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Sarah Mabrey Heston

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases
315 Trent Drive, Hanes House, Box 102346, Durham, NC 27710
315 Trent Drive, Hanes House, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


I am a Pediatric Transplant Infectious Diseases physician-scientist. Clinically, I diagnose and treat infections in immunocompromised children who have either undergone transplantation or who are receiving chemotherapy. My research interests are in utilizing the microbiome to improve clinical outcomes following transplantation. Specifically, I am evaluating the gut microbiomes of children undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) to identify actionable interventions to reduce mucosal barrier injury bloodstream infections and graft-versus-host disease, two significant contributors to post-HCT morbidity.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Assistant Professor of Pediatrics · 2022 - Present Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases, Pediatrics

Recent Publications


Sociodemographic and Clinical Factors Impact Non-Live Vaccine Coverage After Pediatric Solid Organ Transplantation: A Single Center Study.

Journal Article Pediatr Transplant · March 2026 BACKGROUND: Pediatric solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients are at increased risk of vaccine preventable diseases (VPD) due to both under-vaccination and ineffective responses to vaccines while immunosuppressed. Current guidelines recommend timely post-t ... Full text Link to item Cite

Commensal bacteria inhibit viral infections via a tryptophan metabolite.

Journal Article bioRxiv · May 12, 2025 Clinical outcomes following viral exposures exhibit substantial interindividual variability. Although developing evidence suggests commensal bacteria modulate viral infections, the specific bacteria and mechanisms remain underexplored. Here we define a pat ... Full text Link to item Cite

Pulmonary Function Outcomes in a Prospective Cohort of Pediatric Allogenic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients

Conference American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine · May 1, 2025 AbstractRATIONALE Pulmonary complications following pediatric allogenic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality, but longitudinal lung function data are ... Full text Cite
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Recent Grants


The Gut Microbiome and Development of Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Children

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2030

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Education


University of Tennessee Health Science Center · 2014 M.D.