Dr. Douglas R. Lewis, PhD
Research Interests
In his most recent research position, Dr. Lewis was research team lead working for the US Air Force Laboratories supporting the Air Force Surgeon General. He oversaw a team of 16 individuals who either directly conducted research or coordinated research projects with collaborators. The overarching research mandate was to investigate and advance the US Air Force’s ability to protect its Airmen from environmental hazards, particularly in austere environments. His research portfolio included: developing models to predict hazard behavior and impact on the mission; understanding the behavior of chemical and biological detectors in deployed environments; as well as fundamental investigation of alternative detection methods of water safety and the environmental chemical hazards. In 2020 his team focused primarily on response to the SARS-COV-2 pandemic. They responded to over 60 COVID research consultations originating as high as Congress and SECDEF. Most significantly they tested and demonstrated the capability to disinfect aircraft carrying COVID infected individuals.
Dr. Lewis’ research at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) focused primarily on the biology of radiation resistance and effects. With several graduate students, they examined the impact of ultraviolet and ionizing radiation on spores, vegetative bacteria and biomolecules. The bulk of this research focused on the genetic components responsible for Deinococcus raodioduran’s extreme radiation resistance. While at AFIT Dr. Lewis has also been involved in research projects investigating alternative biological detection strategies, and viral/nanoparticle interactions.
Dr. Lewis’ PhD research examined the factors which have influenced the development of U.S. biological defense strategy from 1940 to the present. For his dissertation he analyzed multiple sources of historical evidence to conduct a congruency/process tracing analysis of the U.S biological defense strategy. This analysis identified factors which have resulted in sub-optimal biological defense solutions. Identification of factors impeding U.S. strategy will help improve the output of future biodefense efforts.
His Master’s research was conducted at the Pennsylvania State University under the Department of Genetics. This research attempted to identify the presence of a glucose dehydrogenase gene in the mosquito Aedes aegypti. This gene had been identified as a component of the fruit fly immune system. The attempt to identify this gene in the mosquito was part of an attempt to understand why some strains of mosquito do not transmit malaria.
From 2002-04, Mr. Lewis participated in a US/UK scientific exchange program where he was assigned to the U.K.’s biological research laboratories at Porton Down. Research focused on improving capabilities to detect biological agents. Specifically, he assisted in creating a Variable Number of Tandem Repeat (VNTR) library of anthrax strains, and developed Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) capabilities to identify the smallpox virus.