Susan Richardson

Biography

Dr. Richardson has developed a research program around the important public health fungal pathogen, Blastomyces dermatitidis, the causative agent of North American blastomycosis. Her research group produced the evidence for the identification of a new species of Blastomyces, B. gilchristii, geographically clustered in the hyperendemic regions of Ontario and Wisconsin, using phylogenetic analysis based on MLST. Ongoing research is focused on research questions around what the climatic, ecologic and virulence or other factors may be that relate to the emergence of this new species and its spread outside of traditional endemic areas. In pediatric mycoses, Dr. Richardson has led a team of investigators in a multi-center study of invasive neonatal candidiasis, investigating risk factors, neurodevelopmental  outcome and the role of perinatal infection in the early onset variant of this severe and often fatal disease. Dr. Richardson has developed a research program around the important public health fungal pathogen, Blastomyces dermatitidis, the causative agent of North American blastomycosis. Her research group produced the evidence for the identification of a new species of Blastomyces, B. gilchristii, geographically clustered in the hyperendemic regions of Ontario and Wisconsin, using phylogenetic analysis based on MLST. Ongoing research is focused on research questions around what the climatic, ecologic and virulence or other factors may be that relate to the emergence of this new species and its spread outside of traditional endemic areas. In pediatric mycoses, Dr. Richardson has led a team of investigators in a multi-center study of invasive neonatal candidiasis, investigating risk factors, neurodevelopmental  outcome and the role of perinatal infection in the early onset variant of this severe and often fatal disease.

Research Interest

Dr. Richardson has an active research program, primarily in the areas of invasive fungal infections, the laboratory diagnosis of viral respiratory infections and investigations into diagnostic modalities for infectious diseases in children, especially utilizing molecular methods.