Suzannah Rihn

Dr. Suzannah Rihn is a virologist and ERC Senior Research Fellow at the Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), which operates within the Department of Medicine at the University of Cambridge. Her research primarily investigates fitness and interferon-related determinants of virus transmission, with special emphasis on coronaviruses and their potential for cross-species transmission to humans.

Dr. Rihn received her undergraduate degree from Smith College (Massachusetts, USA) and completed her PhD at Rockefeller University (New York, USA). In 2016, she joined the MRC University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research as a Postdoctoral Research Assistant, where she was awarded a Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowship. In 2022, she secured €1.6 million from the European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant to investigate how new coronaviruses might transmit between rodents and humans in the future.

Her research spans virology, immunology, and pandemic preparedness, with particular focus on viral emergence, cross-species transmission, zoonosis, and interferon-stimulated genes. Dr. Rihn's work bridges fundamental virology with practical applications for pandemic prevention, examining how viruses overcome host barriers during transmission events through molecular and immunological approaches.

Analysis of Dr. Rihn's publication record reveals a strong trajectory from HIV research to coronavirus studies, with increasing focus on SARS-CoV-2 and related viruses. Her work examines viral evolution, host-pathogen interactions, immune evasion mechanisms, and the development of research tools for coronavirus studies, demonstrating expertise in both retroviruses and coronaviruses.

Dr. Rihn has received significant recognition for her research, including:

• Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowship
• European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant (€1.6 million)

As a Principal Investigator, Dr. Rihn leads research into viral transmission mechanisms and pandemic preparedness. Her ERC-funded project specifically investigates rodent-to-human coronavirus transmission potential. She collaborates with prominent researchers including Professor Ravindra Gupta and Professor Sam Wilson within the Cambridge Immunology Network framework.

Dr. Rihn's laboratory work focuses on understanding viral fitness determinants and interferon-related mechanisms in virus transmission. Her research contributes significantly to epidemic and pandemic preparedness efforts through the Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease, with implications for surveillance strategies and intervention development to prevent future viral spillover events.