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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Fernando P. Polack,MD
eRA COMMONS USER NAME
POSITION TITLE
Cesar Milstein Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Vanderbilt University
fpolack1
EDUCATION/TRAINING
DEGREE
(if applicable)
MM/YY
BS
1980-1985
Biology
MD
1986-1990
Medicine
French Hospital, Dept. Pediatrics, Buenos Aires
Resident
1990-1992
Pediatrics
William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI
Resident
1993-1996
Pediatrics
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Post Doc
1996-1999
Infectious Diseases
INSTITUTION AND LOCATION
Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires, Argentina
Universidad de Buenos Aires, School of Medicine
FIELD OF STUDY
A. Personal Statement
My laboratory has been working in paramyxovirus pathogenesis for 11 years. We have a strong track record of
significant and innovative discoveries in this field, including identifying immune complexes and complement as
components of enhanced RSV disease (ERD) pathogenesis in mice and humans (J Exp Med 02);
demonstrating an anti-inflammatory role for RSV G, long suspected to enhance inflammation in ERD (PNAS
05); describing what a vaccine needs to generate protective antibodies against RSV and why FIRSV failed to
protect infants in 1967 (Nature Med 09); and translating mechanistic observations to/from other viral respiratory
diseases, like the pathogenesis of severe pandemic influenza (Nature Med 11) and atypical measles (Nature
Med 99, Nature Med 00, Nature Med 03).
Decades of setbacks suggest that novel strategies and/or technologies will be necessary to develop a
protective RSV vaccine for infants, making our current safety parameters outdated or insufficient to confidently
distinguish safe vaccines from those dangerous products that could prime for ERD. Our laboratory is ideally
positioned to clarify critical remaining questions about ERD pathogenesis, and identify sensitive and specific
cellular and molecular markers of ERD for the development of safe vaccines to protect infants against the
virus.
B.
Positions
1999- 2006
Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, School of
Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
2001- 2008
Joint Appointment, Department of International Health, School of Hygiene and Public Health,
The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
2003- present Scientific Director, Fundación INFANT, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2006- 2008
Associate Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, School of
Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
2009-2010
Cesar Milstein Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University (endowed
chair) Nashville, TN
2010-present Cesar Milstein Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University (endowed chair)
Nashville, TN
Honors
1990
1998
2002
2006
2008
2009
2010
2011
Graduated with Honors, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Infectious Diseases Society of America, Pasteur Mèrieux Connaught Laboratories Fellowship
in Pediatrics
The Thomas and Carol McCann Award in Respiratory Research. Johns Hopkins School of
Public Health.
Young Investigator Award, Society for Pediatric Research
Luis Pasteur Award, O.S.Sanidad, National Academy of Medicine, Argentina.
Personalidad Destacada de las Ciencias, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
E. Mead Johnson Award, Society for Pediatric Research
American Society for Clinical Investigation, Member.
C. Selected peer-reviewed publications.
1. Polack FP, Auwaerter PG, Lee SH, Nousari HC, Valsamakis A, Leiferman KIVI, Diwan AD, Adams RJ,
Griffin DE. Atypical measles: evidence for disease mediated by immune complex formation and eosinophils in
the presence of fusion inhibiting antibodies. Nature Med 1999; 5: 629-634. PMID: 10371500
2. Polack FP, Lee SH, Permar S, Manyara E, Nousari HC, Mustafa F, Valsamakis A, Adams RJ, Robinson
HL, Griffin DE. DNA vaccines against measles virus: Protection associated with neutralizing antibodies against
either the H or F protein in the absence of atypical measles. Nature Med 2000; 6: 776-781. PMID: 10888926
3. Polack FP, Hoffman SJ, Moss WJ, Griffin DE. Altered synthesis of interleukin-12, type 1 and type 2
cytokines in rhesus macaques during measles and atypical measles. J Infect Dis 2002; 15:13-19. PMID:
11756976
4. Polack FP, Teng MN, Collins PL, Prince GA, Exner M, Regele H, Lirman DD, Rabold R, Hoffman SJ, Karp
CL, Kleeberger SR, Wills-Karp M, Karron RA. A role for immune complexes in enhanced respiratory syncytial
virus disease. J Exp Med 2002; 196: 859-65. *Editor’s Choice. Science PMID: 12235218
5. Polack FP, Hoffman SJ, Crujeiras G, Griffin DE. A role for nonprotective complement fixing antibodies with
low avidity for measles virus in atypical measles. Nature Med 2003, 9:1209-1213. *Selection in Faculty 1000.
