Where Science Meets Care: How the CeIDeR Team is Shaping the Future of Infectious Disease Treatment
Director of Cardiometabolic Program, Jason V. Baker, MD, MS
The Center for Infectious Disease Research (CeIDeR), is one of many research programs within Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute (HHRI). CeIDeR’s mission “is to advance clinical care of infectious diseases by expanding our understanding of disease pathogenesis, as well as developing prevention, treatment, and implementation strategies to that end,” said Jason V. Baker, MD, MS. Dr. Baker is a physician-scientist who has been the Director of CeIDeR since it was formed in 2024.
Dr. Baker works alongside fellow infectious disease researchers, Kristina Burrack, PhD; Anne Frosch, MD, MPH; Amanda Noska, MD, MPH; Jenell Stewart, DO, MPH; and their newest team member, Diana Zychowski, MD. Together, they investigate the epidemiology and pathogenesis of existing and emerging infectious diseases and how best to prevent and treat them. HHRI differs slightly from other infectious disease research programs through its unique focus not only on clinical care, but on translational and implementation research as well.
Historically, the team has had a large footprint in HIV clinical research through the Positive Care Center.
“We see more persons with HIV here than anywhere in the Upper Midwest. Approximately 3,500 persons with HIV in Minnesota get their care at Hennepin Healthcare,” explained Dr. Baker.
An important focus historically within the Positive Care Center was research on novel HIV treatments, resulting in Hennepin Healthcare being an early adopter of injectable, long-acting HIV medications. Injectable medicines are making a dramatic difference in people’s lives in reducing the stigma around HIV and its treatment.
“Dr. W. Keith Henry (Professor Emeritus) participated in some of the sentinel long-acting medication studies, and now we have approximately 15% of our clinic taking injectable HIV medicines instead of pills,” said Dr. Baker.
Dr. Baker’s HIV research grew out of this program and now primarily focuses on the management of cardiovascular disease and risk for heart failure among persons with HIV both within the United States and South Africa. He now spearheads the Program for Cardiometabolic Complications. According to the program’s webpage, “the goal of this program is to expand our understanding of cardiovascular injury and clinical risk associated with viral infections… [with a focus on] studying the effects of inflammation and immune activation.”
Clinical psychologist and tobacco cessation researcher, Drew Busch, PhD, LP
One study within the program, the Optimization of a Behavioral Intervention to Increase Physical Activity in Older Adults Living with HIV (Hi-Activity), is a collaboration between Dr. Baker and Clinical Psychologist Drew Busch, PhD, LP. The purpose of this study is “to increase physical activity [in] older persons with HIV. We do this here and in Providence, Rhode Island. We partner with people at Brown University to do the study,” elaborated Dr. Baker.
Everyone knows that they should exercise and stay active, but it’s easier said than done. Through the Hi-Activity study, Dr. Baker and his team are exploring how older people with HIV can be less sedentary and incorporate more movement into daily routines.
Dr. Baker added, “It’s been fun and really interesting to work with Drew, and learn how his lab has developed interventions that meet patients where they are at, by decreasing barriers and leveraging motivation where it already exists.”
CeIDeR’s robust clinical research infrastructure within the Positive Care Center has also facilitated recent growth in new areas. Dr. Stewart, who joined the group in 2022, leads the Program on STIs and HIV prevention, including novel implementation strategies among women and at-risk populations. Through this work, she is leading clinical trials within the United States and Kenya. Dr. Amanda Noska has also expanded the clinical trial portfolio within CeIDeR with studies investigating cure interventions for persons with Hepatitis B.
An important and rapidly expanding focus within CeIDeR has been the rapid growth in translational immunology research. Drs. Anne Frosch (Laboratory for Translational Immunology and Vaccine Research) and Kristina Burrack (The Burrack Lab) lead complementary laboratory programs. According to their program websites, the Burrack Lab’s focus is to develop “a comprehensive understanding of host-pathogen interaction to enhance immunity and limit immune-mediated pathology,” with Dr. Frosch’s program aiming to understand why different people manifest different immune responses with a goal of tailoring vaccine strategies. Together, this work spans basic immunology studies leveraging murine models through clinical human studies, both focused on optimizing host immune responses.
Finally, Dr. Diana Zychowski is the newest CeIDeR investigator, joining in 2025. Her focus on vector-borne illnesses leverages epidemiology and basic science methods. Dr. Zychowski’s work reflects an expansion of CeIDeR’s priorities to include tick-borne infections, with Minnesota amassing among the highest number of incidents in the country.
What’s in the future for the CeIDeR team? Dr. Baker reflected: “One important concept for us is to generate knowledge on how infection causes disease, to help inform the development of treatment and prevention strategies that have more potential for a longer-term impact. But beyond studying the host and the pathogen, we also need to focus on diagnostics and treatments that are clinic-facing and could then be quickly and effectively implemented.”
Related Resources
- https://mspmag.com/health-and-fitness/top-doctors-2025-decoding-immunity/
- https://www.hhrinstitute.org/to-antarctica-infectious-diseases-researcher-kristina-burrack-phd-completes-homeward-bound-trip/
- https://www.hhrinstitute.org/dr-jenell-stewart-speaks-about-event-based-prep-for-women-at-croi-2024/
- https://www.buzzsprout.com/1906566/episodes/18593521-s05_e08-where-are-we-with-hiv-in-2026