Dr. Donovan's research focuses on early pathogen-host interaction in coccidioidomycosis, and her clinical research focuses on the earlier and improved diagnosis of Valley fever. She is studying early coccidioidomycosis events to better understand altered or dysfunctional metabolic pathways as evidence of genetic alterations and a risk factor for severe coccidioidomycosis or disseminated coccidioidomycosis (DCM). In a recently published study, her team found a 2.4 fold increased risk of DCM in autoimmune patients (such as those with rheumatoid arthritis) on biological response modifiers. This work has led to a recent proposal to uncover clinical markers and to identify those at risk for severe coccidioidomycosis. Dr. Donovan's clinical research goals include the development of more rapid, reliable and cost-effective Valley fever point-of-care testing which will speed up and improve diagnostic accuracy and antimicrobial stewardship.