cox C, Butts J, Lundeen JS, Strauss KA, Joshi S, Shrestha B, Mo AX, Nomicos EYH, Deye GA, Regules JA, Bergmann-Leitner ES, Pasetti MF, Laurens MB. Recombinant Full-length Plasmodium falciparum Circumsporozoite Protein-Based Vaccine Adjuvanted With Glucopyranosyl Lipid A-Liposome Quillaja saponaria 21: Results of Phase 1 Testing With Malaria Challenge. J Infect Dis. 2024 Jun 14;229(6):1883-1893. PMC11175675.

Patel PD, Liang Y, Meiring JE, Chasweka N, Patel P, Misiri T, Mwakiseghile F, Wachepa R, Banda HC, Shumba F, Kawalazira G, Dube Q, Nampota-Nkomba N, Nyirenda OM, Girmay T, Datta S, Jamka LP, Tracy JK, Laurens MB, Heyderman RS, Neuzil KM, Gordon MA; TyVAC team. Efficacy of typhoid conjugate vaccine: final analysis of a 4-year, phase 3, randomised controlled trial in Malawian children. Lancet. 2024 Feb 3;403(10425):459-468. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)02031-7. PMC10850983.

Ouédraogo A, Diarra A, Nébié I, Barry N, Kabore JM, Tiono A, Datta S, Liang Y, Johnson-Mayo I, Oshinsky J, Tracy JK, Girmay T, Pasetti M, Jamka L, Sirima SB, Neuzil KM, Laurens MB. Durable Anti-Vi IgG and IgA responses in 15-month-old children vaccinated with typhoid conjugate vaccine in Burkina Faso. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2023 Sep 27;12(9):513-518. PMC 10533206.

Laurens MB*, Rick A*, Huang Y, Yu C, Martin TCS, Rodriguez CA, Rostad CA, Maboa RM, Baden LR, El Sahly HM, Grinsztejn B, Gray GE, Gay CL, Gilbert PB, Janes HE, Kublin JG, Huang Y, Leav B, Hirsch I, Struyf F, Dunkle LM, Neuzil KM, Corey L, Goepfert PA, Walsh SR, Follmann D, Kotloff KL. Risk of COVID-19 after Natural Infection or Vaccination. EBioMedicine. 2023 Sep 20:96:104799. PMC10518569. *co-first authors

Sirima SB, Ouedraogo A, Tiono A, Kaboré J, Bougouma E, Ouattara M, Kargougou D, Diarra A, Noelie H, Nebié I, Billingsley P, Manoj A, Abebe Y, KC N, Ruben A, Richie T, James E, Joshi S, Shrestha B, Strauss K, Lyke K, Plowe C, Potter G, Cox C, Jones W, Kim BKL, Hoffman SL, Laurens MB. A randomized controlled trial showing safety and efficacy of a whole sporozoite vaccine against endemic malaria. Sci Transl Med. 2022 Dec 7;14(674):eabj3776.

Friedman-Klabanoff DJ, Birkhold M, Short MT, Wilson TR, Meneses CR, Lacsina JR, Oliveira F, Kamhawi S, Valenzuela JG, Hunsberger S, Mateja A, Stoloff G, Pleguezuelos O, Memoli MJ, Laurens MBSafety and immunogenicity of AGS-v PLUS, a mosquito saliva peptide vaccine against arboviral diseases: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 1 trial. EBioMedicine. 2022 Nov 24;86:104375.

Nampota N, Nyirenda OM, Khonde L, Mapemba V, Mbewe M, Ndaferankhande JM, Msuku H, Masesa C, Misiri T, Mwakiseghile F, Patel PD, Patel P, Johnson-Mayo I, Pasetti MF, Heyderman RS, Tracy JK, Datta S, Liang Y, Neuzil KM, Gordon MA, Laurens MB; Typhoid Vaccine Acceleration Consortium team. Safety and immunogenicity of a typhoid conjugate vaccine among children aged 9 months through 12 years in Malawi: a nested sub-study of a double-blind, randomised controlled trial. Lancet Glob Health. 2022 Sep;10(9):e1326-e1335. PMC9380257.

Mungwira RG, Laurens MB, Nyangulu W, Divala TH, Nampota N, Buchwald AG, Nyirenda OM, Mwinjiwa E, Kanjala M, Galileya LT, Earland DE, Adams M, Plowe CV, Taylor TE, Mallewa J, van Oosterhout JJ, Laufer MK; TSCQ Study Team. High burden of malaria among Malawian adults on antiretroviral therapy after discontinuing prophylaxis. AIDS. 2022 Jul 15. PMC9444947.

