Yeon Choi, Ph.D.

Research Associate
Department of Pediatrics
Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease

Human cytomegalovirus infection is the most common cause of congenital viral infection in humans and can be responsible for non-genetically related hearing loss. While most congenitally infected infants remain asymptomatic, up to 40% can develop sensorineural hearing loss. Newborn blood spots can be used to detect HCMV. Dr. Choi is conducting a pilot study in conjunction with the Minnesota Department of Health to determine the incidence of HCMV infection in correlation with hearing loss with the aim of improving outcome with therapies and/or interventions.

Currently, there are no vaccines to prevent HCMV infection. Dr Choi is also involved in researching animal models for vaccine development. In order to develop a more effective vaccine, a better understanding of the fetal-placental unit is essential. Studying the cellular immune response of NK cells and T cells to CMV infection in the placenta of animal models may lead to an improved understanding of the process of congenital infection in the fetal-placental unit.

Selected publication:

Schraff SA, Schleiss MR, Brown DK, Meinzen-Derr J, Choi KY, Greinwald JH, Choo DI. 2007. Macrophage inflammatory proteins in cytomegalovirus-related inner ear injury. Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 137, no. 4:612-618.