SNPRC plays a critical role in studying select agents and emerging pathogens thanks to our expertise in primates and maximum biocontainment. Our Infectious Diseases Immunology & Control Unit includes an extensive research portfolio on AIDS, hepatitis, tuberculosis, emerging viral and microbial diseases and biodefense threats, vaccine development and immunology.
We facilitate and advise collaborative investigators, affiliate scientists and outside scientists to develop and implement nonhuman primate (NHP) studies that involve infectious diseases. We also provide expertise in primate models of infectious disease including immunological and molecular tools, reagents and technologies required for characterizing infectious diseases in nonhuman primates.
Our work enhances nonhuman primate model use in infectious diseases through characterizing primate colonies and their use in various infectious disease models.
We also provide training for the next generation of investigators using nonhuman primates in infectious disease, including undergraduate volunteers, summer interns, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and young investigators.
Our research programs are dedicated to understanding basic molecular, immunological and pathogenic aspects of human and animal viruses, as well as the agents of specific bacterial diseases, such as tuberculosis and pertussis. We’re also working on a broad range of viral diseases including retroviruses (HIV/SIV), hepatitis viruses (HBV, HCV, GBV-B), arenaviruses (lassa fever virus), filoviruses (Ebola and Marburgh viruses), flaviviruses (Zika), Dengue virus and herpes viruses.
The Infectious Disease Unit works with the Immunology Laboratory Core Services to provide support for contract and internal scientific studies.
Core Scientists:
Personnel | SNPRC Role | |
Larry Schlesinger, MD | Principal Investigator | |
Deepak Kaushal, PhD | Director | |
Mahesh Mohan, DVM PhD
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IDIC Lead
Core Scientist |
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Marie-Claire Gauduin, PhD | IDIC Co-Lead
Core Scientist |
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Binhua “Julie” Ling, MD PhD | Core Scientist | |
Luis Giavedoni, PhD | Immunology Core Leader | |
Jean Patterson, PhD | Affiliate Scientist | |
Ricardo Carrion, PhD | Affiliate Scientist | |
Christopher Chen, PhD | Assistant Director for Research Support | |
Xavier Alvarez, PhD | Core Scientist | |
Shashank Ganatra, PhD | Core Scientist | |
Rajesh Thippeshappa | Core Scientist | |
Tae-Hyung Lee, PhD | Biology Core Manager | |
Vida Hodara, PhD | Immunology Core Manager | |
Sidath C Kumarapperuma, Ph.D. | Core Scientist |