Christopher B. Brooke

Christopher B. Brooke is an Associate Professor of Microbiology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, affiliated with the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology. His research focuses on understanding viral replication, pathogenesis, and evolution, particularly in influenza viruses. He explores how viral heterogeneity and collective interactions influence infection outcomes and immune responses. His work integrates molecular virology, evolutionary biology, and bioinformatics to dissect mechanisms of viral adaptation and immune evasion.

Brooke holds a B.A. in Biology from Washington University (2003), a Ph.D. in Microbiology & Immunology from the University of North Carolina (2010), and completed postdoctoral training at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID, 2010–2015). He leads the Brooke Lab, which investigates topics such as viral population dynamics, antigenic evolution, and the role of defective interfering particles in infection.

His research has been published in high-impact journals like Nature Microbiology, Cell Host & Microbe, and Science, with a focus on influenza and SARS-CoV-2. Key themes include viral quasispecies evolution, host immune response modulation, and the interplay between viral genetic diversity and transmission.

Beyond research, Brooke collaborates broadly, including studies on SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics and influenza vaccine design. His lab employs cutting-edge techniques like ultra-deep sequencing and single-cell analysis to advance antiviral strategies.