Esther Ngolela Babady is a Congolese-born American microbiologist currently serving as chief of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center's Clinical Microbiology Service and President of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology.[1][2]
Esther Babady | |
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| Born | Esther Ngolela Babady |
| Alma mater | Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center |
| Thesis | Identification and Characterization of the Proteolytic Activity of Dihydrolipoamide Dehydrogenase (2007) |
Education
editBabady attended the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science for her doctoral studies in biochemistry and molecular biology and post-doctoral studies in clinical microbiology.[2]
Career and research
editSince 2011, Babady has worked at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, serving as chief of its Clinical Microbiology Service since April 2021.[2] Her research has largely focused on diagnostic microbiology in immunocompromised hosts.[1]
In early 2020, Babady developed the first Food and Drug Administration-authorized COVID-19 test used in New York City. Her team also developed a saliva test with sensitivity matching nasopharyngeal swabs, minimizing exposure to healthcare workers. In recognition of her work, Babady was named on Crain's New York Business' 2021 Empire BCBS Whole Health Heroes list.[3]
In 2019, Babady was elected as a fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.[4] In June 2019, she became the inaugural co-chair of the Fungal Diagnostics Laboratory Consortium.[5] In February 2021, she was elected as a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology.[6] In July 2022, Babady was appointed President of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology for a two-year term.[2]
In 2021, Babady began a five-year term as a Senior Editor for the academic journal Microbiology Spectrum and currently serves on the editorial boards of The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics and Journal of Clinical Virology.[7][8][9]
In July 2023, Babady began a four-year term on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee.[10]
References
edit- ^ a b Culbreath, Karissa (18 February 2021). "The Black Clinical Microbiologists on Whose Shoulders We Stand". American Society for Microbiology. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ a b c d Ndungidi, Patrick (6 July 2023). "Dr. Esther Babady, the Congolese-born President of the Pan-American Society of Clinical Virology". African Shapers. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Clinical Microbiologist Esther Babady Recognized on Crain's New York Business 2021 Empire Whole Health Heroes List". Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. 6 December 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ Morales, Jennifer (2019). "IDSA Honors 114 Distinguished Physicians, Scientists with FIDSA Designation". Infectious Diseases Society of America. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Members & Operation". Fungal Diagnostics Laboratory Consortium. 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ Urban, Joanna (16 February 2021). "65 Fellows Elected into the American Academy of Microbiology". American Society for Microbiology. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ Cuomo, Christina (2024). "Microbiology Spectrum Board of Editors". Microbiology Spectrum. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ Przygodzki, Ronald M. (2024). "Editorial Board". The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ Niesters, Bert; Pinsky, Benjamin (2024). "Journal of Clinical Virology". Journal of Clinical Virology. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee (CLIAC) - Current Members". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 19 February 2024.