معرفی
John G. Purdy is an Associate Professor of Immunobiology and Cancer Biology at the University of Arizona, where he has been a faculty member since October 2015. He is also a Faculty Fellow at the BIO5 Institute, an interdisciplinary research center focused on solving complex problems in health, agriculture, and environment.
Dr. Purdy earned his undergraduate degree from Pacific University and completed his Ph.D. at Penn State University College of Medicine. He then pursued postdoctoral training in metabolomics at the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, working with Drs. Joshua Rabinowitz and Thomas Shenk.
Dr. Purdy's research focuses on understanding how viruses, particularly human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), remodel host cell metabolic and lipid environments to facilitate their replication. His work aims to identify key cellular and viral targets for the development of novel antiviral therapies. The Purdy Lab employs biochemical, molecular, and genetic approaches to analyze metabolomic and lipidomic dynamics during viral infection, with a particular emphasis on fatty acid elongation and very long-chain fatty acid synthesis.
Analysis of Dr. Purdy's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on virus-host metabolic interactions, particularly how HCMV manipulates lipid metabolism. His work spans multiple disciplines including virology, metabolomics, lipidomics, and cell biology, with applications to understanding viral pathogenesis and developing antiviral strategies. A recurring theme is the role of very-long-chain fatty acids in viral replication, with significant contributions to understanding how viruses rewire host metabolic pathways.
- R01 Award (2021) - Metabolite mediated signaling in cell-to-cell spread of HCMV
- R01 Award (2021) - HCMV reprogramming of lipid metabolism
Dr. Purdy leads the Purdy Lab at the University of Arizona, which includes postdoctoral researchers, laboratory coordinators, graduate students, and undergraduate volunteers. Current lab members include Dr. Rebekah Mokry (Postdoctoral Research Associate), Nathan Schmidt (Laboratory Coordinator), and several graduate and undergraduate students. The lab has successfully mentored multiple students to completion of their degrees, including Dr. Yuecheng Xi who completed her PhD in 2021. Dr. Purdy was promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure in July 2022, reflecting his significant contributions to research and education.
