Erica L. Johnson

Erica L. Johnson, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry & Immunology and Obstetrics & Gynecology at Morehouse School of Medicine. She serves as Co-Director of the MSM Vaccine Trials Unit and Pediatric Clinical Translational Research Unit, driving clinical research initiatives focused on maternal-fetal health.

Education:

• Postdoctoral Fellowship: Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Emory University
• Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences, Morehouse School of Medicine
• Bachelor of Science in Biology, Clark Atlanta University

Research Focus: Dr. Johnson's work pioneers understanding of immune protection during pregnancy, with emphasis on mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of pathogens. Her laboratory investigates placental/fetal immunology in HIV and HCMV contexts, defining innate immune dynamics at the maternal-fetal interface. Current projects dissect how maternal HCMV promotes in utero HIV transmission and how maternal infection shapes fetal immune development, aiming to develop targeted interventions for high-risk pregnancies.

Publication Trends: Her 2018-2020 publications reveal concentrated expertise in viral pathogenesis at the maternal-fetal interface, with recurring themes of macrophage biology (Hofbauer cells), inflammatory responses to obesity/infection, and cross-viral interactions (Dengue/Zika, HCMV/HIV). Key methodologies include single-cell mass cytometry and translational models of placental infection.

Research Infrastructure: As Co-Director of the MSM Vaccine Trials Unit and Pediatric Clinical Translational Research Unit, she leads critical infrastructure for clinical vaccine studies and pediatric translational research within historically underserved communities.