Julie Fischer, Ph.D.

Associate Research Professor

Dr. Fischer is an Associate Research Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and acts as Director of the Elizabeth R. Griffin Program at Georgetown University. Prior to joining Georgetown’s faculty in 2016, Dr. Fischer co-directed a multi-disciplinary team in the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University, leading projects designed to help governments and international agencies understand the resources needed to detect, assess, report, and respond to emerging public health events effectively. From 2007-2012, Dr. Fischer directed Stimson’s Global Health Security Program, exploring the tools, policies, and partnerships that strengthen global capacities for disease detection and response.

Dr. Fischer is a former Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow and American Association for the Advancement of Science Congressional Science & Technology Fellow. She served as a microbiologist with a Thai-U.S. collaboration aimed at strengthening Thailand’s capacities to identify and control emerging infections of regional and global significance.  As professional staff with the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Dr. Fischer worked on issues related to emergency medical preparedness and the consequences of biological, chemical, and radiological exposures during military service.

Dr. Fischer received a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from Vanderbilt University and completed post-doctoral training in viral pathogenesis at the University of Washington and Seattle Biomedical Research Institute. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, reports, manuals, and training tools.  

Areas of Expertise

  • Laboratory capacity-building
  • Public health preparedness
  • International Health Regulations/GHSA implementation
  • Biosecurity and biosafety
  • Multisectoral coordination for disease detection and response
  • Viral pathogenesis

More Information

Bibliography: Dr. Fischer’s NCBI Bibliography
Email: Julie.Fischer@georgetown.edu