Helen Lazear

Helen Lazear, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and a member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Her research program focuses on viral pathogenesis with particular expertise in flaviviruses (including West Nile virus and Zika virus) and herpes simplex virus.

Dr. Lazear's research interests center on understanding viral pathogenesis mechanisms, with special emphasis on interferon lambda (IFN-λ) mediated antiviral immunity. Her work investigates how type III interferons regulate viral infections at barrier surfaces and during pregnancy, examining both protective and pathogenic effects of interferon signaling. Her laboratory has made significant contributions to understanding flavivirus envelope protein glycosylation, Zika virus pathogenesis, and herpes simplex virus immunopathology.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on interferon lambda signaling in viral pathogenesis, particularly examining its role in pregnancy contexts, skin viral infections, and neuroinvasive diseases. Her work spans structural virology, animal models of infection, and host immune responses, with significant contributions to understanding flavivirus and herpesvirus pathogenesis.

Dr. Lazear maintains an active research laboratory with numerous students and postdoctoral fellows, as evidenced by the lab photos showing team members at conferences and research activities. The lab has established multiple animal models for studying viral pathogenesis, including specialized models for herpes simplex virus reactivation and Zika virus infection during pregnancy.