News Release

American Society for Microbiology honors Melissa B. Miller

Grant and Award Announcement

American Society for Microbiology

The 2009 American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Young Investigator Award is being presented to Melissa B. Miller, Ph.D., D(ABMM), director, Clinical Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, assistant professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and associate director, Clinical Microbiology-Immunology Laboratory at the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine, Chapel Hill. This award recognizes outstanding laboratory research in clinical microbiology or antimicrobial agents.

Dr. Miller has contributed significantly to the fields of cystic fibrosis microbiology and detection and epidemiology of MRSA, and is known for her research on the development and application of molecular assays for use in the diagnosis of infectious diseases. She built the molecular infectious disease diagnostic laboratory at UNC that provides molecular detection and identification for over 35 different infectious disease etiologies.

Dr. Miller is actively involved in several research collaborations on antimicrobial agents, including methicillin-resistance in Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistance in enterococcus, and macrolide-resistance in Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus agalactiae. She has received industry and federal funding support for her research and has also distinguished herself as an excellent teacher of technologists, residents, fellows, medical students, and graduate students, receiving several awards from UNC for her efforts.

Dr. Miller received her Ph.D. from Princeton University and completed postdoctoral training at the UNC Hospitals in 2004. She currently serves on the Board of the American College of Microbiology.

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The Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Young Investigator Award will be presented during the 109th General Meeting of the ASM, May 17-21, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ASM is the world's oldest and largest life science organization and has more than 43,000 members worldwide. ASM's mission is to advance the microbiological sciences and promote the use of scientific knowledge for improved health and economic and environmental well-being.


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