Associated with the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology (MIC), the Criss Laboratory investigates the pathogenic mechanisms of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the cause of the bacterial sexually transmitted infection gonorrhea. Gonorrhea affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide every year and has devastating effects on human health. Our research seeks to reveal vulnerabilities in the pathogen’s defense mechanisms that can be therapeutically exploited to combat this prevalent, debilitating infectious disease.

The Criss lab is affiliated with the following Programs, Centers, and Institutes at UVA: