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Vance Garrison Fowler Jr.

Florence McAlister Distinguished Professor of Medicine
Medicine, Infectious Diseases
Duke Box 102359, Hanes House, Trent Drive, Durham, NC 27710
Room 183, Hanes House, 315 Trent Drive, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


Determinants of Outcome in Patients with Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia
Antibacterial Resistance
Pathogenesis of Bacterial Infections
Tropical medicine/International Health

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Florence McAlister Distinguished Professor of Medicine · 2019 - Present Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Medicine
Professor of Medicine · 2012 - Present Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Medicine
Professor in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology · 2012 - Present Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Basic Science Departments
Member in the Duke Clinical Research Institute · 2001 - Present Duke Clinical Research Institute, Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published August 9, 2023
Synthetic Antibiotic Could Be Effective Against Drug-Resistant Superbugs
Published June 10, 2014
Superbugs, stethoscopes and new technologies to prevent the spread of infection

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Recent Publications


Methicillin-resistant and susceptible Staphylococcus aureus: tolerance, immune evasion and treatment.

Journal Article Nat Rev Microbiol · February 2026 Staphylococcus aureus is capable of infecting every organ system in the body and developing resistance to every available antibiotic used to treat it, such as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (commonly referred to as MRSA). This pathogen is characterized by ... Full text Link to item Cite

Genetics and environment distinctively shape the human immune cell epigenome.

Journal Article Nat Genet · January 27, 2026 The epigenome of human immune cells is shaped by both genetics and environmental factors, yet the relative contributions of these influences remain incompletely characterized. Here we use single-nucleus methylation sequencing and assay for transposase-acce ... Full text Link to item Cite

The innate immune protein calprotectin ablates the bactericidal activity of β-lactam antibiotics.

Journal Article Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A · January 20, 2026 β-lactam antibiotics are among the most widely used treatments for bacterial infections, yet therapeutic failure is common even when no genetic resistance is detected. Understanding how host factors influence antibiotic efficacy is critical for improving o ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


2/3 CTSA K12 Program at Duke University

ResearchMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2030

Genomic determinants of antibiotic treatment failure in S. aureus bacteremia

ResearchMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2029

Duke Preparing Research Scholars in Biomedical Sciences- Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institute of General Medical Sciences · 2022 - 2027

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Education, Training & Certifications


Duke University · 1999 M.H.S.
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · 1993 M.D.