Biography

Meaghan Hancock received her Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology from McMaster University, Ontario, Canada in 2004. During her undergraduate studies she worked in the laboratory of Dr. Karen Mossman studying viral mediated activation of IRF3. Her Ph.D. research was conducted in the laboratory of Dr. Jim Smiley at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada where she studies the roles of herpes simplex virus proteins VP16 and ICP0 in overcoming innate barriers to viral gene expression. She began her post-doctoral training in the laboratory of Dr. Jay Nelson at the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute (VGTI), Oregon Health and Science University, studying the roles of human cytomegalovirus (CMV) miRNAs in modulating host cellular signaling pathways. In addition, she is using cellular miRNAs to alter CMV tropism in order to better understand the immune responses elicited by CMV-based vaccine vectors. She is currently an Assistant Professor at the VGTI.