About

Ira Blader, PhD, is the Department Head and a Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech. His research interests include Toxoplasma oxygen sensing, Toxoplasma-nervous system interactions, and Toxoplasma host interaction. Dr. Blader's professional experience includes positions as a Professor at the University at Buffalo in Microbiology and Immunology from 2016 to 2024, and as an Associate Professor at the University at Oklahoma in Microbiology and Immunology from 2003 to 2013. He completed his PhD in Cell Biology/Neuroscience in 1999 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and his BS in Biochemistry in 1993 at Virginia Tech. His current research focuses on microbial pathogenesis, parasitology, and host-pathogen interactions, with a particular emphasis on Toxoplasma. Dr. Blader is a member of the American Society of Microbiology and has contributed to the scientific community through his research and academic leadership.

Research topics

• Biology
• Political Science
• Neuroscience
• Immunology
• Virology
• Engineering
• Public relations
• Law

Selected publications

• 2025 Acknowledgment of <i>mSphere Ad Hoc</i> Reviewers

  mSphere · 2026-01-27

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  A s we approach the end of 2025, I have been reflecting on the past year's events as well as how mSphere has moved forward.Scientific research, funding, and publishing have certainly seen more headlines in 2025 than any other year that I can remember.And while several headlines highlighted the best of what science can do, often we were greeted by unprecedented attacks on science and the scientific enterprise.Although I cannot speak for everyone, I think that it is safe to say that most of these stories have left us in shock and with trepidation over what science may look like in 2026 and beyond.Despite all this, microbiologists continue to show up.We are still working to make the world healthier and more sustainable by the research that we do as well as other activities that support and complement research, and this includes our reviewers.It is truly inspiring as an editor to see how many people readily accept our invitations to review a manuscript while the world surrounding us is hectic, chaotic, and stressful.Reviewers are the soul of any journal and are critical in helping us as a journal provide an outlet for scientists to publish their "news" or scientific discoveries.The fact that reviewers can do this while the world is metaphorically burning around them is a testament to their perseverance and dedication.

  PublisherDOI

• Protist oxygen-sensing and the role of prolyl hydroxylase-regulation of E3(SCF) ubiquitin ligases

  Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects · 2026-03-07

  article
  PublisherDOI

• <i>mSphere</i> ’s journey and future: a message from the new editor in chief

  mSphere · 2025-07-01

  editorialOpen access1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• A call for the United States to continue investing in science

  mSystems · 2025-02-27

  editorialOpen access1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• A call for the United States to continue investing in science

  Journal of Virology · 2025-02-27

  editorialOpen access1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• A call for the United States to continue investing in science

  ASM Case Reports · 2025-02-27

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• A call for the United States to continue investing in science

  Clinical Microbiology Reviews · 2025-02-27

  reviewOpen access1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• A call for the United States to continue investing in science

  Journal of Bacteriology · 2025-02-27

  editorialOpen access1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• A call for the United States to continue investing in science

  mSphere · 2025-02-27 · 1 citations

  editorialOpen access1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• A call for the United States to continue investing in science

  mBio · 2025-02-27

  editorialOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  International audience

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• NIH Grant F32AI010478

  NIH · $73k

• Glycoregulation of Skp1 in the cytoplasm and nucleus

  NIH · $2.9M · 2009–2020

• Apicomplexan Drug Target Discovery

  NIH · $441k · 2013–2016

• Oxygen Sensing by the AIDS Opportunist Pathogen, Toxoplasma gondii

  NIH · $435k · 2015–2018

• NIH Grant R21EY021259

  NIH · $403k · 2014

Frequent coauthors

• Michael A. Fox

  Biomedical Research Institute

  17 shared

• Christopher M. West

  University of California, Merced

  17 shared

• Carlos Gustavo Baptista

  University at Buffalo, State University of New York

  12 shared

• Gabriela L. Carrillo

  Virginia Tech

  12 shared

• Hanke van der Wel

  University of Georgia

  10 shared

• Kevin M. Brown

  University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

  10 shared

• Mohamed‐Ali Hakimi

  Inserm

  10 shared

• Elizabeth A. Wohlfert

  University at Buffalo, State University of New York

  8 shared