Eric J. Yager

Dr. Eric J. Yager is a Professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS). He teaches Immunology, Virology, Biomedical Laboratory Techniques I & II, and Flow Cytometry. His research focuses on the pathogenesis of human enveloped RNA viruses including influenza, Zika, hepatitis C, dengue, and SARS-CoV-2.

Dr. Yager's laboratory investigates three primary research areas: 1) The role of host lipid biosynthesis in RNA virus infection, demonstrating through collaborative work with Dr. Kouacou Konan that glycosphingolipid biosynthesis is critical for influenza and Zika virus replication; 2) Molecular regulation of inflammation during influenza infection, specifically examining the NLRP3 inflammasome complex and its dual role in protective immunity versus pathological inflammation; 3) Impact of aging on anti-viral immunity, exploring why older adults exhibit increased susceptibility to viral infections and diminished vaccine responses.

Dr. Yager has received significant recognition including the AAI Young Investigator Award (2014) and AAI Early Career Faculty Travel Grant (2015). He served as President of the Eastern New York Branch of the American Society for Microbiology (2017-2019) and organized the 53rd Annual Regional Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in 2018.

Dr. Yager has mentored graduate students including Melissa Sher (2021), who completed research on "Native Transcriptome Profiling of Virus-Infected Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells," and Clare Williams (2018), who investigated "Determining the Role of Cellular Glycosphingolipid Biosynthesis on Influenza Virus Infectivity." His research has important implications for developing novel antiviral therapies and improved vaccination strategies, particularly for the elderly population.