معرفی
Deborah Fuller is a Professor of Microbiology at the University of Washington and serves as the Associate Director of Research at the Washington National Primate Research Center. She also directs the Virology & Immunology Core at the Washington National Primate Research Center. Her research program is focused on developing novel antivirals, vaccines, and immunotherapies for SARS-CoV-2, HIV, influenza, hepatitis B, Zika virus, and Valley Fever using non-human primate models.
Dr. Fuller's research interests center on virology and immunology with a particular emphasis on mucosal immune responses. Her laboratory investigates new vaccine and antiviral concepts aimed at achieving broader, more universal protection against highly variable viruses. She developed the first Particle-Mediated Epidermal Delivery (PMED) device (gene gun) to deliver plasmid DNA directly into cells in the skin for more effective DNA vaccination. Her work has shown that PMED consistently induces strong immune responses and protection against HIV and a wide range of other viral infections. The lab also works on computational protein designs for universal influenza vaccines and antivirals, CD180-targeted vaccines, and Zika virus pathogenesis.
Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on RNA vaccine technologies, particularly self-amplifying RNA platforms, for rapid response to emerging pathogens like SARS-CoV-2 variants. Her work demonstrates significant contributions to understanding cross-protective immunity, mucosal responses, and vaccine durability. Much of her research employs non-human primate models to bridge basic science with clinical applications.
Dr. Fuller leads a comprehensive research team including postdoctoral fellows, research scientists, graduate students, and undergraduate researchers. Her laboratory collaborates extensively with the Institute for Protein Design, Abacus Bioscience, HDT Bio, and other institutions to advance vaccine and antiviral development. The Virology and Immunology Core she directs provides cutting-edge virologic and immunologic assays to support NHP research across multiple infectious diseases.
