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Theodoros Kelesidis, M.D.,  Ph.D.

Theodoros Kelesidis, M.D., Ph.D.

Associate Professor

School
Medical School
Department
Internal Medicine | Immunology

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For more information on the doctor and patient care, please visit the clinical profile.

  • Biography

    Theodoros Kelesidis, M.D., Ph.D., MSc, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center and a member of the Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine.

    Originally from Greece, Dr. Kelesidis earned his medical degree at the University of Athens Medical School. He completed internal medicine residency training at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Boston. He then received advanced training in infectious diseases through a fellowship at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he also completed a doctorate in microbiology, immunology, and molecular genetics and a master’s degree in clinical and translational research

    Dr. Kelesidis joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2023.

    Dr. Kelesidis' research focuses on infectious diseases, immunology, and cardiometabolic complications of infectious diseases including HIV infection. His lab aims at understanding the complex interplay between oxidative stress, inflammation, and aberrant host responses that drive end-organ disease in infectious diseases.  

    Dr. Kelesidis’ lab integrates both basic and translational research platforms with the goal to apply tools from multiple fields, such as immunology, virology, molecular biology, and medicine to understand the immunopathogenesis of infectious diseases. His vision is to define the mechanistic links between viral infections such as HIV and SARS-CoV-2 infection, oxidative stress, inflammation, and end-organ disease such as cardiovascular disease. These findings may lead to the development of novel therapeutic interventions that might improve the prognosis of patients infected with viruses such as HIV and SARS-CoV-2. He is recognized as an international expert on infectious diseases and cardiometabolic syndrome and has received numerous awards for his research.

    Personal Note

    Dr. Kelesidis’ interests outside of medicine include his family and traveling.

  • Education
    Medical School
    University of Athens School of Health Sciences, Greece (2004)
    Residency
    St. Elizabeth's Medical Center (2009), Internal Medicine
    Other Post Graduate Training
    University of California Los Angeles (2013)
    Undergraduate School
    UCLA School of Medicine (2013)
    Fellowship
    David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (2013), Infectious Diseases
    Undergraduate School
    UCLA School of Medicine (2016)
  • Research Interest
    • Cardiometabolic disease
    • End organ disease associated with viral infections
    • HIV-associated cardiometabolic disease
    • Host pathogen interactions
    • Immunology
    • Immunopathogenesis of HIV infection
    • Inflammation
    • Oxidative stress
    • Respiratory viruses
    • SARS-CoV-2
    • Toxicity of antiretroviral therapy
    • Virology
  • Publications

    Star Featured Publications

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  • Books

    Featured 

    The HAART induced metabolic syndrome. In Obesity and Diabetes:The HAART induced metabolic syndrome

    Tsiodras S, Kelesidis T, Mantzoros C (2005). Totowa NJ, Humana Press, Inc

    Environmental inputs, intake of nutrients and endogenous molecules contributing to the regulation of energy homeostasis. In Nutrition and Metabolism:Environmental inputs, intake of nutrients and endogenous molecules contributing to the regulation of energy homeostasis

    Kelesidis T, Kelesidis I, Mantzoros C (2009). Totowa, NJ, Humana Press, Inc

    Central integration of environmental and endogenous signals important in the regulation of food intake and energy expenditure. In Nutrition and Metabolism: Central integration of environmental and endogenous signals important in the regulation of food intake and energy expenditure

    Kelesidis T, Kelesidis I, Mantzoros C (2009). Totowa, NJ, Humana Press, Inc

    Clinical Management of Complicated Urinary Tract Infection. In Urinary Tract Immunology: Clinical Management of Complicated Urinary Tract Infection

    Kelesidis T (2011). InTech

    Clostridium difficile. In Gut Instincts: A Clinician’s Handbook of Digestive and Liver Diseases: Clostridium difficile

    Kelesidis T, Pothoulakis C (2012). SLACK Incorporated

  • Honors & Awards
    • R21 AI178632 Research Award
      (2023)
    • Merck Investigator Studies Program Research Award
      (2022)
    • R01 AG059502 Research Award
      (2020)
    • Investigator initiated research Award Gilead
      (2019)
    • R03AG059462 Research Award
      (2019)
    • First Place Award in Basic Science Competition, UCLA Department of Medicine Research Day
      (2018)
    • OS17-LA-002 California HIV Research Program One Step Ahead Award
      (2018)
    • R01AG059501 Research Award
      (2018)
    • R03AG059462 Research Award
      (2018)
    • R21AI36708 Research Award
      (2018)
    • ACSR Young Investigator Research Award
      (2017)
    • Campbell Foundation Award Research Award
      (2016)
    • Teaching Award David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA: Outstanding Problem-Based Learning Tutor Award
      (2014-2017)
    • K08AI108272 Career development award
      (2013)
    • Young Investigator Award 19th Conferences on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2012) K08AI108272 Career development award
      (2012)
    • George L Tully III, MD, Medical Educator Award for excellence in patient care and education as well as commitment to student and resident teaching, Caritas St Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Tufts University, Boston, MA
      (2009)
    • Krishnaswamy Ramaswamy, MD House Officer Award for the most outstanding medical resident Caritas St Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Tufts University, Boston, MA
      (2009)
    • Teaching Award for Excellence in Teaching of Medical Students, Tufts University, Boston, MA
      (2008)
    • Commendation awarded from Academia of the University of Athens for ranking first in the class at the Medical School of University of Athens
      (2005)
    • State Scholarship ‘‘Propondis Foundation’’ for postgraduate research in the Division of Endocrinology, BIDMC, Boston, MA
      (2005-2007)
    • Commendation awarded from the Dean of Medical School for ranking first in the class at the Medical School of University of Athens
      (2004)
    • State Scholarship ‘‘A. Maurokordatos’’ from the National Endowments Foundation, Greece
      (2002-2005)
    • State Scholarship for outstanding academic performance from the State Scholarship Foundation Greece
      (1998-2001)
    • R21HL134444. Research Award
      2018
  • Professional Associations/Affiliations
    • American College of Physicians (2013)
    • American Heart Association (2015)
    • American Medical Association (2013)
    • Infectious Diseases Society of America (2013)
    • International AIDS Society (2014)