The Ryan White Center for Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Global Health at Riley Children’s Health delivers comprehensive, family‑centered care for children affected by infectious diseases. The center provides full-spectrum services, including advanced diagnostics, prevention strategies and leading-edge treatments for both common and rare infectious conditions and their complications. Reflecting our commitment to accessible expert care, in 2025 Riley pediatric infectious diseases specialists provided care for patients during more than 6,100 inpatient and outpatient visits. INFECTIOUS DISEASES
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
Major international research studies ■ SMART Brain: Severe Malaria and Risk to the Brain ■ MAP-CKD: Malaria-associated pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease ■ Role of the gut microbiota in shaping severity of malaria
19 funded research projects in 2025
14 funded by the National Institutes of Health
■ Post-tuberculosis lung disease in youth with and without HIV globally ■ Long-term clinical and immunologic consequences of inflammation in perinatal HIV ■ Predicting neurodevelopmental risk in children born to mothers living with HIV in Kenya ■ Developing a Mentor Mother strategy to improve prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission
Specialized programs
TOP DISTINCTIONS
Immunocompromised Host Infectious Diseases Consult Service Inpatient and outpatient services range from pretransplant evaluations to treatment of opportunistic infections in children with primary or acquired immune deficiencies. HIV Program Expert infectious diseases care for immunocompromised children; provides comprehensive prevention, diagnosis and treatment. We partner with multidisciplinary teams to deliver specialized care from pretransplant evaluation through the management of complex and life- threatening infectious complications. International Travel Program We offer health services before and after international travel, including preventive medicine, vaccinations, education and support for parents of internationally adopted children. Infection Prevention Program Multidisciplinary team committed to preventing infection through vaccination, other evidence‑based prevention measures and education. The Family and Friends Vaccines Program allows patients to receive recommended vaccines while already connected to care at Riley Children’s. Community‑based vaccine drives bring essential immunizations directly into neighborhoods, reducing barriers and supporting timely preventive care.
Rheumatology, Immunology, Hematology and Infectious Diseases Program A unique program that brings together leading experts in rheumatology, immunology, hematology and infectious diseases to collaboratively evaluate, diagnose and treat patients with complex immunologic diseases. Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Our physicians and pharmacists work to ensure antibiotics and diagnostic tests are used appropriately, and we develop clinical practice guidelines for such use.
■ One of the largest pediatric infectious diseases programs in the United States ■ One of 13 children’s hospitals designated by the Infectious Diseases Society of America as an Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence ■ Nationally recognized expertise, including comprehensive pediatric infectious diseases care, as well as specialized services for children and adolescents living with HIV, infections in immunocompromised patients and pediatric travel medicine ■ Internationally recognized for pediatric malaria and HIV research Riley Infectious Diseases experts serve on committees in the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the American Society of Tropical
Clinical research studies based at Riley Children’s ■ PFAPA: Understanding genetics and immunology
■ Optimal step-down therapy for children with invasive MRSA ■ Optimal diagnostic testing for histoplasmosis in children ■ BrighT STAR LIBRA Study: Leveraging implementation science for blood culture reduction approaches Riley Children’s is a participating site of the Overcoming COVID-19 Research Consortium and the Pediatric Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators (PALISI) Network. Research training grants ■ Northern Pacific Global Health Leadership, Education and Development for Early-career Researchers ■ Research training in infection and neurodevelopment in Uganda
CO-DIVISION CHIEF Chandy C. John, MD, MS Ryan White Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics, IU School of Medicine > Connect with Dr. John on Doximity.
Our team is a leader in advanced rapid detection of antibiotic- resistant bacteria.
64 research publications in 2025
NOTABLE PUBLICATIONS
Nature Medicine: March 2025 Elevated uric acid levels, mortality and cognitive
Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy Team Multidisciplinary team works closely with families to ensure patients safely receive intravenous antibiotics at home.
impairment in children with severe malaria Nature Communications: October 2025 Gut bacterial dysbiosis in pediatric severe malaria associates with post-discharge mortality Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome: January 2026 Plasma inflammatory biomarkers lack strong association with cognitive outcomes among young adults with perinatal HIV exposure and/or acquisition Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society: June 2025 Tuberculosis diagnosis, treatment and prevention services for children living with HIV in low- and middle-income countries: A multiregional site survey
CO-DIVISION CHIEF James B. Wood, MD, MSCI Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, IU School of Medicine > Connect with Dr. Wood on Doximity.
Medicine and Hygiene, and the World Health Organization.
17 board certified physicians
See full team member list >
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