Monique Ferguson

Monique Ferguson is an Associate Professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), where she serves as Director of the HIV Pathogenesis Laboratory and Co-Director of the Pathobiology and Host Defenses Course for first-year medical students. She holds dual roles as a researcher and educator, focusing on HIV/AIDS research and medical education. Her academic affiliations include membership in the Baylor-UT Houston Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) and the International AIDS Society.

• Education: B.A. from Texas A&M University (1991), Ph.D. in 1997 and Postdoctoral Training in 2001, both at UTMB.

Research interests center on HIV pathogenesis, antiviral drug development, aptamer-based therapies, and co-culture systems to study HIV/HCV co-infection and vaginal microbiome alterations. Her work also extends to developing microbicide intra-vaginal rings. As an educator, she emphasizes STEM outreach and medical student mentorship.

Recent publications highlight her contributions to HIV virology, co-infection mechanisms, and translational research in antiviral therapies. Collaborative efforts include interdisciplinary projects on liver disease and diabetes in Hispanic populations.