Kim Lewis (academic)

Kim Lewis is a University Distinguished Professor and Director of the Antimicrobial Discovery Center at Northeastern University. He is known for his research on antibiotic resistance, biofilms, and persister cells. His work has focused on developing novel approaches to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria and discover new antimicrobial compounds.

Lewis received his Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Texas at Austin. He has held positions in academia and industry, including a period working at a pharmaceutical company.

His research group is credited with the discovery of several novel antimicrobial agents, including teixobactin, an antibiotic that targets cell wall synthesis in Gram-positive bacteria and has shown promise in preclinical studies due to its unique mechanism of action and low propensity for resistance development.

Lewis has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and has received numerous awards and recognitions for his contributions to the field of microbiology. He is also actively involved in efforts to raise awareness about the growing threat of antibiotic resistance and the need for new antimicrobial therapies. A major focus of his research is developing strategies to eradicate persister cells, a subpopulation of bacteria that are tolerant to antibiotics, which are believed to contribute to chronic infections.