The American Society for Microbiology honors Andrea Endimiani
Andrea Endimiani, M.D., Ph.D., Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, University of Bern, Switzerland, has been chosen by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) to receive a 2011 ICAAC Young Investigator Award for combining basic microbiology, epidemiology, pharmacology, biochemistry, and molecular biology to investigate the impact of drug resistance traits on the outcome of infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria. Sponsored by the ASM, this award recognizes an early career scientist for research excellence in microbiology and infectious diseases.
His nominator, Roberto Bonomo, American Academy of Microbiology Fellow from Case Western Reserve University and the Veterans Administration Medical Center, describes some of his achievements, "Dr. Endimiani has undertaken a series of insightful studies examining the prevalence of KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in multiple cities across the United States. He was the first to describe the coexistence of the blaKPC with the plasmid mediated qnr genes."
Dr. Endimiani received his M.D. and achieved board certification in Medical Microbiology and Virology at the University of Insubria (Varese, Italy). He remained there to earn his Ph.D. in Immunopathology under the supervision of Antonio Toniolo, a supporter of Dr. Endimiani's nomination. During that period, Dr. Endimiani worked as Medical Microbiologist at the University Hospital of Varese and at the Institute for Pharmacokinetic and Analytical Studies in Ligornetto, Switzerland. He also collaborated with Gian Maria Rossolini and Gianfranco Amicosante, two internationally recognized experts in β-lactamases. Dr. Rossolini, of the University of Siena, Italy, describes Dr. Endimiani's publications as "well-written and including articles, reviews and editorials, showing a remarkable aptitude for research and scholarship, and a well-rounded and rapidly developing scientific personality."
In 2006, Dr. Endimiani joined the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center under the direction of David L. Paterson, where he studied molecular aspects of drug resistance in Gram-negative bacteria and their importance in the patient management. In 2007, Dr. Endimiani moved to the Infectious Diseases Division at the Case Western Reserve University and the Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center to work with his mentor, Dr. Bonomo, and Louis B. Rice. Here he studied the biochemistry and molecular biology of extended-spectrum β-lactamases, KPC carbapenemases, and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance determinants. He also contributed to the evaluation of new antibiotics (e.g., ACHN-490), a new inhibitor of β-lactamases (e.g., NXL104), and a new diagnostic technique (e.g., PCR/ESI-MS and microarrays).
After completing his training, Dr. Endimiani joined the Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology at the University of Bern, Switzerland under the supervision of Vincent Perreten. Currently, Dr. Endimiani is a medical microbiologist at the Institute for Infectious Diseases at the University of Bern, Inselspital under the direction of Dr. Kathrin Mühlemann.
Dr. Endimiani is now one of the leading specialists in antibiotic resistance in Gram-negative pathogens. He is member of the Editorial Board of Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy and Associate Member of the Faculty of 1000. Dr. Endimiani has authored more than 50 papers in the field of antibiotic resistance and presented 47 communications at international conferences. Several of the papers have been cited in Faculty 1000 and Microbe magazine. "Over his career, he managed to master basic microbiology, epidemiology, and pharmacology and was able to transfer these tools to the clinical setting," explains Dr. Toniolo. "I consider him a precious asset for modern clinical centers, medical schools and the pharma industry. In conclusion, Dr. Endimiani has always been willing to introduce new tools for investigating the clinical response of evolving pathogens to antibacterials."
Provided by American Society for Microbiology
