Gail J. Demmler-Harrison, MD

Dr. Demmler-Harrison focuses her research on medically important viral infections of the fetus, newborn, infant, and child, especially cytomegalovirus or CMV. She continues to conduct a prospective multidisciplinary study of the long-term effects of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection on growth, development, vision and hearing, and the possible benefits of fetal and neonatal antiviral therapy for this condition. She also is evaluating the methods for prevention of congenital CMV infection through professional education interventions and promotion of CMV awareness and behavioral interventions in the community.In addition, she develops and evaluates new diagnostic tests and antiviral treatment regimens for other neonatal infections, such as herpes simplex virus (HSV), as well as for respiratory viral pathogens such as season and pandemic influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus, and adenovirus, which are of medical importance in infants and children. She is a frequent speaker at scientific meetings, the author of numerous scientific publications and aco-editor of a major textbook in pediatric infectious diseases.