Trudeau Institute

04/24/2026

Dr. Deb Brown traveled to Boston for the The American Association of Immunologists - AAI 2026 Annual Meeting to present her undergraduate students’ work investigating the role of adjuvants in universal influenza vaccines.

Some highlights of the meeting were the excellent Immunology Education and Science Communication sessions as well as a Distinguished Lecture by former Trudeau Institute PI Dr. Fran Lund.

04/23/2026

We’re continuing to highlight the researchers behind the Chojnacki Lab’s newly funded NIH projects. Meet Evan Nece.

Evan is a research technician at the Trudeau Institute working on antimicrobial drug discovery targeting tuberculosis and other bacterial pathogens. He is originally from Moorestown, New Jersey. He completed his undergraduate degree in Biology at Bates College and went on to earn an MSc in Control of Infectious Diseases from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

He joined the lab to gain hands-on experience in tuberculosis and antimicrobial resistance research, fields that are both scientifically compelling and critically important to global public health. Through this work, he aims to further develop his laboratory and research skills while contributing to impactful scientific efforts.

Evan plans to pursue a PhD focused on tuberculosis and antimicrobial resistance, with a particular interest in drug discovery. He is motivated to build on his current research experience and deepen his understanding of infectious disease biology.

Outside of the lab, he enjoys living in the Adirondack Mountains, where he spends his time skiing in the winter and hiking, trail running, and canoeing in the warmer months.



Learn more about the lab's newly funded work here: https://www.trudeauinstitute.org/news/dr-michaelle-chojnacki-awarded-two-nih-grants-to-advance-innovative-new-treatments-for-tuberculosis

04/22/2026

Thank you to Stewart's Shops for investing in the next generation of scientists through hands-on research at Trudeau Institute! Support like this helps make this program possible each year.

Learn more about the Summer Undergraduate Research Program here: https://www.trudeauinstitute.org/summer-undergraduate-program

04/21/2026

WCAX-TV Channel 3 News interviewed Trudeau Institute's President and Director, William W Reiley, about the impact of new DASNY - Dormitory Authority of the State of New York funding on the Institute's facility upgrades. We are grateful for this $2.5M in support to advance our mission.

Learn more here: https://www.trudeauinstitute.org/news/trudeau-institute-awarded-25-million-dasny-crest-grant-to-strengthen-infrastructure-and-advance-community-resilience

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04/21/2026

Science doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Meet Abraham Fikru Mechesso, part of the team advancing the Chojnacki Lab’s newly funded NIH research.

Abraham is a postdoctoral researcher in antimicrobial drug discovery at the Trudeau Institute. Originally from Ethiopia, he received his academic training in pharmacology and infectious diseases at Addis Ababa University and Kyungpook National University, where he developed a strong interest in antimicrobial resistance and antibacterial drug development.

Prior to joining Trudeau, he conducted research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center - UNMC and the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, focusing on antimicrobial resistance mechanisms and the discovery of antimicrobial peptides and natural compounds targeting clinically important pathogens, including MRSA and ESKAPE pathogens.

His current work integrates genomic data with structural bioinformatics to identify small molecules targeting mycobacteria and ESKAPE pathogens. His long-term goal is to lead an independent research program in antibacterial drug discovery.

Outside the lab, Abraham enjoys exploring the natural beauty of the Adirondacks, including hiking and outdoor activities around Saranac Lake.



Learn more about the lab's newly funded work here: https://www.trudeauinstitute.org/news/dr-michaelle-chojnacki-awarded-two-nih-grants-to-advance-innovative-new-treatments-for-tuberculosis

04/17/2026

Recently, Trudeau Institute hosted Dr. Elena Tonc, Assistant Professor at Hamilton College, for a seminar on emerging links between the immune system, inflammation, and chronic pain.

Opportunities like this connect our Biomedical Research Scholars with scientists beyond the Institute and offer a broader view of how biomedical research spans disciplines.

Learn more about the program here: https://www.trudeauinstitute.org/brsp

04/16/2026

Trudeau Institute has been awarded a $2.5 million grant from DASNY - Dormitory Authority of the State of New York to upgrade core infrastructure across our campus.

This funding will modernize our HVAC and building management systems, improve energy efficiency, and ensure the precise environmental conditions required for biomedical research. These upgrades strengthen the reliability of our labs and support the day-to-day work behind studying infectious diseases and improving public health.

We’re grateful to DASNY’s Community Resiliency, Economic Sustainability, and Technology (CREST) Program for supporting this critical infrastructure, and we appreciate Governor Kathy Hochul and New York State’s support for enabling organizations like the Trudeau Institute to drive scientific discovery and foster economic growth in the North Country.

Read more here: https://www.trudeauinstitute.org/news/trudeau-institute-awarded-25-million-dasny-crest-grant-to-strengthen-infrastructure-and-advance-community-resilience

04/15/2026

Trudeau Institute’s Biomedical Research Scholars Program is well underway this semester!

Students Rejoice Muleya and Matthew Tsogsaikhan from Hamilton College are using flow cytometry to analyze immune cell populations after influenza infection.

Learn more about the program here: https://www.trudeauinstitute.org/brsp

04/09/2026

Trudeau Institute has received $2.5 million in federal funding, supported by Senator Chuck Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

This investment will modernize our research facilities and expand training for scientific staff, strengthening the workforce needed to support advanced biomedical research.

By pairing new equipment with hands-on training, this funding prepares the next generation of researchers to study infectious diseases and advance vaccines and treatments. It also strengthens national healthcare interests while bringing resources to the Adirondack region.

We’re grateful for this support and what it makes possible for science and public health in the North Country.

Click the link in the comments to read more.

04/09/2026

Trudeau Institute has received $4.2 million in federal funding, championed by Congresswoman Elise Stefanik to expand and modernize our research facilities.

This investment strengthens our ability to develop infectious disease models and adds automated data systems that improve the speed and scale of our research, enabling scientists to translate laboratory discoveries more rapidly into medical countermeasures that safeguard public health.

As one of the few institutions in New York with Biosafety Level 3 capacity, Trudeau plays a critical role in safely studying infectious diseases and advancing vaccines and treatments.

It also supports regional economic growth in the region and reinforces U.S. capacity to respond to emerging infectious disease threats.

Click the link in the comments to read more.

04/08/2026

New publication from Trudeau Institute!

New work out of Trudeau Institute, published in Infection and Immunity, takes a step toward improving how tuberculosis treatments are evaluated before they reach patients.

Led by Dr. Brian Weinrick the team discovered research models that more reliably capture the complexity of disease in the lungs. This has been difficult to reproduce in early-stage research.

Congratulations to the lab team, and to Dr. Gaëlle Guiewi as first author on the publication. This work helps strengthen how new approaches are evaluated earlier in development.

Click the link in the comments to learn more.

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through an R21 award.

04/07/2026

Today, World Health Day is a reminder of what it takes to protect and improve health around the world.

This year’s theme, “Together for Health. Stand with Science,” highlights the power of scientific collaboration to prevent disease, make informed decisions, and turn evidence into action.

At Trudeau Institute, our scientists are part of that global effort. Through research focused on the prevention and elimination of infectious disease, they are working to stop illness before it starts and to build a healthier future for everyone.