معرفی
Dr. Kylene Kehn-Hall serves as Associate Professor and Associate Director at George Mason University's School of Systems Biology, with dual affiliation at the National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases. Her research targets high-consequence biodefense viruses including Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) and encephalitic alphaviruses (VEEV/EEEV/WEEV), addressing critical gaps in FDA-approved countermeasures for these emerging threats.
Her academic foundation includes:
- PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The George Washington University (2006)
- MS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The George Washington University (2002)
- BS in Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University (2001)
- BS in Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University (2000)
Dr. Kehn-Hall's laboratory investigates host factors essential for viral replication, evaluates small-molecule inhibitors targeting host-pathogen interfaces, and develops novel diagnostic platforms. This tripartite approach addresses the absence of licensed vaccines/therapeutics for viruses causing periodic outbreaks with significant health and economic impacts across Africa and the Americas.
Analysis of her 2016-2019 publications reveals consistent focus on alphavirus/RVFV pathogenesis mechanisms, particularly capsid protein interactions, host signaling pathway modulation, and transcriptomic alterations during infection. Key methodological trends include high-throughput screening, phosphoproteomics, and nuclear export inhibition strategies for antiviral development.
Her recognition includes:
- George Mason University College of Science Impact Award (2017, 2013)
- OSCAR Mentoring Excellence Award (2017)
- Mason Emerging Researcher/Scholar/Creator Award (2013)
As principal investigator, she has secured major funding from NIH, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, National Center for Foreign Animal and Zoonotic Disease Defense, and Commonwealth Health Research Board. Her mentorship of undergraduate researchers through GMU's OSCAR program has yielded award-winning student projects alongside her 95+ peer-reviewed publications.
She leads a specialized virology laboratory within GMU's biodefense infrastructure and serves as academic editor for PLoS ONE, Scientific Reports, and Antiviral Research, while collaborating with Ceres Nanosciences on $4.25M infectious disease surveillance platform development.
