The Virology labs of the MMI department use cell and animal models to both understand viral diseases and the host response to these diseases. The Frieman Lab studies the replication and pathogenesis of Coronaviruses and other respiratory viruses to identify therapeutic strategies for treatment of disease.
The Jackson Lab studies how enteroviruses usurp the cellular pathway of autophagy to promote their own replication and exit from cells.
The Coughlan laboratory is focused on pre-clinical vaccine design, development and testing, and in investigating correlates of protection for vaccines against respiratory viral pathogens.
Our newest group, the Sarkar Laboratory, is focused on the specialized functions of IFN-inducible proteins and innate immune signaling during viral infection and cancer.
Related Information
The Frieman Lab
The overall research goal of Dr. Matthew Frieman's lab is to create therapeutic interventions for viruses of public health concern by developing a detailed understanding of how the viruses interact with the host. The lab's research has focused on the recently emerged and highly pathogenic coronaviruses: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Both viruses cause severe lung disease and are highly lethal, yet there are no FDA-approved therapeutics that target them.