Research in NIAID Labs
Over the past 60 years, NIAID scientists have made landmark breakthroughs against viral hepatitis, including the discovery of the viruses that cause hepatitis A and hepatitis E; the development of one of the first diagnostic tests for hepatitis A; and research that led to the creation of the hepatitis A vaccine, which is recommended by the CDC for all children over one year of age.
Today, scientists in the NIAID Division of Intramural Research continue to pursue effective preventions and treatments for the major hepatitis viruses through basic and translational studies on the pathogenesis and molecular biology of the viruses.
Robert Purcell, Ph.D., co-chief of LID and chief of the Hepatitis Viruses Section, applies new technologies, such as microarray analysis, to better understand the pathogenesis of hepatitis viruses. He looks at innate and adaptive immune responses in their entireties, showing unique host responses to each virus, the magnitude of virus replication and viremia, and other aspects of disease that, once understood, could offer new targets for therapies and vaccines.
Suzanne Emerson, Ph.D., chief of the Molecular Hepatitis Section, studies the molecular biology of hepatitis A virus and hepatitis E virus using cDNA clones. Her lab uses animal models to determine the natural history of hepatitis E virus and to evaluate the efficacy of vaccine candidates for both A and E viruses.
Patrizia Farci, M.D., chief of the Hepatic Pathogenesis Unit, conducts translational research to study the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis of acute liver failure and acute and chronic hepatitis of viral and non-viral etiology, as well as the long-term sequelae of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.