Hendrik Szurmant, PhD

Background

Dr. Szurmant received a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2004, following a Diplom degree (equivalent to an M.S.) in Biochemistry from Universität Leipzig, Germany, in 1999. After completing his doctoral studies, Dr. Szurmant pursued postdoctoral research at The Scripps Research Institute, where he focused on bacterial signal transduction and antimicrobial resistance. With a longstanding interest in understanding the mechanisms of pathogenic bacteria and their resistance to antibiotics, his research has explored bacterial physiology and the co-evolution of protein-protein interactions, with the goal of identifying new drug targets to combat multidrug-resistant pathogens.

Currently a Professor at Western University of Health Sciences, Dr. Szurmant leads the Longitudinal Biochemical and Clinical Research Track and directs courses on infectious diseases, microbiology, and research-related topics. He also serves as Co-Director of the Office for Student Research at the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP).

Research Interests

Dr. Szurmant's research integrates structural biology, genetics, molecular bioinformatics, and biophysics to investigate bacterial two-component signaling systems and their potential as targets for novel antimicrobial therapies. His background in biochemistry, microbiology, and infectious disease provides the scientific foundation for his evolving research interests in osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) and its potential effects on immune function.

Over time, OMM research has developed into a major focus of Dr. Szurmant's research program, particularly the investigation of how osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) may influence immune responses to vaccination. This work builds directly on his longstanding interest in infectious disease and the biological mechanisms underlying host-pathogen interactions. Vaccination, as a central strategy for preventing infectious diseases, provides a natural connection between his expertise in microbiology and his current investigations into whether manual treatment techniques can augment the body's immune response. His research has included examining the potential effects of OMT on responses to COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. For a recent interview on this research, see Interview. He is currently funded by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) to investigate the benefits of lymphatic pump treatments in augmenting the immune response to hepatitis B vaccination.

Academic and Professional Service

Dr. Szurmant serves as Deputy Editor of the Journal of Investigative Medicine and is a council member of the American Federation for Medical Research. He also serves as Co-Director of the Office for Student Research at COMP.