PMID: 12925847
6. Laham FR, Israele V, Casellas JM, Garcia AM, Lac Prugent CM, Hoffman SJ, Hauer D, Thumar B, Name
MI, Pascual A, Taratutto A, Ishida MT, Balduzzi M, Maccarone M, Gaivironsky RA, Karron RA; Polack NR,
Polack FP. Differential production of inflammatory cytokines between primary infection with human
metapneumovirus and other common respiratory viruses of infancy. J Infect Dis. 2004; 189:2047-56. PMID:
15143472
7. Polack FP, Irusta PM, Hoffman SJ, Schiatti MP, Melendi GA, Delgado MF, Laham FR, Thumar B, Hendry
RM, Melero JA, Karron RA, Collins PL, Kleeberger SR. The cysteine-rich region of respiratory syncytial virus
attachment protein inhibits innate immunity elicited by the virus and endotoxin. Proc Natl Acad Sci 2005, 102:
8996-9001. PMID: 15956195
8. Bukreyev A, Serra ME, Laham FR, Kleeberger SR, Collins PL, Polack FP. The cysteine-rich region and
secreted form of the attachment G glycoprotein of respiratory syncytial virus enhance the cytotoxic T
lymphocyte response despite lacking MHC class I-restricted epitopes. J Virol 2006; 80:5854-5861. PMID:
16731924
9. Melendi GA, Hoffman SJ, Karron RA, Irusta PM, Laham FR, Humbles A, Schofield B, Pan CH, Rabold R,
Thumar B, Thumar A, Gerard NP, Mitzner W, Barnum SR, Gerard C, Kleeberger SR, Polack FP. C5
modulates airway hyperreactivity and pulmonary eosinophilia during enhanced respiratory syncytial virus
disease by decreasing C3a receptor expression. J Virol. 2007;81:991-9. PMID: 17079327
10. Klein MI, Bergel E, Gibbons L, Coviello S, Bauer G, Benitez A, Serra ME, Delgado MF, Melendi GA,
Rodríguez S, Kleeberger SR, Polack FP. Differential gender response to respiratory infections and to the
protective effect of breast milk in preterm infants. Pediatrics. 2008;121:e1510-6. PMID: 18519454.
11. Delgado MF, Coviello S, Monsalvo AC, Melendi GA, Hernandez JZ, Batalle JP, Diaz L, Trento A,
Chang HY, Mitzner W, Ravetch J, Melero JA, Irusta PM, Polack FP. Lack of antibody affinity maturation
due to poor Toll-like receptor stimulation leads to enhanced respiratory syncytial virus disease. Nat Med.
