Carl F. Nathan, MD

Professor of Microbiology and Immunology

Microbiology and Immunology

Contact & profiles

cnathan@med.cornell.edu

Appointments

Professor of Microbiology and ImmunologyPrimary
Microbiology and Immunology · 1998–
Professor of Medicine
Medicine · 1998–
Professor
Weill Cornell Graduate School — Immunology & Microbial Pathogenesis · 1998–

Past Appointments

Chair of Microbiology and Immunology
Microbiology and Immunology · 1998–2025
R.A. Rees Pritchett Professor of Microbiology
Microbiology and Immunology · 1998–2025
Professor of Cell Biology and Anatomy
Cell and Developmental Biology · 1995–1998

Show all 5

Stanton Griffis Distinguished Professor of Medicine
Medicine · 1985–1998
Adjunct Professor of Medicine
Medicine · 1985–1985

Centers

Clinical & Translational Science Center

Education

M.D.
Harvard Medical School, 1972
B.A.
Harvard University, 1967

Overview

Research topics: We are interested in how macrophages kill, how killing is regulated and why killing is not always effective. A medical-biologic perspective guides an effort to understand inflammation and host defense at genetic and biochemical levels and to put key hypotheses to the test of experimental interventions in cell culture, mice and sometimes clinical trials. Work on cytokines, the respiratory burst and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) over 40 years has evolved into the current projects, which involve macrophage interactions with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), including the enzymes of Mtb that help the organism resist sterilization by the immune system, and a search for compounds that inhibit those enzymes.

Lab Organization: Each student and postdoc has her or his own project, but at the same time the emphasis is on sharing within an interdisciplinary group whose members enjoy teaching and learning from each other. Lab members bring expertise in immunology, biochemistry, chemistry, pharmacology, molecular biology and microbiology. Our lab collaborates extensively with Sabine Ehrt's, Kyu Rhee's and Dirk Schnappinger's. Each week, these labs join for a combined lab meeting. Trainees present formally bimonthly, informally triweekly, and even more informally to the individual lab heads almost daily. The labs also share a weekly journal club and participate in Departmental, Graduate School and Tri-Institutional activities.  

Highlights

1
The Journal of experimental medicine · 2021
CFCarl F. Nathan
PMID: 33125053PMCID: PMC7608065DOISenior author48 citations
2
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2025
PRPrabhat Ranjan Singh KYKyu Y. Rhee CFCarl F. Nathan
PMID: 40053362PMCID: PMC11912377DOISenior author16 citations
3
Science translational medicine · 2021
KSKohta Saito AGAlexandre Gouzy CDChristopher David Brown BSBen S Gold CFCarl F. Nathan
PMID: 34818059PMCID: PMC8903021DOISenior author29 citations

Publications

420

Funding

36 View NIH portfolio on RePORTER ↗

Active

10 grants

KP
Microbiology of Treatment Shortening in Tuberculosis
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2026–2031
P01AI181935-01A1
Co-I
Research Training in Infectious Diseases
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2014–2030· 3 renewals
T32AI007613-26A1
PI
Targeted Degradation of Mycobacterial PknG for Host Control of Tuberculosis
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2025–2027
R21AI185437-02
PI
Novel inhibitors of phosphopantetheine transferase (PptT) from M. tuberculosis
TB Alliance · 2023–2027Contract
SRA 230993-05
MPI
Tri-Institutional Tuberculosis Research Advancement Center
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2022–2027
P30AI168433-05
PI
Evaluation of hits and leads for TBDA priority targets - INV100447
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation · 2026–2027
INV-100447
MPI
Transmission Aerobiology of M. tuberculosis: Genes and Metabolic Pathways That Sustain Mtb Across an Evolutionary Bottleneck
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2021–2027
P01AI159402-05 Admin Core
Co-I
Evaluation of NadD and NadE hits and leads for TB - INV-083642
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation · 2025–2026
BMGF INV-083642
Co-I
Identification of NadD and NadE hits and leads for TB
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation · 2024–2026
INV-070007
PI
NO gas to treat infectious disease
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation · 2024–2026
BMGF INV-070937

Completed grants (26)

