Roberta DeBiasi, MD Division Chief, Infectious Disease

Biography

Roberta Lynn DeBiasi, MD, MS is Chief of the Division of Pediatric Diseases and Co-Director of the Congenital Zika Program at Children’s National Health System (CNHS) in Washington DC. She holds appointments as tenured Professor of Pediatrics and Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine at George Washington University School of Medicine as well as Principal Investigator in the Center for Translational Science at Children’s Research Institute.

After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Boston University, she received her Doctorate in Medicine at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, and completed internship and residency in Pediatrics at the University of California, Davis Medical Center. She completed her fellowship in Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Colorado/Denver Children’s Hospital and served on the faculty for ten years in Denver, prior to joining Children’s National/GWU in 2005.Dr. DeBiasi treats normal and immunocompromised children hospitalized with severe infections at Children’s National Medical Center. She leads the CNHS Ebola and Emerging Infections Task Force and co-leads the CNHS Congenital Zika Program, interfacing with regional, national and international authorities in these roles.

Dr. DeBiasi’s research expertise includes basic science as well as clinical/translational research. She serves as Principal Investigator for research and clinical trials focusing on severe and emerging viral infections affecting pregnant women, neonates, immunocompromised hosts, and normal children. Specific areas of research include: NIAID/NIH Collaborative Antiviral Study Group funding to study maternal herpes simplex virus shedding at delivery using rapid diagnostics; natural history of neonatal herpes simplex virus infection; pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of antiviral therapy in premature infants with congenital cytomegalovirus infection; and antiviral treatment of sensorineuronal hearing loss following congenital cytomegalovirus infection. She also directs studies focused on novel antiviral and plasma treatments for severe hospitalized influenza and parainfluenza infection, funded by both NIH/NIAID, as well as industry sponsors. She is Co- Director of the Congenital Zika Program at Children's National which includes research protocols in the US and Colombia focused on prenatal imaging, testing, genetics and virologic aspects of congenital Zika infection. She leads the CNHS Ebola response and is Co-PI for federal funding to support Ebola preparedness. In addition, Dr. DeBiasi’s research portfolio includes a study evaluating the burden of pediatric Lyme disease, as well as long-term outcomes of Lyme infection in children. She is also involved in emergency investigational new drug (IND) acquisition of agents for treatment of severe viral myocarditis, encephalitis, and malaria. She is site PI for a PCORI- funded multicenter clinical trial evaluating optimal management of refractory Kasasaki Disease.

Dr. DeBiasi has authored over 70 original research, review articles, and book chapters. She greatly enjoys teaching and mentoring graduate and medical students, residents, and fellows in the classroom, the hospital wards, and in research. She is also actively engaged in continuing medical education for community physicians, outreach to the community, and educating the public via media appearances on NPR radio, local and national newspaper and television.

Specialties

Education & Training

• Fellowship Program, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, 1999
  University of Colorado Health Science Center
• Residency Program, Pediatrics, 1995
  University of California-Davis Medical Center
• Internship Program, Pediatrics, 1993
  University of California-Davis Medical Center
• MD, 1992
  University of Virginia School of Medicine
• BA, 1988
  Boston University

News

Three of 48 fetuses exposed to Zika in utero had abnormal fetal magnetic resonance imaging

May 04, 2017

During a recent trip Sarah B. Mulkey, M.D., Ph.D., made to Colombia, she tested Zika-affected babies’ motor skills as they sat, stood, and lay facing upward and face down. The international study aims to answer one of the most vexing questions about Zika: If babies’ brains appear “normal” at birth, have they survived Zika exposure in the womb with few neurological repercussions?

Children’s National Physicians Named “Top Doctors” By Northern Virginia Magazine

February 01, 2017

Northern Virginia Magazine has named 64 Children’s National Health System physicians to its 2017 list of “Top Doctors.”

NBC News Quotes Children's Zika Expert on Fetal Imaging Research

August 24, 2016

Roberta DeBiasi, MD, MS, described ongoing research and current uncertainties that accompany fetuses severely affected by the Zika virus.

The Bump Covers Message to Parents About Zika, Children's Expert Quoted

August 23, 2016

Roberta DeBiasi MD, MS, was quoted in a story covering a pregnant woman exposed to Zika while traveling.

Suspected Domestic Zika Virus Infection in Florida Underscores the Importance of Ongoing Vigilance

July 28, 2016

Federal health officials continue to investigate the first possible cases of domestic Zika virus transmission in Florida. In light of the growing number of Zika infections, the vast majority of which have been associated with foreign travel, vigilance for additional cases is warranted.

Research & Publications

Hanisch B, Jacobsohn D, DeBiasi RL.2016. Diagnosis and Management of Pediatric Transplant associated Viral Infections. Pediatr Infect Dis J. (4):449-51. PMID: 26766147

Song X, Toal D, Walker T, Perez-Albuerne ED, Campos JM, DeBiasi RL. 2016. Multidrug-Resistant Organism Colonization in a High-Risk Pediatric Patient Population. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol37(5):614-6. PMID: 26864710

Driggers RW, Ho CY, Korhonen EM, Kuivanen S, Jääskeläinen AJ, Smura T, Rosenberg A, HillDA, DeBiasi RL, Vezina G, Timofeev J, Rodriguez FJ, Levanov L, Razak J,Iyengar P,Hennenfent A, Kennedy R, Lanciotti R, du Plessis A, Vapalahti O. 2016. Zika Virus Infection witProlonged Maternal Viremia and Fetal Brain Abnormalities. N Engl J Med. 374(22):2142-51.PMID: 27028667

Sanapo L, Wien M, Whitehead MT, Blask A, Gallagher M, DeBiasi RL, Du Plessis 2016. A.Fetal anemia, cerebellar hemorrhage and hypoplasia associated with congenital Parvovirus infection. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. [Epub ahead ofprint] PMID: 27558443.

Kimberlin DW, Jester PM, Sánchez PJ, Ahmed A, Arav-Boger R, Michaels MG, Ashouri, N,Englund JA, Estrada B, Jacobs RF, Romero JR, Sood SK, Whitworth MS, Abzug MJ, CasertaMT, Fowler S, Lujan-Zilbermann J, Storch GA, DeBiasi RL, Han JY, Palmer A, Weiner LB, et al.2015. Valganciclovir for symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus disease. N Engl J Med.372(10):933-43. PMID: 25738669, PMCID: PMC4401811

Tamura D, DeBiasi RL*, Okomo-Adhiambo M, Mishin VP, Campbell AP, Loechelt B,Wiedermann BL, Fry AM, Gubareva LV. 2015. Emergence of Multidrug-Resistant Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 Virus Variants in an Immunocompromised Child Treated With Oseltamivir and Zanamivir. J Infect Dis. 212(8):1209-13. PMID: 25943200 *co-first authors

DeBiasi, RL. 2014. A concise critical analysis of serologic testing for the diagnosis of Lymedisease. Curr Infect Dis Rep. 16(12):450. PMID: 26766147

Sachdeva S, Dham N, Heath DM, Song X, and DeBiasi, RL. 2014. Analysis of clinicalparameters and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging as predictors of outcome in pediatricmyocarditis. Am J Cardiol. Nov 29. 115(4):499-504.