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Emmanuel Benjamin Walter Jr.

Professor of Pediatrics
Pediatrics, General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health
Duke University PO Box 106008, Durham, NC 27710-6008
65 TW Alexander Drive, PO Box 13687, Durham, NC 27709

Overview


Dr. Emmanuel Walter, MD, MPH, Professor of Pediatrics, serves as the Duke Human Vaccine Institute (DHVI) Chief Medical Officer and directs the Duke Vaccine and Trials Unit. In these roles, Dr. Walter provides strategic and operational leadership for clinical research conducted at the Institute.  In addition, he provides oversight of regulatory compliance for DHVI clinical research activities.

Dr. Walter has dedicated his career to advancing research and clinical practice in vaccinology, infectious diseases, and child health. He currently serves as the principal investigator for the Duke Clinical Core of the Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovations Centers (CIVICs) funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).  The goal of this work is to evaluate promising next generation influenza vaccine candidates in Phase I and Phase I/II clinical trials and human challenge studies.  He is also the Duke Principal Investigator for the CDC-funded Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment Project which conducts studies to identify risk factors and preventive strategies for adverse events following immunization, particularly in special populations. Lastly, he is the Principal Investigator for the  CDC-funded coordinating center of the influenza and other respiratory virus vaccine effectiveness network.  This work provides national estimates for influenza and other respiratory virus vaccine effectiveness in persons presenting with respiratory illness in the ambulatory setting.

Dr. Walter's focused area of interest include vaccine development, vaccine safety, vaccine effectiveness, vaccine coverage, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Professor of Pediatrics · 2009 - Present Pediatrics, General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, Pediatrics
Member of the Duke Human Vaccine Institute · 2013 - Present Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Institutes and Centers
Affiliate, Duke Global Health Institute · 2020 - Present Duke Global Health Institute, University Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published May 18, 2023
Duke Health Leads Its First Clinical Trial Testing a New Universal Flu Vaccine
Published March 30, 2021
Duke Enrolls First-in-Nation Children for Pfizer-BioNTech U.S. Clinical Study Trial in Children Under 12
Published November 6, 2020
Years in the Making: Duke Human Vaccine Institute Researchers Attack COVID-19

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Recent Publications


Determining an appropriate fosfomycin (ZTI-01) dosing regimen in pneumonia patients by utilizing minimal PBPK modeling and target attainment analysis.

Journal Article Antimicrob Agents Chemother · June 4, 2025 Fosfomycin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic used for uncomplicated cystitis, represents a potential promising candidate in combating resistant pneumonia. To facilitate the transition of fosfomycin to broader indications, including pneumonia, a minimal physiolo ... Full text Link to item Cite

Perceived feasibility of a multicomponent prenatal intervention on childhood vaccinations: Findings from a national cross-sectional survey of prenatal care providers, April-June 2022.

Journal Article Int J Gynaecol Obstet · June 2025 BACKGROUND: There are inadequate proactive interventions that take advantage of medical contacts during pregnancy to build confidence in vaccines recommended for children after birth. In addition, prenatal providers' perceptions on implementing such proact ... Full text Link to item Cite

Fluorescence-barcoded cell lines stably expressing membrane-anchored influenza neuraminidases.

Journal Article Vaccine · May 22, 2025 The discovery of broadly protective antibodies to the influenza virus neuraminidase (NA) has raised interest in NA as a vaccine target. However, recombinant, solubilized tetrameric NA ectodomains are often challenging to express and isolate, hindering the ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


Duke University Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) Network Clinical Center

ResearchCollaborating Investigator · Awarded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development · 2023 - 2030

CISA 2023 Clinical Contributing Task 1

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · 2023 - 2028

CISA 2023 Clinical Contributing Task 2

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · 2023 - 2028

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Education, Training & Certifications


University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · 1992 M.P.H.
University of Maryland, Baltimore · 1983 M.D.
University of Notre Dame · 1979 B.S.