PI
Mechanisms of macrophage death co-dependent on M. tuberculosis and IFN-a,b receptor
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2023–2025
R21AI178133-02
Sub-PI
Discovery of Phosphopantetheinyl Transferase Inhibitors Against Mycobacterium tuberculosis
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2021–2025 · via University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
R01AI155510-04
MPI
Screening NadE and NadD
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation · 2022–2024
BMGF INV-047552
PI
Phosphopantetheinyl transferase (PptT) inhibitors for treatment of TB- INV-040480
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation · 2022–2024
INV-040480
PI
Host-directed therapy of tuberculosis: Rescuing macrophages and enhancing their activation
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2018–2023
R01AI138940-05
PI
Amendment 1 to Service Agreement
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation · 2019–2022Contract
BMGF 200213-01
PI
Phosphopantetheinyl Transferase (PptT) Inhibitors for Treatment of Tuberculosis
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation · 2018–2022
OPP1190511
PI
SRA extension
Celgene Corporation · 2019–2021Contract
SRA 200643-01
MPI
Admin Supplement to U19AI111143, to run concurrent with budget period 7
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2014–2021· 6 renewals
U19AI111143-07
PI
Mycobacterial Phosphopantetheine Hydrolase: Potential for Salvage of Coenzyme A
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2018–2020
R21AI138939-02
KP
Calanolides as Tools to Find New Drug Targets for Mycobacterium Tuberculosis
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2014–2020Career
K08AI108799-05
PI
ABLS IV LLC Research Collaboration Agreement
Allied-Bristol Life Sciences · 2017–2019Contract
BAA 183322-01
PI
Proposal for Computational Support from Schrodinger
Schrodinger · 2018–2019Contract
SA 190183-01
PI
Mouse Caspase-1 (p20) Antibody
Genentech, Inc. · 2017–2018Contract
PI
3ZD Monoclonal Aby
National Cancer Institute · 2017–2018Contract
PI
Targeting the Host to Treat TB: Inhibitors of Protein Kinase R
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2013–2018
R33AI105807-05
PI
Biology of Lipoamide Dehydrogenase and 2-hydroxy-3-oxoadipate Synthase in Mtb
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2010–2017
R01AI064768-10 EW
KP
pH Homeostasis in Mycobacterium Tuberculosis
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2009–2014
R01AI081725-05
Sub-PI
Role of MyD88-5 in the Pathogenesis of Parkinson's Disease
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke · 2012–2012 · via Georgia Health Sciences University
R01NS060885-05
PI
Mycobacterial Proteasome Inhibitors
NIAID · 2009–2011 · via NIH RePORTER
R56AI080618-01A1S1
PI
Dihydrolipoamide Acyltransferase:Target for Chemotherapy
NIAID · 2004–2009 · via NIH RePORTER
UC1AI062559-01
PI
MACROPHAGES, DENDRITIC CELLS AND PATHOGENS
NIAID · 2003–2008 · via NIH RePORTER
P01AI056293-05
PI
TARGETING DEFENSES OF MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS
NHLBI · 2002–2005 · via NIH RePORTER
R01HL072718-03
PI
ROLE OF NO SYNTHASE-2 IN MURINE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
NIA · 2000–2005 · via NIH RePORTER
R01AG019520-05
PI
NEUTROPHIL ACTIVATION IN SEPSIS-- ROLE OF PYK2 PATHWAY
NIAID · 2000–2005 · via NIH RePORTER
R01AI046382-05
PI
MYCOBACTERIAL RESISTANCE TO REACTIVE NITROGEN/OXYGEN
NHLBI · 1999–2004 · via NIH RePORTER
R01HL061241-05

Honors & distinctions

Joan and Sanford I. Weill Exemplary Achievement Award · Weill Cornell Medicine · 2019
Fellow · American Academy of Arts and Sciences · 2016
Member · National Academy of Sciences · 2011
Member · National Academy of Medicine · 1998
Member · American Society for Clinical Investigation · 1983
Member · Association of American Physicians

