Infectious disease

Whitehead Institute researchers unravel the unique biology of apicomplexans — the parasites responsible for malaria, toxoplasmosis, and other diseases impacting global health.

Our researchers are working to understand the biology underlying infectious diseases and the microbes and viruses behind them, using innovative genetic approaches and  new tools and methods.

Alexsia Richards is a postdoc in Whitehead Institute Member Rudolf Jaenisch’s lab investigating how dangerous tropical viruses interact with the brain. We sat down with Richards to learn more about her and her experiences in and out of the lab.

Jayaraman (Jay) Thangappan is a postdoc in Whitehead Institute Fellow Silvia (Silvi) Rouskin’s lab investigating RNA structure. We sat down with Thangappan to learn more about him and his experiences in and out of the lab.