Joshua L. Kennedy
Associate Professor
faculty
Peds Pediatrics, College of Medicine
Research Areas
Links
Biography and Research Information
OverviewAI-generated summary
Joshua L. Kennedy's research investigates the synergistic relationship between viral respiratory infections, specifically rhinovirus (RV), and allergic sensitization in the exacerbation of asthma in children. He studies the mechanisms by which RV infection, particularly in individuals with high allergen sensitivity, increases the likelihood of wheezing episodes, especially in emergency department settings.
His work focuses on epithelial cell-derived cytokines, such as IL-33, IL-25, and TSLP, which are implicated in promoting a Th2-biased allergic response during RV infections. Kennedy also has a research interest in COVID-19, including the development of autoantibodies after SARS-CoV-2 infection, pediatric seroprevalence in Arkansas, and the impact of non-pharmacological interventions on pediatric respiratory virus infections.
Kennedy holds an MD from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), where he also completed his residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. He completed a fellowship in Allergy and Immunology at the University of Virginia. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at UAMS and is a member of the ACRI Lung Cell Biology Lab. His scholarship metrics include an h-index of 25 and over 2,199 total citations across 142 publications. He has served as Co-PI on an NIH/National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences grant totaling $756,000.
Research Overview
Dr. Kennedy received his medical degree from UAMS in 2006 and completed an Internal Medicine and Pediatrics residency from 2006 to 2010. He went on to complete a fellowship in Allergy and Immunology at the University of Virginia. Dr. Kennedy joined the faculty of UAMS in July 2013 where he is a member of the Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology and the ACRI Lung Cell Biology Lab. Dr. Kennedy’s primary research focuses upon mechanisms whereby infection with the common cold virus, rhinovirus (RV), leads to exacerbations of asthma. 60% to 80% of children seen in the emergency room with an exacerbation of asthma will be infected with RV. In his previous research, it became clear that while RV infection alone increases the risk of wheezing in children with asthma; the combination of RV infection and high titer sensitization to allergen significantly increases the odds to wheeze in children seen in the emergency department. It is this synergy between allergy and RV infection that drives his current research hypotheses. To that end, he is studying epithelial cell-derived cytokines that bias a Th2 (i.e., allergic) response (IL-33, IL-25, and TSLP) associated with RV infection in subjects with asthma both in vitro and in vivo. Also, Dr. Kennedy enthusiastically contributes to the education of fellows, residents, and students at UAMS by participating in the educational mission of the Department of Pediatrics in many capacities.
Metrics
- h-index: 25
- Publications: 142
- Citations: 2,227
Selected Publications
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Alarmins Modulate Airway Contraction and Relaxation of Human Small Airways (2026)
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Implementation of early peanut introduction among providers in a southern US state (2026)
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Hospitalizations and Severity of Rhinovirus-Associated Asthma Exacerbations in Children During the Institution of Non-pharmaceutical Interventions (2026)
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Prevalence of Adverse Drug Reactions: Comparing Crotalidae Immune Polyvalent Antivenoms F(ab’)2 and F(ab) in a Galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal) Endemic Area (2025)
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Asthma Associated Cytokines Regulate Gasdermin A and Gasdermin B Expression by Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells (2025)
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IL-1β-driven NF-κB transcription of ACE2 as a Mechanism of Macrophage Infection by SARS-CoV-2 (2024)
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Effects of nonpharmaceutical interventions during COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric asthma exacerbations and viral infections (2024)
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An <i>ex vivo</i> human precision-cut lung slice platform provides insight into SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and antiviral drug efficacy (2024)
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SARS-CoV-2 pandemic non-pharmacologic interventions temporally associated with reduced pediatric infections due to <i>Mycoplasma pneumoniae</i> and co-infecting respiratory viruses in Arkansas (2024)
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Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 using long-range PCR primers (2024)
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Survey of Arkansas Pediatric Providers on the Application of the NIH/NIAID Addendum Guidelines for the Prevention of Peanut Allergy in the United States (2024)
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Viral Infections are Associated with More Severe Clinical Outcomes During Pediatric Asthma Exacerbations (2024)
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Childhood respiratory viral infections and the microbiome (2023)