Coulibaly D, Kone AK, Traore K, Niangaly A, Kouriba B, Arama C, Zeguime A, Dolo A, Lyke KE, Plowe CV, Abebe Y, Potter GE, Kennedy JK, Galbiati SM, Nomicos E, Deye GA, Richie TL, James ER, KC N, Sim BKL, Hoffman SL, Laurens MB, DMID 15-0052 PfSPZ-CVac Study Team. PfSPZ-CVac malaria vaccine demonstrates safety among malaria-experienced adults: a randomized, controlled  phase 1 trial. EClinicalMedicine. 2022 Oct;52:101579doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101579. PMC9343417.

Patel PD, Patel P, Liang Y, Meiring JE, Misri T, Mwakiseghile F, Tracy JK, Masesa C, Msuku H, Banda D, Mbewe M, Henrion M, Adetunji F, Simiyu K, Rotrosen E, Birkhold M, Nampota N, Nyirenda OM, Kotloff K, Gmeiner M, Dube Q, Kawalazira G, Laurens MB, Heyderman RS, Gordon MA, Neuzil KM. Safety and Efficacy of a Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine in Children in Blantyre, Malawi: A Randomized, Double-Blinded Active-Controlled Phase 3 Trial. N Engl J Med. 2021 Sep 16;385(12):1104-1115.

Laurens MB. Novel Malaria Vaccines. 2021 Aug 4;1-4. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2021.1947762. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2021 Nov 2;17(11)4549-4552. PMC8528388.

Sirima SB, Ouedraogo A, Barry N, Siribie M, Tiono A, Nebié I, Konaté A, Berges GD, Diarra A, Ouedraogo M, Soulama I, Hema A, Datta S, Liang Y, Rotrosen E, Tracy JK, Jamka L, Oshinsky JJ, Pasetti MF, Neuzil KM, Laurens MB. Safety and immunogenicity of Vi-typhoid conjugate vaccine co-administration with routine 9-month vaccination in Burkina Faso: A randomised controlled phase 2 trial. Int J Infect Dis. 2021 May 31:S1201-9712(21)00461-6.

Laurens MB, Mungwira RG, Nampota N, Nyirenda OM, Divala TH, Kanjala M, Mkandawire FA, Galileya LT, Nyangulu W, Mwinjiwa E, Downs M, Tillman A, Taylor TE, Mallewa J, Plowe CV, van Oosterhout JJ, Laufer MK. Revisiting Co-Trimoxazole Prophylaxis for African Adults in The Era of Antiretroviral Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Clin Infect Dis. 2021 Sep 15;73(6):1058-1065. 

Friedman-Klabanoff DJ, Berry AA, Travassos MA, Cox C, Zhou Y, Kotloff KL, Nomicos EYH, Deye GE, Pasetti MF, Laurens MBLow dose recombinant full-length circumsporozoite protein-based Plasmodium falciparum vaccine is highly immunogenic in Phase 1 first-in-human clinical testing. Vaccine. 2021 Feb 22;39(8):1195-1200.

Sirima SB, Ouedraogo A, Barry N, Siribie M, Tiono AB, Nébié I, Konaté AT, Berges GD, Diarra A, Ouedraogo M, Soulama I, Hema A, Datta S, Liang Y, Rotrosen ET, Tracy JK, Jamka LP, Neuzil KM, Laurens MBSafety and immunogenicity of co-administration of meningococcal type A and measles-rubella vaccines with typhoid conjugate vaccine in children aged 15-23 months in Burkina FasoInt J Infect Dis2021 Jan;102:517-523.
 
Laps AM, Foster CB, Laurens MB. High-dose dexamethasone in a child with enteric encephalopathy caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2020 May;39(5):e49-e51.

Laurens MB. RTS,S/AS01 Vaccine (Mosquirix™) : An overview. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2020 Mar 3;16(3):480-489.

Laurens MB, Berry AA, Travassos MA, Strauss K, Adams M, Shrestha B, Li T, Eappen A, Manoj A, Abebe Y, Murshedkar T, Gunasekera A, Richie TL, Lyke KE, Plowe CV, Kennedy JK, Potter GE, Deye GA, Sim BKL, Hoffman SL. Dose dependent infectivity of aseptic, purified, cryopreserved Plasmodium falciparum 7G8 sporozoites in malaria-naïve adults. J Infect Dis. 2019 Nov 6;220(12):1962-1966. 

Laurens MB*, Meiring JE*, Patel P, Patel P, Misiri T, Simiyu K, Mwakiseghile F, Tracy K, Masesa C, Liang Y, Henrion M, Rotrosen E, Gmeiner M, Heyderman R, Kotloff KL, Gordon MA, Neuzil KM. TyVAC Malawi: a phase III randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of the clinical efficacy of typhoid conjugate vaccine among children age 9 months through 12 years in Blantyre, Malawi: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Clin Infect Dis. 2019 Mar 7;68(Supplement_2):S50-S58. *co-first authors. PMC6405268.

Laurens MB, Sirima SB, Rotrosen E, Siribie M, Tiono A, Ouedraogo A, Liang Y, Kotloff KL, Neuzil KM. A phase 2 randomized, double-blind controlled safety and immunogenicity trial of typhoid conjugate vaccine in children under two years of age in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Clin Infect Dis. 2019 Mar 7;68(Supplement_2):S59-S66. PMC6405275.

