University of Lowell, Massachusetts: BS (Biology), 1985.
Lousiana State University Medical Center: PhD (Microbiology/Virology), 1991.
Mount Sinai School of Medicine, NY: Postdoctoral Fellowship (Virology), 1993-1998.

My laboratory is interested in the molecular events that lead to virus assembly and budding. Our model virus systems include vesicular stomatitis virus (a virus that causes disease in bovine and equine species), and Ebola virus (a deadly human pathogen and potential agent of bioterrorism). Our studies are focused on the viral matrix proteins which are the major building blocks of the virus and function in assembly and budding. We are particulary interested in understanding how these viral matrix proteins interact with host proteins to faciltiate the budding process. By understanding the structure and function of these viral matrix proteins, we hope in the long term to be able to develop anti-viral drugs designed to inhibit the assembly and budding stages of these viral pathogens.

    1. Structure and Function studies on Ebola virus VP35, VP40,
VP24, NP, and GP
proteins.
    2. VSV Reverse-Genetics; Budding and Assembly of VSV Recombinants.

Lab personnel:
     Dr. Ziying Han - Postdoctoral Fellow
     Dr. Reed Johnson - Postdoctoral Fellow
     Mr. Peter Godlewski - Graduate Student
     Ms. Sarah McCarthy - Graduate Student
     Mr. Spencer Shelley - VMD/Ph.D. Student