By Merin C. MacDonald
In this month’s Chair’s Spotlight, we highlight the work of Peter Rice, MD, Professor of Medicine and clinician in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology and Program in Innate Immunity.
Dr. Rice’s work focuses on translational and clinical studies involving vaccines and therapeutics for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and the study of gonococcal immune mechanisms involved in pathogenesis and protection in animal models. He has been principal or co-investigator on over 50 federally- or industry-funded projects, and is currently a multiple principal investigator on 4 NIH/NIAID-funded studies that focus on the development and pre-IND studies of gonococcal vaccine candidates, and gonococcal and HIV prevention through therapeutic drug delivery. He is also a co-founder of STIRx, Inc., which was established in 2022 to develop preventives and therapeutics for sexually transmitted infections. Dr. Rice serves on the Executive Committee for the NIH/NIAID Sexually Transmitted Infections Cooperative Research Centers (STI-CRCs) and is a member of the BactiVac Network. In addition to his research, clinical efforts, and service, Dr. Rice has been a member of the Department Personnel Action Committee (DPAC) for the Department of Medicine since 2005, where he served as Chair from 2008 to June 2022.
Dr. Rice joined UMMH and UMass Chan as a faculty member in 2005. Prior to arriving to UMass, he was the Chief of the Section of Infectious Diseases at Boston University Medical Center (BUMC) from 1996 -2005, Interim Director of Infectious Diseases at Boston City and BUMC from 1995-96, and Chief of Infectious Diseases at Boston City Hospital from 1990-95. Dr. Rice earned his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, and completed his internal medicine residency and a clinical fellowship in infectious diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He also completed a research fellowship in infectious diseases at Harvard Medical School.
We are grateful for Dr. Rice’s contributions to the Department of Medicine as a researcher and clinician, and offer our sincere gratitude for his many years of service as Chair of the DPAC. Dr. Rice will be honored with the Citizen’s Award at the Department of Medicine’s Town Hall Meeting on Monday, October 3rd.