Laurens MBThe promise of a malaria vaccine—are we closer? Annual Review of Microbiology. 2018 Sep 8;72:273-292.

View a complete list of Dr. Laurens' publications

Research Interests

Dr. Laurens is interested in vaccine development and clinical testing, including vaccines and therapeutics for cholera, malaria, and typhoid fever; immune responses to vaccination; antimalarial immunity; and HIV-malaria coinfection.

Clinical Specialty Details

Pediatrics, Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Awards and Affiliations

Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, 2024

Bailey K. Ashford Medal for distinguished work in Tropical Medicine, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2023

Fellow of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, 2023

Mentor Recognition Award for Productivity Impact, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 2022

Recognition for outstanding guidance for the City of Baltimore throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Brandon M. Scott, mayor, 2021

American Academy of Pediatrics

American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Infectious Diseases Society of America

HIC-Vac Network (Human Infection Challenge)

Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society

In the News

Selected media:

How can a tapeworm cause cancer? CNN online. November 9, 2015.

Parasite antigen shows promise as a malaria vaccine. Reuters online. April 27. 2020.

How close is a coronavirus vaccine? PolitiFact online.  May 12, 2020

Typhoid conjugate vaccine safe, effective when administered with meningococcal A. Healio online. June 18, 2020

Here’s how we’ll know when a COVID-19 vaccine is ready. National Geographic online. June 30, 2020.

A coronavirus vaccine: Where does it stand? PolitiFact online. July 13, 2020.

Fact-checking Joe Biden on a coronavirus vaccine. PolitiFact online. September 17, 2020.

Interviewed by Maryland Public Television’s Jeff Salkin, Direct Connection, Your Health Segment, “Your Health: An Update on COVID-19 Vaccines and Clinical Trials”, September 22, 2020.

What does Pfizer’s COVID-19 announcement mean for you. PolitiFact online. November 12, 2020.

COVID-19 vaccine update: What to know about Pfizer and Moderna’s announcements. PolitiFact online November 16, 2020.

HEALTH CARE BRIEFING: Biden Picks California AG Becerra for HHS. Bloomberg Government online. December 7, 2020.

Many Americans say they don’t want a vaccine. Should we be worried? PolitiFact online. December 8, 2020.

What to expect when you’re injected: Vaccine side effects explained. STAT news online. December 22, 2020.

The data gaps in the fight against COVID-19: Experts point out what we still don’t know. PolitiFact online. February 3, 2021.

You’re fully vaccinated against COVID-19. What can you do now?. Poynter online. March 11, 2021.

Experts reject claim that supplements can counter COVID-19 vaccines. Agence France-Presse online. April 29, 2021.

As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, we answer 7 lingering vaccine questions. ScienceNews.org. May 11, 2021.

Fact check: Post misleads on effectiveness of J&J COVID-19 vaccine in older adults. USA Today. June 6, 2021.

The first malaria vaccine is a leap forward, but we can’t stop now. Knowable magazine. 14 April 2022.

Monkeypox Explained. Bloomberg Radio. May 23, 2022.

New booster, same side effects? WUSA9. December 8, 2022. 

A new study doesn’t show Pfizer’s COVID vaccine causes ‘VAIDS’. Associated Press. September 14, 2023. 

Conspiracy theories about FEMA’s Oct. 4 emergency alert test spread online. Associated Press. September 25, 2023. 

Promising malaria vaccine clears clinical hurdle, could get WHO endorsement next week. Science online. September 29, 2023. 

First malaria vaccine slashes early childhood mortality. Science online. October 24, 2023. 

A look at the top science stories and breakthroughs of 2023. PBS News. January 4, 2024.

Community Service

Member, Baltimore City HIV Planning Group and Commission (HPG), Baltimore City Health Department

Pediatrician Consultant for local child care centers: Downtown Baltimore Child Care Center, Homewood Early Learning Center, and Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Early Childhood Center

Participant, Senator Benjamin Cardin’s roundtable discussion on Zika virus preparedness and funding

Professional Activity

Member, Global Burden of Disease collaborator network, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation

Member, Malaria/Tropical Diseases External Working Group, Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Consortium (IDCRC) for the Vaccine Treatment and Evaluation Unit (VTEU) network, NIH/DMID

Member, Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine Microarray Patch (MAP) Full Vaccine Value Assessment (FVVA) Expert Group, Vaccine Innovation Prioritisation Strategy

Member, Scientific Advisory Group, Tropical Medicine Research Centers Program, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Associate Editor, Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society

Lab Techniques and Equipment

Dr. Laurens uses malaria microscopy for malaria diagnosis and speciation, and genomic sequencing for analysis of antimalarial resistance and malaria vaccine resistance.

Links of Interest