Jack Stapleton

Dr. Jack Stapleton is a Professor of Internal Medicine in the Infectious Diseases division and Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Iowa. He holds affiliations with the Helen C. Levitt Center for Viral Pathogenesis and the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, with clinical practice based at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Education:

• MD, University of Kansas, Kansas City, Kansas
• Resident, Internal Medicine, North Carolina Memorial Hospital, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Microbiology & Immunology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
• Fellow, Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

His research focuses on molecular mechanisms of virus interference with human immune responses, particularly how positive-strand RNA viruses (HIV, HCV, human pegivirus, yellow fever, SARS-CoV-2, dengue) modulate T cell function and immune signaling pathways. His work bridges basic virology and clinical applications through vaccine development and antiviral strategies.

Analysis of his 2017-2023 publications reveals consistent emphasis on viral immune evasion tactics, especially T cell receptor interference by RNA viruses. Key trends include yellow fever vaccine off-target effects, SARS-CoV-2/ACE2 interactions on lymphocytes, environmental impacts on viral inactivation, and computational modeling of HIV evolution, demonstrating interdisciplinary integration of immunology, virology, and environmental science.

No specific scientific awards are documented in the provided materials.

Dr. Stapleton actively contributes to NIH-funded clinical trials through the Vaccine Treatment and Evaluation Unit and mentors graduate students in Biomedical Science, Medical Scientist Training, and Microbiology programs. His research receives support from the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science and focuses on translating molecular discoveries into clinical interventions for viral diseases.

He directs the Stapleton Lab within the Helen C. Levitt Center for Viral Pathogenesis, collaborating closely with the Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology to investigate viral pathogenesis and immune modulation mechanisms.