Krishna Rao

 Krishna Rao
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Medical School
Office:
University of Michigan
Department of Internal Medicine/Division of Infectious Diseases
1150 W. Medical Center Drive, MSRB I Rm 1510B
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Email:
[email protected]
Available to mentor
Krishna Rao
Krishna Rao
Associate Professor
  • About
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  • Qualifications
  • Center Memberships
  • Research Overview
  • Recent Publications

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    • About

    I am a physician scientist whose clinical, administrative, and research interests focus on healthcare-associated infections and the gut microbiome. I am Director of Research for our Division of Infectious Diseases, and my research aims to use biomarkers and statistical modeling to better understand disease processes and predict clinical outcomes. Through interdisciplinary team science, I study C. difficile, multidrug-resistant organisms such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, and the gut microbiome's role in health and disease.

    Links
    • ORCiD

    Qualifications
    • Fellowship
      University of Michigan, Infectious Diseases, Ann Arbor, United States
      2011 - 2013
      Postdoctoral Fellowship
    • Residency
      University of Michigan, Internal Medicine & Pediatrics, Ann Arbor, United States
      2006 - 2010
      Residency
    • MS
      University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
      2013 - 2015
    • MD
      Rush Medical College, 600 S. Paulina Ave., Chicago, IL, 60612, United States
      2002 - 2006
    • BS
      Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
      1998 - 2001

    Center Memberships
    • Center Member
      Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation

    Research Overview

    - Clostridium difficile Infection
    - Biomarkers and predictive modeling in infectious diseases
    - The gut microbiome
    - Gram negative infections and multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs)

    Recent Publications

     See All Publications
    • Journal Article
      Mucosal transcriptomic and fecal microbiome signatures associated with persistent symptoms in quiescent Crohn's disease.
      Guo K, Golob J, Berinstein J, Sheehan J, Chey WD, Higgins PDR, Young V, Rao K, Singh P, Bishu S, Lee A. Inflamm Bowel Dis, 2026 Nov 5; DOI:10.1093/ibd/izag244
      PMID: 42986703
    • Journal Article
      S2205 Inulin Restores Colonization Resistance Against C. difficile of Ulcerative Colitis Patient Microbiomes In Vitro
      Newman KL, James G, Standke AK, Kao JY, Higgins P, Rao K, Young VB, Moon J, Kamada N. The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2026 Oct 9; 121 (10S1): s481 - s481. DOI:10.14309/01.ajg.0001218072.98260.7a
    • Journal Article
      Association between Clostridioides difficile infection and colorectal cancer incidence and mortality in a National Veterans Affairs Cohort.
      Rifkin SB, Markham NO, Anderson SM, Wilson O, Shrubsole MJ, Sears CL, Rao K. medRxiv, 2026 Oct 14; DOI:10.64898/2026.05.20.26353667
    • Journal Article
      D17-07 Derivation and Preliminary Validation of Novel Hierarchical Composite Endpoints for Severe Pneumonia Clinical Trials
      Albin O, Dickson RP, Rao K, Wunderink RG, Pogue J, Kaye KS. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2026 May 20; 212 (Supplement_1): aamag162.4537 DOI:10.1093/ajrccm/aamag162.4537
    • Proceeding / Abstract / Poster
      Mo1607 FEASIBILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF A LOW-SULFUR DIET FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF QUIESCENT CROHN’S DISEASE WITH PERSISTENT GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS: RESULTS FROM A PILOT, CONTROLLED, STUDY
      Hill J, Ball S, Gjoka I, Wang Y-P, Gao J, Hassan SA, Young V, Berinstein J, Nojkov B, Chey W, Higgins PD, Rao K, Singh P, Bishu S, Lee A. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2026 May 6; 103 (5): s-1209-s-1210 DOI:10.1016/s0016-5107(26)02977-9
    • Proceeding / Abstract / Poster
      Mo1607 FEASIBILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF A LOW-SULFUR DIET FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF QUIESCENT CROHN’S DISEASE WITH PERSISTENT GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS: RESULTS FROM A PILOT, CONTROLLED, STUDY
      Hill J, Ball S, Gjoka I, Wang Y-P, Gao J, Hassan SA, Young V, Berinstein J, Nojkov B, Chey W, Higgins PD, Rao K, Singh P, Bishu S, Lee A. Gastroenterology, 2026 May 7; 170 (6): s-1209-s-1210 DOI:10.1016/s0016-5085(26)03046-5
    • Journal Article
      Sa1366 ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CLOSTRIDIOIDES DIFFICILE TEST POSITIVITY AND COLORECTAL CANCER INCIDENCE AND MORTALITY IN THE NATIONAL VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
      Rifkin S, Markham NO, Wilson O, Anderson S, Shrubsole M, Sears CL, Rao K. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2026 May 6; 103 (5): s - 216. DOI:10.1016/s0016-5107(26)00783-2
    • Proceeding / Abstract / Poster
      Sa1366 Association Between Clostridioides Difficile Test Positivity and Colorectal Cancer Incidence and Mortality in the National Veterans Affairs Healthcare System
      Rifkin S, Markham NO, Wilson O, Anderson S, Shrubsole M, Sears CL, Rao K. Gastroenterology, 2026 May 14; 170 (6): s - 216. DOI:10.1016/s0016-5085(26)00852-8

    Featured News & Stories

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    Health Lab

    Clinically deployed AI guidance for preventing C. difficile spread

    AI guidance for clinicians aimed at reducing the spread of C.diff was deployed for the first time in a hospital setting, according to a University of Michigan-led study.