Paul L. Fidel, Jr.
     Post-doctoral Associate
     Principal investigator: Dov Boros
     Years in department: 1988 - 1990

Contact information (as of 12/1/03):
     Carl Baldridge Research Professor
     Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology
     Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
     1901 Perdido St.
     New Orleans, LA 70112
     Ph: (504) 568-4066
     Fax: (504) 568-4066
     Work e-mail: pfidel@lsuhsc.edu
     Home e-mail: pfidel@earthlink.net

Link to Paul at LSUHSC

Current activity: My lab primarily continues to work on host defense mechanisms against mucosal candidiasis. We are funded under several sources from the NIH and the Louisiana Board of Regents. I am also the Director of the Center of Excellence in Oral and Craniofacial Biology and Associate Dean for Research at the LSU School of Dentistry. Thus, I have labs and offices at both the dental school and medical school. The lab at the medical school studies the host defenses and immunoregulation against vaginal candidiasis in both humans and animal models. This lab also studies adolescent vaginal immunology in relation to candidiasis and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The research is currently focused on T cell-mediated immunity as well as innate mechanisms involving neutrophils and epithelial cell antifungal activity. The lab at the dental school studies host defense against oral candidiasis, oral warts, and oral hairy leukoplakia in HIV-infected individuals. This work is also focused on T cell and epithelial cell immune mechanisms. As center director and dean of research at the dental school, I oversee all research conducted at the dental school and provide resources and programs to enhance research activities.

Personal: I am married to Tammy (since 1984), and we have a son (Clint, born 1993) and a daughter (Madelyn, born 1995). Interests include golf, jogging, tennis, biking, and coaching my son's sport teams - all can be done year round in Louisiana!