Antiviral discovery: This project is focused on the discovery of antivirals to be used for treatment of flavivirus infections, for which there are currently limited treatments available. Through several multi-center program projects, we are using high throughput systems and medicinal chemistry to discover and develop potential drugs, investigate mechanisms of action, and assess in vivo efficacy in multiple animal models of flavivirus infection.

Virus-Like Particle (VLP) vaccine development: We have developed VLP-based vaccines for multiple flaviviruses, including Zika, dengue, and Powassan viruses. Using these VLPs, we are working to optimize this vaccine platform, using immune stimulating molecules as adjuvants, as well as to use this system to better understand the correlates of protection for flaviviruses.

Zika virus placental biology and vaccine development: The major goal of this project is to identify the mechanisms of Zika virus induced placental damage during pregnancy and determine the impact of infection and vaccination on the immune environment at the maternal-fetal interface.

DENV anti-NS1 antibodies: In collaboration with research groups based in Thailand, this project is focused on the identification and characterization of anti-DENV NS1 antibodies produced by patients with varying degrees of disease and at multiple stages during disease progression and convalescence.  Additionally, we are interested in how anti-NS1 antibodies contribute to immunity or pathogenesis of dengue virus infection.