2009;15:34-41. *Editor’s Choice. Science; Nat Biotecnology. PMID: 19079256
12. Libster RP, Bugna J, Coviello S, Hijano DR, Dunaiewsky M, Reynoso N, Cavalieri ML, Guglielmo MC,
Areso MS, Gilligan T, Santucho F, Cabral G, Gregorio GL, Moreno R, Lutz MI, Panigasi AL, Saligari L,
Caballero MT, Egües Almeida RM, Gutierrez Meyer ME, Neder MD, Davenport MC, Del Valle MP,
Santidrian VS, Mosca G, Garcia Domínguez M, Alvarez L, Landa P, Pota A, Boloñati N, Dalamon R,
Sanchez Mercol VI, Espinoza M, Peuchot JC, Karolinski A, Bruno M, Borsa A, Ferrero F, Bonina A,
Ramonet M, Albano LC, Luedicke N, Alterman E, Savy V, Baumeister E, Chappell JD, Edwards KM,
Melendi GA, Polack FP. Pediatric hospitalizations associated with 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) in
Argentina. N Engl J Med. 2010;362: 45-55. PMID:20032320
13. Monsalvo AC, Batalle JP, Lopez MF, Krause JC, Klemenc J, Zea Hernandez J, Maskin B, Bugna J,
Rubinstein C, Aguilar L, Dalurzo L, Libster R, Savy V, Baumeister E, Aguilar L, Cabral G, Font J, Solari L,
Weller KP, Johnson J, Echavarria M, Edwards KM, Chappel JD, Crowe JE Jr, Williams JV, Melendi GA,
Polack FP. Severe pandemic 2009H1N1 influenza disease due to pathogenic immune complexes. Nature
Med 2011;17:195-915. PMID:21131958
14. Libster R, Coviello S, Cavalieri ML, Morosi A, Alabart N, Alvarez L, Ferrero F, Edwards KM, Polack FP.
Pediatric hospitalizations due to influenza in 2010 in Argentina. N Engl J Med. 2010;363:2472-3. PMID:
21158677.
15. Miller EK, Hernandez JZ, Wimmenauer V, Shepherd BE, Hijano D, Libster R, Serra ME, Bhat N, Batalle
JP, Mohamed Y, Reynaldi A, Rodriguez A, Otello M, Pisapia N, Bugna J, Bellabarba M, Kraft D, Coviello S,
Ferolla FM, Chen A, London SJ, Siberry GK, Williams JV, Polack FP. A mechanistic role for type III
interferon-λ1 in asthma exacerbations mediated by human rhinoviruses. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2011
Dec 1. PMID: 22135341.
D. RESEARCH PROJECTS ONGOING, PENDING OR COMPLETED DURING THE LAST 3 YEARS:
ACTIVE
Gates Foundation (Polack)
11/17/10-10/31/13
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Burden of severe RSV lung disease in infants and young children
The project goal is to provide critically-needed data to: a) determine whether a vaccine against RSV is a
priority for infants and young children in the developing world and, b) identify best candidate groups for
vaccination
Thrasher Research Fund (Polack)
04/01/11-03/31/14
Thrasher Foundation
Preventing hospitalizations due to severe lower respiratory tract disease in non-breastfeeding very low birth
weight infants with donor breast milk
This project will study the role of supplemental donated human milk in the prevention of hospitalizations
caused by RSV in non-breastfeeding very low birth weight infants. The effect of human milk against respiratory
infections elicited by other viruses will also be evaluated.
Project 2 (Newberg-Boston College)
04/01/11-03/31/12
Abbott Pharmaceutical
Structure/Function relationships between sialylglycans, inhibition of intestinal and pulmonary mucosal infection,
and cell signaling
Role: Co-Investigator
Project 3 (Polack)
Abbott Pharmaceutical
04/01/11-03/31/12
Identify breast milk components that promote production of type I interferons against RSV and influenza viral
infections in the upper respiratory tract
U19 AI95227-01 (Peebles)
07/01/11 – 06/30/16
NIH/NHLBI
Host and Viral Determinants of Infant and Childhood Allergy and Asthma
This application will examine the effects of both host genetic and immune response determinants, as well as
the influence of specific RSV strains on severity of RSV bronchiolitis and childhood asthma. In addition, we will
define the role of a novel therapeutic target, PGI2, in RSV pathogenesis. The long term objective of this
proposed project is to define the relationship between infant respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection and the
host response that enables asthma inception.
Role: Co- Investigator
COMPLETED
R01 AI-054952 (Polack)
02/01/05-02/01/10
Director’s Challenge Award (Polack)
10/01/07-10/01/12
Thrasher Research Fund (Polack)
03/05/07-03/31/09