Louis Howard Miller, M.D., B.S., M.S.

The study of the pathogenesis of malaria includes research on the mechanism by which malaria parasites invade erythrocytes, including the study of parasite ligands and erythrocyte receptors; the mechanism of antigenic variation; the molecular basis for cerebral malaria and rosetting; and the binding of var gene products to endothelium.

Major accomplishments include the following: Duffy blood group antigen is receptor for Plasmodium vivax; Duffy blood group antigen is the chemokine receptor; the molecular definition of the ligand and receptor for P. vivax; the molecular definition of the ligand and receptor for Plasmodium falciparum; the molecular basis of antigenic variation and the identification of the ligand for binding chondroitin sulfate A in placenta.

Future directions include the study of the different pathways for invasion of erythrocytes, including the sialic acid-independent pathway; virulence factors in P. falciparum; identifying recombinant proteins for vaccines that will block invasion and block cytoadherence to placenta; and molecular mechanism of antigenic variation.

Dr. Miller received his B.S. from Haverford College in Pennsylvania; his M.S. from Columbia University; and his M.D. from Washington University in St. Louis. He then served as a medical resident at Montifiore Hospital, New York, and as an intern and resident at Mount Sinai Hospital. He is a member of the Association of American Physicians, American Society of Clinical Investigation, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, National Academy of Sciences, and the Institute of Medicine. In 2011, he received the Walter Reed Medal for distinguished accomplishment in the field of tropical medicine from the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Awards

Walter Reed Medal, Presidential Award, Paul Ehrlich Prize, Sixth Annual Bristol-Myers Squibb Award for Distinguished Achievement in Infectious Diseases Research, Comonwealth Award, Haverford College Humanitarian Award.