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SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic Non-Pharmacologic Interventions Temporally Associated with Reduced Pediatric Infections Due to <i>Mycoplasma pneumoniae</i> and Co-Infecting Respiratory Viruses in Arkansas (2023)
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Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Using Long-Range PCR Primers (2023)
Federal Grants 1 $756,000 total
CTSA K12 Program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Grants & Funding
- “Host-Pathogen Genomic Determinants of Pediatric Respiratory Infection Severity.” CTSA TRI Western Consortium Principal Investigator
- No FP attached UAMS ACHRI Flow Through Principal Investigator
- “Examining the intersection of rhinovirus infection and asthma exacerbations.” ACRI Marion B Lyon New Scientist Development Award Principal Investigator
- Kennedy Recruitment ACHRI (ACHRI # 033068) UAMS ACHRI Flow Through Principal Investigator
- DISCOVAR:Disparities in Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2 in ARkansas NIH Co-Investigator
- No FP attached UAMS College of Medicine Principal Investigator
- An Integrated Host-Microbe Gene Classifier to Predict SARS-CoV-2 and Severe Disease in Children with Respiratory Viral Coinfections NIH Principal Investigator
- “Examining mechanisms of synergy between asthma exacerbations and RV infection.” NIH NIAID Principal Investigator
Collaboration Network
Top Collaborators
- Development of ACE2 autoantibodies after SARS-CoV-2 infection
- The Serological Sciences Network (SeroNet) for COVID-19: Depth and Breadth of Serology Assays and Plans for Assay Harmonization
- Pediatric SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Arkansas Over the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Temporal Variations in Seroprevalence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections by Race and Ethnicity in Arkansas
- State-wide random seroprevalence survey of SARS-CoV-2 past infection in a southern US State, 2020
Showing 5 of 10 shared publications
- Pediatric SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Arkansas Over the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Viral infection and allergy status impact severity of asthma symptoms in children with asthma exacerbations
- Temporal Variations in Seroprevalence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections by Race and Ethnicity in Arkansas
- State-wide random seroprevalence survey of SARS-CoV-2 past infection in a southern US State, 2020
- Effects of nonpharmaceutical interventions during COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric asthma exacerbations and viral infections
Showing 5 of 9 shared publications
- Pediatric SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Arkansas Over the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Implementing Pharmacogenomics Testing: Single Center Experience at Arkansas Children’s Hospital
- SARS-CoV-2 pandemic non-pharmacologic interventions temporally associated with reduced pediatric infections due to <i>Mycoplasma pneumoniae</i> and co-infecting respiratory viruses in Arkansas
- SARS-CoV-2 Infection Mitigation Strategies Concomitantly Reduce Group A Streptococcus Pharyngitis
- Effects of nonpharmaceutical interventions during COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric asthma exacerbations and viral infections
Showing 5 of 9 shared publications
- Development of ACE2 autoantibodies after SARS-CoV-2 infection
- The Serological Sciences Network (SeroNet) for COVID-19: Depth and Breadth of Serology Assays and Plans for Assay Harmonization
- Pediatric SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Arkansas Over the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic
- State-wide random seroprevalence survey of SARS-CoV-2 past infection in a southern US State, 2020
- Correction: Development of ACE2 autoantibodies after SARS-CoV-2 infection
Showing 5 of 9 shared publications
- Pediatric SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Arkansas Over the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic
- SARS-CoV-2 Infection Mitigation Strategies Concomitantly Reduce Group A Streptococcus Pharyngitis
- Temporal Variations in Seroprevalence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections by Race and Ethnicity in Arkansas
- Temporal Variations in Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infections by Race and Ethnicity in Arkansas
- Pediatric SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Arkansas over the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic
Showing 5 of 8 shared publications
- SARS-CoV-2 pandemic non-pharmacologic interventions temporally associated with reduced pediatric infections due to <i>Mycoplasma pneumoniae</i> and co-infecting respiratory viruses in Arkansas
- Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 using long-range PCR primers
- Effects of nonpharmaceutical interventions during COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric asthma exacerbations and viral infections
- Younger and rural children are more likely to be hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 infections
- Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Using Long-Range PCR Primers
Showing 5 of 8 shared publications
- Pediatric SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Arkansas Over the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Temporal Variations in Seroprevalence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections by Race and Ethnicity in Arkansas
