Christopher C. Broder

Christopher C. Broder is Professor and Chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) School of Medicine. A faculty member since 1996, he was promoted to Full Professor in 2005 and has led transformative research in virology, particularly in emerging zoonotic viruses and countermeasure development. His work bridges basic science and clinical translation, with significant contributions to national biodefense efforts.

Dr. Broder's educational background includes:

• B.S. in Biological Sciences (with honors), Florida Institute of Technology (1983)
• M.S. in Molecular Biology, Florida Institute of Technology (1985)
• Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology, University of Florida College of Medicine (1989)

His research focuses on virus-host interactions for high-consequence pathogens including Nipah, Hendra, Ebola, and HIV-1. Key areas include viral entry mechanisms, receptor discovery, and development of vaccines/therapeutics. Notable achievements include identifying HIV-1 coreceptors (CXCR4/CCR5; Science 1996 Breakthrough of the Year), discovering ephrin-B2 as the henipavirus receptor, and creating the first commercialized BSL-4 vaccine (Equivac® HeV). His work exemplifies the One Health approach to zoonotic disease control.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2008-2024) reveals consistent leadership in structural virology, therapeutic antibody development, and translational countermeasures for henipaviruses. His team has pioneered structural characterization of viral glycoproteins, enabling rational vaccine design and cross-reactive antibody therapies now in clinical use. Recent work emphasizes broad-spectrum countermeasures against divergent viral variants.

Dr. Broder's major honors include:

• Federal Laboratory Consortium Awards (2013, 2019, 2020)
• CSIRO Chairman’s Medal (2013)
• Carol Johns Medal (highest USU faculty honor)
• MHSRS Outstanding Research Awards (2020 Individual, 2021 Team)
• James J. Leonard Award for Translational Research (2016)

He has mentored 13 graduate students and 15 postdoctoral fellows while securing major funding from NIH, DoD, and CEPI. His translational pipeline includes the HeV-sG vaccine (approved for horses in Australia), the m102.4 monoclonal antibody (used in 19 human emergency treatments), and multiple candidates in Phase 1 clinical trials. His research directly addresses military-relevant biological threats through the DoD's emerging infectious disease programs.

As Department Chair and former Director of USU's Emerging Infectious Diseases PhD Program (2006-2018), Dr. Broder leads a multidisciplinary team collaborating with CSIRO (Australia), NIAID, and biotech partners. His laboratory maintains BSL-3/4 capabilities for high-containment pathogen research and serves as a critical node in global outbreak response networks for henipaviruses and other priority pathogens.