Jonathan Karn

Jonathan Karn is a Professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, serving as Chair of the Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology and Director of the Case Center for AIDS Research. He is a leading figure in HIV research, particularly known for his work on viral latency and eradication strategies.

• Education: PhD in Molecular Biology (not explicitly stated but implied by academic rank)
• Key Collaborations: Martin Delaney Collaboratory (CARE), amfAR Research Consortium (ARCHE), Merck partnerships

Karn's research focuses on epigenetic control mechanisms of HIV transcription and latency, including studies on microglial cells and the impact of drug abuse on viral reservoirs. His work has been pivotal in identifying distinct silencing pathways in T-cells (PCR2) versus microglial cells (SMRT/CoREST), enabling cell-type-specific reactivation strategies.

Recent publications highlight advancements in understanding 2024 nuclear compartmentalization of latent HIV, 2023 iron transport dysregulation in microglia, and 2022 neuroinflammatory mechanisms. These studies span molecular biology, immunology, and neuroscience, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach.

Recognized as a 2024 AAAS Fellow, Karn emphasizes team science, acknowledging his lab's contributions to HIV research. He also led the Cleveland SARS-CoV-2 Task Force during the pandemic, expanding his impact into coronavirus diagnostics and mutation analysis.