Debra Adair

Debra Adair is an Instructor and Pre-Health Advisor in the Department of Biology at the State University of New York at New Paltz. She holds a BS in Biology from the University of New Mexico, an MS from Northern Arizona University, and a PhD from Warsaw Medical University. Her teaching focuses on Modern Biotechnology, Genetics, Molecular Biology, and Anatomy and Physiology. Her research explores viral replication mechanisms, particularly in Hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV, with emphasis on neuroinvasion and neurological impacts. Key contributions include demonstrating HCV’s role in cognitive impairment and identifying viral persistence in patients.

Adair’s research career includes work at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) on Yersinia pestis, the Mayo Clinic studying HCV and HIV interactions, and collaborative projects on Bacillus anthracis diversity. Her studies have revealed HCV’s ability to replicate in the central nervous system and its effects on brain tissue. She is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the National Association for Advisors of Health Professions (NAAHP).

Her publications span molecular genetics, virology, and immunology, addressing topics like HCV-HIV co-infection, viral quasispecies dynamics, and CNS infection mechanisms. She has advised no formally listed students but mentors pre-health professionals through her advisory role.