Dr. Denise Monack

Biography

Dr. Denise Monack is the Martha Meier Weiland Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Her primary research focuses on understanding the tug-of-war between the immune system and bacterial pathogens during infections. She is particularly interested in host-adapted enteric pathogens that evolve to persist in hosts for extended periods and subsequently spread to new hosts. Dr. Monack has discovered specific immune responses that help hosts tolerate high levels of pathogens, which she refers to as "superspreaders." Her laboratory investigates pathogen-microbiota interactions in the gut, revealing that certain metabolites derived from commensal bacteria can help defend against pathogens that cause food poisoning. Furthermore, her studies shed light on the innate immune pathways that respond to pathogenic bacteria. Dr. Monack has received numerous awards for her accomplishments in microbiology and immunology, including the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Recipient Award for Infectious Disease and the G. J. Thorbecke Award from the Society for Leukocyte Biology. She currently serves as a Section Editor for PLoS Pathogens and Editor for Infection and Immunity, while also holding the position of Chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology since 2022.

Research Interests

Experience