Jordi Torrelles, PhD, named next director of Ohio State's Infectious Diseases Institute

Jordi Torrelles, PhD, professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, has been selected as the next director of The Ohio State University Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI). Beginning July 1, he will lead efforts to advance infectious disease research and national visibility in the field as director of the institute, while continuing to advance his own research and academic contributions.

Dr. Torrelles is an internationally recognized researcher in tuberculosis pathogenesis and how comorbidities such as aging, diabetes and chronic HIV infection drives host susceptibility to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other respiratory pathogens. He has built a career centered on advancing collaborative approaches to infectious disease research across academia and public health and also through global scientific partnerships.

As director of the IDI at the Ohio State University, he will: 

• Expand the institute’s foundation and impact by strengthening research programs, increasing external funding opportunities and enhancing the national visibility of the Ohio State University’s discoveries in the field of infectious diseases.
• Use his leadership skills and expertise in strengthening partnerships among clinicians and researchers across the university to build collaborative and interdisciplinary teams capable of addressing complex infectious disease challenges.

Accelerate discovery and innovation. This will include using novel, TB diagnostic tools and therapeutics that he developed, to help improve health outcomes for communities across Ohio and around the world.