معرفی
Monica Vaccari is an Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Tulane University's National Primate Research Center. Her research focuses on host-virus interactions, particularly HIV/SIV, SARS-CoV-2, and influenza, with an emphasis on innate immune responses and vaccine development. She holds a PhD in Immunology from the University of Milan and a postdoctoral fellowship from the NIH's NCI. Her work has contributed to understanding viral pathogenesis, immune evasion, and translational vaccine strategies using non-human primate models.
Education & Affiliations:
- MS, Biotechnology and Medicine, University of Milan, Italy
- PhD, Immunology, University of Milan, Italy
- Post-doctoral Fellowship, National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH
- Current Affiliation: Tulane National Primate Research Center
Research Interests: Vaccines for HIV/SIV prevention and eradication, SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis, influenza immune responses, and aging-related immune dysfunction. Her studies integrate molecular, cellular, and systems-level approaches to combat viral infections.
Key Achievements:
- Recipient of the 2021 Spirit of Tulane Award.
- Over 60 peer-reviewed publications, including work on immune checkpoint modulation in SIV models and T-cell-based vaccine strategies.
- Contributions to understanding the role of regulatory T cells and cytokine networks in viral persistence.
Grants & Labs: Leads a lab focusing on translational virology and immunology, collaborating on NIH-funded projects for vaccine development and antiviral therapies.
