معرفی
David O'Connor is a Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health. He leads the O’Connor Lab, which focuses on viral pathogenesis, host genomics, and immunity, with major research support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
His research spans emerging viral threats, including HIV, Zika virus, and SARS-CoV-2. The lab employs deep sequencing and genomic epidemiology to study viral evolution, host immune responses, and environmental surveillance. Key research areas include:
- Innovative environmental virus monitoring (air and wastewater)
- SARS-CoV-2 variant tracking and public health response
- Primate immune genomics using Mauritian cynomolgus macaques
- Discovery of novel viruses in African primates
- Development of point-of-care and mobile surveillance testing
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. O'Connor pivoted his lab to support Wisconsin's response by sequencing variants, deploying rapid testing in schools, and advocating for antigen tests. He co-taught over 100 K-12 schools to implement in-school testing. His team developed real-time environmental sampling methods for air and wastewater to monitor viral spread.
Dr. O'Connor earned his PhD in Medical Microbiology and Immunology from UW-Madison, where he studied SIV immune responses under Dr. David Watkins. His early work revealed how T cell responses drive viral escape variants. He established his independent lab in 2005 and has maintained a strong international research presence, with collaborations in Uganda and Brazil focused on HIV drug resistance and emerging viruses.
He completed a sabbatical at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in 2018. His work bridges basic science and public health, emphasizing rapid data sharing and translational research. He is married to Dr. Shelby O’Connor, also a professor at UW-Madison.
