John D. Clements, PhD

Dr. John D. Clements is Emeritus Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Tulane

University School of Medicine. After receiving his doctorate in 1979 from the University of Texas

Health Science Center at Dallas, Dr. Clements completed a National Research Council

Associateship at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Washington, DC. In 1980, Dr.

Clements was appointed as Assistant Professor in the Departments of Microbiology and

Medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine in Rochester, NY. In 1982, Dr.

Clements joined the faculty at Tulane University. Dr. Clements served as Professor and Chair of

the Department of Microbiology and Immunology from 1999 - 2018. Dr. Clements served as

Vice Dean for Research from 2006 to 2009 and as Director of the Tulane Center for Infectious

Diseases from 2009 - 2014. Dr. Clements’ research programs focused on development of

vaccines against infectious diseases. His research was funded from a variety of Public Health

Service, Department of Defense, and philanthropic sources. Research in Dr. Clements’s

laboratory resulted in more than 100 peer reviewed publications and book chapters and thirteen

issued patents. Dr. Clements has served on numerous scientific panels and Editorial Boards

and was an Editor for Infection and Immunity from 1999 - 2005. In 2002, Dr. Clements chaired

the committee to review all Military Infectious Disease Research Programs for the Department

of Defense. Dr. Clements trained as a UN Weapons Inspector (UNMOVIC) and in 2003 and

again in 2004, Dr. Clements served as a member of the Iraq Survey Group in Baghdad as a

Subject Matter Expert in weapons of mass destruction and dual use equipment and programs

for the Department of Defense. Dr. Clements was formerly a member of the Armed Forces

Epidemiology Board (AFEB) and subsequently the Defense Health Board and is currently a

member of the Public Health Subcommittee of the Defense Health Board – a federal advisory

committee. In 2009, Dr. Clements was a member of the National Academy of Sciences

committee on biosafety and personnel reliability in laboratories that conduct research of

biological select agents and toxins. From 2010-2012, he served as a member of the National

Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) H1N1 Vaccine Safety Risk Assessment Working Group

(VSRAWG). In 2011, Dr. Clements became a member of the National Academy of Sciences

committee on developing a framework for an international faculty development project on

education about research in the life sciences with dual use potential. He subsequently chaired

two international workshops in support of this committee, including the Education Institute for

Responsible Research on Infectious Diseases, Aqaba, Jordon (2012) and the Educational

Institute of Responsible Science, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2013). In 2013, Dr. Clements also

chaired a National Academies of Sciences international workshop on Science Needs for

Microbial Forensics: Developing an Initial International Roadmap in Zagreb, Croatia. In 2017,

Dr. Clements served as a member of the National Academy of Sciences committee on

Strategies for Effective Biologic Detection Systems. In 2020, Dr. Clements Co-Chaired a

National Research Council Committee on Army Medical Research and Development

Infrastructure Planning. Dr. Clements is a veteran of the US Marine Corps. He served on active

duty from 1966-1972 and in the US Marine Corps Reserves from 1972-1991. He was Honorably

Discharged at the rank of LTCOL from the US Marine Corps Reserves in 1991.