Division: Vaccinology

Dr. Pyles in a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology & Immunology and co-Director of the UTMB Assay Development Services Division in the Galveston National Lab. He received his B.A. in Biology and Chemistry from Hanover College, Indiana. He received his PhD in Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry & Microbiology from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He completed his postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy at the University of Cincinnati.  He joined UTMB in 2000 as part of the establishment of the Sealy Center for Vaccine Development.

Dr. Pyles’ research interests focus on the interaction of host mucosae with the bacterial communities (microbiome) and pathogens that dramatically impact human health.  His career has been primarily focused on improving women’s health including study of sexually-transmitted infections. He is currently involved in preclinical and clinical studies of devices and interventions that increase ease of use and efficacy of next generation therapies.  Recent work has led to the establishment of novel systems to study both vaginal and nasal human mucosae after colonization by transplanted microbiome communities.