A noted authority on the role of bacteria in our health will deliver the annual Mansbach Lecture at EVMS Feb. 10.

Martin J. Blaser, MD, serves as chair of the Department of Medicine, Frederick H. King Professor of internal medicine and professor of microbiology at New York University School of Medicine. A physician and microbiologist, Dr. Blaser studies the relationships between bacteria that live in other organisms, their hosts and the spread of pathogens in the community.

His presentation begins at 5:30 p.m. in Lewis Hall's McCombs Auditorium, with a reception to follow at 6:30. Those wishing to attend should RSVP by Feb. 8 online or by calling 757.446.6070.

Dr. Blaser's work over the past 30 years has largely focused on certain, bacteria known to have lived in humans throughout our history but whose prevalence has dwindled over the last century. He is actively studying how these bacteria, and the lack of them, impact our health and influence disease. Dr. Blaser's research has shown, for instance, that the decreasing presence of one bacteria could be linked to both lower rates of esophageal cancer and higher rates of childhood asthma. As this year's Mansbach Lecturer, he will shed light on the complex nature of the human "microbiome" and help us understand how tiny organisms play a big role.

Dr. Blaser has been actively involved in numerous journals and scientific and professional organizations. He served as president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and chair of the Board of Scientific Counselors of the National Cancer Institute. He currently serves on the National Institutes of Health's Advisory Board for Clinical Research and on the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation's Scientific Advisory Board.