Available technologies

3 View full WCM portfolio ↗

News mentions

14 View all WCM news ↗

Weill Cornell Medicine Awarded Grant to Shorten TB Treatment Regimen
September 17, 2026
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have received a $17.4 million, five-year grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to discover new approaches to shorten tuberculosis (TB) treatment, potentially making it easier for patients to complete therapy.
Dr. Carl Nathan Wins David and Beatrix Hamburg Award
September 17, 2025
The award recognizes Dr. Nathan’s outstanding contributions that have advanced scientists’ understanding of the building blocks of innate immunity and how the immune system fights infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, and cancer.
Dr. Sabine Ehrt Named Chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Weill Cornell Medicine
April 14, 2025
As chair, Dr. Ehrt seeks to build on the department’s already robust national and international footprint in tuberculosis research and expand its portfolio in other areas of research and innovation.
Study Discovers Tuberculosis Genes Necessary for Airborne Transmission
March 10, 2025
Tuberculosis bacteria rely on a family of genes that help them survive the challenging journey from one person’s lungs to another person’s during coughing, sneezing or talking, according to researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
An Immune Powerhouse: Dr. Carl Nathan on the Potential of Interferon-γ
April 22, 2024
Dr. Carl Nathan, chair of the department of microbiology and immunology and the R.A. Rees Pritchett Professor of Microbiology at Weill Cornell Medicine, answers questions about interferon-γ's history and future.

Show 9 more mentions

Weill Cornell Medicine Receives Grants for Tuberculosis Drug Development
December 21, 2023
Weill Cornell Medicine researchers and the TB Drug Accelerator have received two grants totaling $6.8 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to study tuberculosis (TB) drug development.
$5 Million NIH Center Grant Will Support Next Generation TB Research
September 7, 2022
Weill Cornell Medicine has been awarded a five-year, $5 million grant from the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health to establish a new multi-institutional center for tuberculosis (TB) research and training the next generation of TB investigators.
Weill Cornell Advances TB Research with Support from NIH
September 3, 2021
Tuberculosis (TB) is a wily old killer, one of the deadliest infectious diseases in history and one of the few that naturally infects only humans.
Study Illuminates Role of Gut Microbes in the Response to TB Treatment
March 10, 2021
Gut bacteria play an important role in the body’s response to treatment for tuberculosis (TB), according to researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and Memorial Sloan Kettering.
Commentary: Stemming the Tide of Resistant Infections is Tough but Not Intractable
April 23, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic is a striking reminder that viruses scorn borders.
Formidable Foes
June 19, 2019
Physicians, researchers and policymakers around the globe are grappling with the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria—a threat with the potential to derail decades of medical advances.
Acclaimed Immunologist Carl Nathan Awarded Joan and Sanford I. Weill Exemplary Achievement Award
March 7, 2019
Dr. Carl Nathan, chairman of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Weill Cornell Medicine, has been awarded the institution’s Joan and Sanford I. Weill Exemplary Achievement Award.
New Antimicrobial Resistance Mechanism Uncovered in Hunt for TB New Drug
February 6, 2019
An investigation by Weill Cornell Medicine scientists has yielded two breakthroughs in the pursuit of combating growing resistance to tuberculosis treatments.
Dr. Barbara Hempstead Appointed Dean of the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences
January 10, 2019
Dr. Barbara Hempstead, a preeminent physician-scientist, educator and academic leader, has been appointed dean of the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, effective Jan. 14.

Media highlights

Weill Cornell Receives $17.4 Million Grant To Pursue Shorter Tuberculosis Treatment
FingerLakes1.com · September 18, 2026

Mentoring

8 All publications with mentees →

2 PhD students · 6 Postdocs

PhD · 2

Postdoc · 6

External relationships

Leadership Roles

Rita Allen Foundation · Tres Cantos Open Lab Foundation · Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute, Inc.

Ownership

IpiNovyx Bio, Inc.

Advisory/Scientific Board Member

Cancer Research Institute, Inc. · Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, Inc. · Global Alliance for TB Drug Development Inc. · Rita Allen Foundation · Rockefeller University · The Rockefeller University

Proprietary Interest

IpiNovyx Bio, Inc.

Other

IpiNovyx Bio, Inc.