Kenneth Gavina, PhD

Bio

Dr. Kenneth Gavina is an American Board of Medical Microbiology (ABMM)-certified Clinical Microbiologist with the Indiana University School of Medicine. He is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pathology & Laboratory Medicine and currently serves as the Medical Director of Clinical Microbiology and Serology for Eskenazi Health.

Key Publications

Gavina K, Whitacre BE, Meyer TL, Van Benten K, Glazier M, Emery CL, Lavik JP, Relich RF. (2023) The Brief Case: Suspicious Gram-negative coccobacilli – Francisella tularensis subsp. novicida isolated from an immunocompromised patient. JCM 61(6). Doi: 10.1128/jcm.00893-22
Gavina K, Franco LC, Robinson CM, Hymas W, Lei GS, Sinclair W, Hall T, Carlquist J, Lavik JP, Emery CL, Heaton PR, Hillyard D, Lopransi BK, Relich RF. (2023) Standardization of SARS-CoV-2 cycle threshold values – A multisite investigation evaluating viral quantitation across multiple commercial COVID-19 detection platforms. Microbiol Spectr. Jan18:e0447022. Doi: 10.1128/spectrm.04470-22.
Switzer C, Verschoor CP, Gavina K, Mertz D, Luinstra K, Pernica J, Smieja M. (2022) Likelihood of hospitalization for a chronic respiratory condition following pediatric infection with enterovirus and rhinovirus strains. J Infect Med. Doi: 10.1016/j.imj.2022.10.002.
Alvarez-Larrotta C, Agudelo OM, Gavina K, Yanow SK, Carmona-Fonseca, Arango E. (2022) Effect of plasmodial infection during pregnancy on passive neonatal immunization against tetanus toxoid and rotavirus. AJTMH 107(5). Doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-0335.
Alvarez-Larrotta C, Agudelo OM, Duque Y, Gavina K, Yanow SK, Maestre A, Carmona-Fonseca J, Arango E. (2019) Submicroscopic Plasmodium infection during pregnancy reduces immune responses against tetanus toxoid vaccine. Clin Exp Immunol 195(1). Doi: 10.1111/cei.13213.
Gnidehou S, Mitran C, Arango E, Banman S, Mena A, Medawar E, Lima B, Rajwani J, Jin A, Doritchamou J, Gavina K, Ntumngia F, Ndam N, Salanti A, Kano F, Carbahlo L, Adams J, Maestre A, Good MF, Yanow SK. (2019) Cross-Species Immune Recognition Between Plasmodium vivax Duffy Binding Protein Antibodies and the Plasmodium falciparum Surface Antigen VAR2CSA. J Infect Dis 219(1). Doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiy467.
Gavina K, Gnidehou S, Arango E, Hamel-Martineau C, Mitran C, Agudelo O, Lopez C, Karidio A, Banman S, Carmona-Fonseca J, Salanti A, Ndam N, Hawkes M, Maestre A, Yanow SK. (2018) Clinical outcomes of submicroscopic malaria infections and correlates of protection of VAR2CSA antibodies in a longitudinal study of pregnant women in Colombia. Infect Immun 86(44) e00797-17. Doi: 10.1128/IAI.00797-17.
Gavina K, Arango A, Alvarez C, Maestre A, Yanow SK. (2017) A sensitive species-specific reverse transcription real-time PCR method for the detection of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. Parasite Epidemiology & Control 2. Doi: 10.1016/j.parepi.2017.04.001.
Yanow SK, Gavina K, Gnidehou S, Maestre A. (2016) Impact of Malaria in Pregnancy as Latin America Approaches Elimination. Trends Parasitol 32. Doi: 10.1016/j.pt.2016.01.008.

Titles & Appointments

Assistant Professor of Clinical Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Medical Director, Eskenazi Health Clinical Microbiology and Serology

Education

2023 FEL Fellowship in Medical and Public Health Laboratory Microbiology, Indiana University School of Medicine

2018 PhD University of Alberta

2013 BSC University of Winnipeg
Research

My current research focuses on the development, validation, and stewardship of molecular laboratory-developed tests (LDTs) for emerging infectious diseases. This includes, but is not limited to, designing novel primers & probes for infectious disease targets, industry-sponsored clinical studies to evaluate new technologies, development and optimization of various nucleic-acid amplification tests (NAATs), and evaluating the implementation of new molecular diagnostic tests within the clinical laboratory.
Professional Organizations

American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)

American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

Association for Molecular Pathology

Association for Public Health Laboratories

Canadian Association for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Disease

Pan American Society for Clinical Virology

South Central Association for Clinical Microbiology
Board Certifications

American Board of Medical Microbiology
Clinical Interests

Diagnostic stewardship, molecular diagnostics, novel assay development, next-generation sequencing, laboratory automation, and point-of-care testing for infectious diseases in low-resource settings.
Awards

Org: Indiana University School of Medicine
Desc: Pathology Fellow Award for Excellence in Research
Scope: Department
Date: 2023-06-09

Org: Indiana University School of Medicine
Desc: Post-Doctoral Association Research Grant
Scope: University
Date: 2022-06-15

Org: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
Desc: Indiana University Top Post-Doctoral Nominee
Scope: National
Date: 2022-02-28

Org: Pan American Society for Clinical Virology
Desc: Clinical Virology Travel Award
Scope: International
Date: 2022-02-23

Org: MITACS
Desc: Post-Doctoral Accelerate Internship
Scope: International
Date: 2019-08-05

Org: American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene
Desc: Young Investigator Award
Scope: International
Date: 2017-11-07

Org: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Desc: NSERC Create PhD Scholarship
Scope: National
Date: 2017-03-13

Org: Alberta Innovation and Advanced Education Institution
Desc: Alberta Innovation and Advanced Education Scholarship
Scope: State
Date: 2014-12-15

Org: University of Alberta
Desc: Centenary Graduate Award
Scope: University
Date: 2014-11-17

Org: University of Alberta
Desc: University of Alberta Entrance Scholarship
Scope: University
Date: 2013-09-01

Org: University of Winnipeg
Desc: Dean's Honour List - Student of Highest Distinction
Scope: University
Date: 2013-06-18

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