Theodoros Kelesidis, M.D., Ph.D. - Faculty 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

Featured Publications

HDL-cholesterol concentration and its association with coronary artery calcification: a systematic review and meta-analysis.: Abedi F, Sadeghi M, Omidkhoda N, Kelesidis T, Ramezani J, Samadi S, Mohammadpour AH, Lipids Health Dis 2023 May 22 1 60
Sleep and mood disturbances in people with HIV remain largely understudied.: Kelesidis T, AIDS 2023 May 37 6 993-994
Ectodomain shedding of proteins important for SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis in plasma of tobacco cigarette smokers compared to electronic cigarette vapers: a cross-sectional study.: Kelesidis T, Sharma M, Satta S, Tran E, Gupta R, Araujo JA, Middlekauff HR, J Mol Med (Berl) 2023 Mar 101 3 327-335
Levels of high-density lipoprotein lipid peroxidation according to spatial socioeconomic deprivation and rurality among patients with coronary artery disease.: Jaehn P, Sasko B, Holmberg C, Hoffmann S, Spallek J, Kelesidis T, Rapp M, Westhoff TH, Ritter O, Pagonas N, Eur J Prev Cardiol 2022 Nov 29 15 e343-e346
Cross-talk between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the insulin/IGF signaling pathway: Implications for metabolic diseases in COVID-19 and for post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection.: Kelesidis T, Mantzoros CS, Metabolism 2022 Sep 134 155267
Mitoquinone mesylate targets SARS-CoV-2 infection in preclinical models.: Petcherski A, Sharma M, Satta S, Daskou M, Vasilopoulos H, Hugo C, Ritou E, Dillon BJ, Fung E, Garcia G, Scafoglio C, Purkayastha A, Gomperts BN, Fishbein GA, Arumugaswami V, Liesa M, Shirihai OS, Kelesidis T, bioRxiv 2022 Jun
Adipokines, Weight Gain and Metabolic and Inflammatory Markers After Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation: AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) A5260s.: Koethe JR, Moser C, Brown TT, Stein JH, Kelesidis T, Dube M, Currier J, McComsey GA, Clin Infect Dis 2022 Mar 74 5 857-864
Instigators of COVID-19 in Immune Cells Are Increased in Tobacco Cigarette Smokers and Electronic Cigarette Vapers Compared With Nonsmokers.: Kelesidis T, Zhang Y, Tran E, Sosa G, Middlekauff HR, Nicotine Tob Res 2022 Feb 24 3 413-415
Race and sex differences in HDL peroxide content among American adults with and without type 2 diabetes.: Flaherty SM, Wood EK, Ryff CD, Love GD, Kelesidis T, Berkowitz L, Echeverría G, Rivera K, Rigotti A, Coe CL, Lipids Health Dis 2022 Feb 21 1 18
The role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of infections with coronaviruses.: Gain C, Song S, Angtuaco T, Satta S, Kelesidis T, Front Microbiol 2022 13 1111930

Books

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