- Rural Research Network to engage rural and minority community members in translational research
- State-wide random seroprevalence survey of SARS-CoV-2 past infection in a southern US State, 2020
- Temporal Variations in Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infections by Race and Ethnicity in Arkansas
Showing 5 of 7 shared publications
- Pediatric SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Arkansas Over the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Viral infection and allergy status impact severity of asthma symptoms in children with asthma exacerbations
- Temporal Variations in Seroprevalence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections by Race and Ethnicity in Arkansas
- State-wide random seroprevalence survey of SARS-CoV-2 past infection in a southern US State, 2020
- Temporal Variations in Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infections by Race and Ethnicity in Arkansas
Showing 5 of 7 shared publications
- Development of ACE2 autoantibodies after SARS-CoV-2 infection
- Pediatric SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Arkansas Over the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Temporal Variations in Seroprevalence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections by Race and Ethnicity in Arkansas
- State-wide random seroprevalence survey of SARS-CoV-2 past infection in a southern US State, 2020
- Correction: Development of ACE2 autoantibodies after SARS-CoV-2 infection
Showing 5 of 7 shared publications
- Pediatric SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Arkansas Over the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Viral infection and allergy status impact severity of asthma symptoms in children with asthma exacerbations
- Temporal Variations in Seroprevalence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections by Race and Ethnicity in Arkansas
- Temporal Variations in Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infections by Race and Ethnicity in Arkansas
- Pediatric SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Arkansas over the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic
Showing 5 of 6 shared publications
- Pediatric SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Arkansas Over the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Mission, Organization, and Future Direction of the Serological Sciences Network for COVID-19 (SeroNet) Epidemiologic Cohort Studies
- Temporal Variations in Seroprevalence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections by Race and Ethnicity in Arkansas
- State-wide random seroprevalence survey of SARS-CoV-2 past infection in a southern US State, 2020
- Temporal Variations in Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infections by Race and Ethnicity in Arkansas
Showing 5 of 6 shared publications
- Mission, Organization, and Future Direction of the Serological Sciences Network for COVID-19 (SeroNet) Epidemiologic Cohort Studies
- Temporal Variations in Seroprevalence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections by Race and Ethnicity in Arkansas
- State-wide random seroprevalence survey of SARS-CoV-2 past infection in a southern US State, 2020
- Temporal Variations in Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infections by Race and Ethnicity in Arkansas
- A longitudinal study of SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence and mitigation behaviors among college students at an Arkansas University
- Pediatric SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Arkansas Over the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Temporal Variations in Seroprevalence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections by Race and Ethnicity in Arkansas
- State-wide random seroprevalence survey of SARS-CoV-2 past infection in a southern US State, 2020
- Temporal Variations in Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infections by Race and Ethnicity in Arkansas
- Pediatric SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Arkansas over the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Mission, Organization, and Future Direction of the Serological Sciences Network for COVID-19 (SeroNet) Epidemiologic Cohort Studies
- Temporal Variations in Seroprevalence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections by Race and Ethnicity in Arkansas
- State-wide random seroprevalence survey of SARS-CoV-2 past infection in a southern US State, 2020
- Temporal Variations in Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infections by Race and Ethnicity in Arkansas
- A longitudinal study of SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence and mitigation behaviors among college students at an Arkansas University
- SARS-CoV-2 pandemic non-pharmacologic interventions temporally associated with reduced pediatric infections due to <i>Mycoplasma pneumoniae</i> and co-infecting respiratory viruses in Arkansas
- SARS-CoV-2 Infection Mitigation Strategies Concomitantly Reduce Group A Streptococcus Pharyngitis
- Effects of nonpharmaceutical interventions during COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric asthma exacerbations and viral infections
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 Lambda Variant Collected from a Child from Arkansas and Sequenced
- SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic Non-Pharmacologic Interventions Temporally Associated with Reduced Pediatric Infections Due to <i>Mycoplasma pneumoniae</i> and Co-Infecting Respiratory Viruses in Arkansas
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