The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology is pleased to announce James Slauch has been appointed the inaugural Deb & Tim Paul Chair in Human Infectious Disease & Immunology.
Dr. Slauch is an infectious diseases and immunology expert and leader in medical research and education. For over 30 years he has worked to better understand the pathogenesis of Salmonella typhimurium. Salmonella causes over one million cases of gastroenteritis and enteric fever annually in the U.S. and is the leading cause of death among foodborne bacterial pathogens. With his research he is uncovering the molecular mechanisms by which Salmonella evades the host immune system to cause disease.
“I am humbled and honored by this award. I appreciate Dr. Paul’s support of the university and School of MCB,” Slauch said.
Dr. Slauch joined the Illinois faculty in 1994 and has been head of the Department of Microbiology since 2018. He is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and a University Scholar. He received his PhD in Molecular Biology from Princeton University and completed postdoctoral research in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at Harvard Medical School.
“Jim Slauch has been an outstanding faculty member and a leading expert in microbiology. He has significantly contributed to many aspects of the School of MCB's research and teaching efforts,” said Milan Bagchi, Deborah Paul Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Director of the School of MCB.
Dr. Slauch played a key role in the proposal and establishment of the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, which accepted its first students in 2018. As the first Interim Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, he oversaw faculty recruitment, course development, and curriculum. This also involved a significant contribution to the initial accreditation review by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. Additionally, he re-established the Medical Scholars MD/PhD Program at Carle Illinois. He stepped down as director of the Medical Scholars Program in August 2025 after 23 years in the role and continues to be a dedicated supporter of the missions of the Carle Illinois College of Medicine.
The endowed chair was made possible by a generous gift from Deborah A. Paul, PhD. Dr. Paul received her master’s degree in biology from the University of Illinois in 1979 and her PhD in biochemistry from the Medical College of Virginia. Now retired, Dr. Paul enjoyed a long and successful career as a biochemist and Director, Business Development & Licensing at Abbott Laboratories. She is credited with pioneering research that led to identifying HIV antigen in the serum of infected patients, resulting in the development of Abbott’s HIV antigen test used in assessing disease prognosis, monitoring antiviral therapy, determining HIV infection in newborns, and diagnosing acute HIV infection, prior to the advent of PCR testing for HIV. She also collaborated with Abbott’s pharmaceutical division in the discovery of Abbott’s protease inhibitor antiviral treatments for HIV. In addition, Dr. Paul has taught immunology at Carthage College and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
Dr. Paul’s research career and philanthropic commitment to the Deb and Tim Paul Chair in Human Infection Disease & Immunology were inspired by her close relationship to her brother, the late Tim Paul. Tim passed away at the age of 28 from AIDS-related cancer.
“I am delighted to establish this chair in human infectious disease and immunology in honor of my brother, Tim. This has been a goal of mine since I began my philanthropic journey with Illinois many years ago. With AIDS and more recently COVID, we have seen the tragic loss of lives from emerging infectious diseases. Research in this area will always be needed, and this chair is a way for me, and Tim if he were here today, to support this important work,” Dr. Paul said.
An investiture will be held later this fall.
