Kenneth Edwin Schmader

Dr. Schmader’s areas of research include herpes zoster, infections, and vaccines in older adults.  He conducts translational, clinical trials and observational studies of zoster, influenza, and other infections funded by grants from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), VA Office of Research and Development, and Industry sources.  He has played a pivotal role in the development of zoster vaccines in older adults.  Dr. Schmader also performs research in medications and older adults, focusing on pharmacoepidemiology, optimal drug use and reduction of adverse drug reactions.

He is the Director of the NIA-funded P30 Duke Pepper Older Americans Independence Center, Co-investigator of the NIAID funded Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Centers (CIVICS) and the CDC Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment (CISA) office at Duke.  He serves on the Working Groups for the Herpes Zoster, Influenza, COVID-19, RSV and General Adult Immunization Guidelines for the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and is the American Geriatrics Society liaison to the ACIP.