Organizational Partners

Lab Partners

Dr. Charles Chiu

Professor, University of California-San Francisco

Dr. Chiu is the director of the UCSF Viral Diagnostics and Dicovery Center, a new core facility arising from a multi-year collaborative agreement between UCSF and Abbott Diagnostics. Specifically, his laboratory's research is focused on the development of novel viral detection technologies, employing the Virochip microarray and deep sequencing techniques, for the detection and discovery of novel viral pathogens associated with acute and chronic human illnesses during outbreaks.

Dr. Eric Delwart

Senior Investigator, Blood Systems Research Institute of San Francisco

Dr. Delwart’s interest is in identifying new disease causing viruses and reducing their negative impact by improving our understanding of their transmission, providing new diagnostic tools, identifying candidate immunogens and targets for the development of anti-virals.

Dr. Joseph DeRisi

Professor, University of California, San Francisco

Dr. DeRisi’s lab exploits whole genome approaches to tackle problems in yeast molecular biology and human infectious disease. Dr. DeRisi is also a recognized expert in constructing and using a viral DNA microarray based system customized for the goal of detecting and differentiating between pathogens.

Dr. Tony Goldberg

Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Dr. Goldberg’s research focuses on the epidemiology and evolutionary ecology of infectious disease. Specifically, his laboratory employs epidemiological and molecular techniques to help reconstruct patterns by which pathogens spread within and between host populations, across complex landscapes, and over time.

Dr. Fabian Leendertz

Senior Researcher, Robert Koch-Institut (RKI)

As lead of the African-German consortium at RKI, Dr. Leendertz research has focused on pathogens that afflict nonhuman primates. Through his efforts, we may come to better understand these pathogens and assess the risk on such pathogens entering into the human population.

Dr. Ian Lipkin

Professor, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health

He is internationally recognized as an authority on the use of molecular biological methods for pathogen discovery and the role of immune and microbial factors in neurologic and neuropsychiatric diseases.

Dr. Martine Peeters

Research Director, Département Sociétés et Santé, Institut de Recherché pour le Développement, University of Montpellier

Dr. Peeters is a recognized expert in the study of retroviruses. Much of Dr. Peeters work aims to better understand the circulation of viruses in human and nonhuman primate populations.

Dr. Oliver Pybus

Royal Society University Research Fellow, University of Oxford

Dr. Pybus’ research aims to explain the evolutionary dynamics of pathogens, particularly viral infections of humans, including HIV/AIDS, the Hepatitis C Virus, and Influenza. His work seeks to understand how evolutionary and ecological processes combine and interact in natural populations.

Dr. Forest Rohwer

Associate Professor, San Diego State University

Dr. Rohwer is a recognized expert in the study of microbial diversity, virus discovery, and a pioneer in the emerging field of metagenomics. His work is leading the way towards better understanding our microbial environment.

Dr. Peter Simmonds

Professor, University of Edinburgh

Dr. Simmonds’ principal research interest and focus has been in the evolution and epidemiology of virus infections, and interactions with their hosts. This has led to a variety of research investigations ranging from evolutionary studies of virus variability and recombination, molecular epidemiology and investigations of viral pathogenesis and interactions of virus with host cell defenses.

Mr. William Switzer

Non-HIV Surveillance Activity Leader, Laboratory Branch, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, NCHSTP, Centers for Disease Control

Mr. Switzer leads his branch in the study of simian retrovirus emergence among people who are exposed to primates during the course of their work and is a well-recognized authority in the field.

Dr. Linfa Wang

Senior Principal Research Scientist and Project Leader at Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Australian Animal Health Laboratory

Dr Wang's laboratory is investigating the interaction of bats and viruses using a range of technologies. His continuing efforts may shed light on new viruses and reservoirs for human disease.