Inaia Phoenix, PhD

Associate Professor of Basic Sciences

Area of expertise

Microbiology and Immunology

Education:
  • PhD – Experimental Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch
  • Bachelor of Science – Zoology with a Minor in Medical Sciences, Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Biography:

Dr. Inaia Phoenix joined RUCOM as an Associate Professor of Basic Sciences in September 2024. At RUCOM, Dr. Phoenix serves as co-course director for the Foundational Phase 1A and 2C courses collaborating with others to ensure integration and the creation of a transformational medical education curriculum. With a background in infectious disease and immunology, Dr. Phoenix will be primarily responsible for creating and delivering learning sessions on infectious disease and immunology and related diseases.

Teaching Areas:
  • Medical Microbiology
  • Infectious Disease
  • Immunology
Research Interests:
  • Medical Education
Service to Profession:
  • Member, American Association of Immunologists (AAI), 2023 –  present
  • Member, Asoociation of Medical School Microbiology and Immunology Chairs (AMSMIC), 2022 – present
  • Member, International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE), 2020 –  present
  • Member, American Society of Microbiology (ASM), 2010 – present
  • Member, The International Associate for Health Professions Education (AMEE), 2022 – 2023
  • Member, American Society for Virology (ASV), 2011 -2017
  • Member, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH), 2014 – 2015
Select Peer-Reviewed Publications:
  1. Indran SV, Lihoradova OA, Phoenix I, Lokugamage N, Kalveram B, head JA, Tigabu B, Smith JK, Zhang L, Juelich TL, Gong B, Freiberg AN, Ikegami T. 2013. Rift Valley fever virus MP-12 vaccine encoding Toscana virus NSs retains the neuroinvasiveness in mice. J. Gen. Virol. 94: 1441-50.
  2. Phoenix I, Ikegami T. 2015. Pathogenesis of Rift Valley fever in humans. In Singh, SK (Ed), Emerging and Re-emerging Human Infections (pp. 73-92). John Wiley & Sons/Wiley Blackwell Press.
  3. Phoenix I, Nishiyama S, Lokugamage N, Hill TE, Huante M, Slack O, Carpio V, Freiberg AN, Ikegami T. 2016. N-glycans on the Rift Valley fever virus Envelope Glycoproteins GN and Gc Redundantly Support Viral Infection via DC-SIGN. Viruses, 8, 149. doi: 10.3390/v8050149.
  4. Phoenix I, Lokugamage N, Nishiyama S, Ikegami T. 2016. Mutational Analysis of the Rift Valley fever virus Glycoprotein Precursor Proteins for Gn Protein Expression. Viruses. 8, 151. Doi: 10.3390/v8060151.
  5. Alamer E, Carpio VH, Ibitokou SA, Kirtley ML, Phoenix IR, Opata MM, Wilson KD, Cong Y, Dann SM, Chopra AK, Stephens R. Dissemination of non-typhoidal Salmonella during Plasmodium chabaudi infection affects anti-malarial immunity. Immunology and Host-Parasite Interactions. 118, 2277. doi: 10.1007/s00436-019-06349-z.

NCBI complete bibliography

Last Updated: 03/17/2025