Dr. Carter’s (they/them/theirs) research focuses on host–pathogen–microbiome interactions within the cervicovaginal environment and how these interactions influence sexually transmitted infection (STI) pathogenesis, persistence, and treatment outcomes. Their research integrates observational, population-based epidemiologic studies with in vitro experiments using high-fidelity biomimetic tissue models to develop and rigorously test mechanistic hypotheses usingmulti-omic approaches.

The overarching goal of Dr. Carter’s research program is to identify host, pathogen, and microbiome factors that shape clinical outcomes and can be targeted to develop antibiotic-sparing strategies for the prevention and treatment of STIs and their adverse reproductive health consequences. Current areas of focus include elucidating how the cervicovaginal microenvironment influences Chlamydia trachomatis persistence and spontaneous clearance, anddetermining how the cervicovaginal microbiome modulates cervical pathology and treatment success in Mycoplasma genitalium infection.