Raymond J. Pickles

Dr. Raymond J. Pickles is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. He maintains dual primary affiliations with the UNC Cystic Fibrosis/Pulmonary Research and Treatment Center and the UNC Human Gene Therapy Center, where he leads a research laboratory focused on respiratory virus infections and their implications for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). His laboratory is physically located in Marsico Hall at UNC Chapel Hill, within the Cystic Fibrosis/Pulmonary Research and Treatment Center.

Dr. Pickles earned his PhD from the University of Cambridge, establishing a foundation for his research career that has spanned decades in respiratory virology and airway biology. His academic journey has led him to become a recognized expert in the field of respiratory viral pathogenesis and therapeutic development for lung diseases.

Dr. Pickles' research program centers on understanding how common respiratory viruses infect the human lung, with particular emphasis on cell-type tropism and innate immune factors that influence viral pathogenesis. His laboratory has three major research goals related to CF lung disease: developing strategies to deliver therapeutic transgenes to human airways (particularly for CFTR delivery to CF patients), understanding the role of ciliated airway epithelial cells in respiratory virus infection, and studying innate defense mechanisms provided by these cells. He focuses on three common respiratory viral pathogens: respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza viruses (PIV), and influenza viruses, which are among the most common causes of viral infections in infants and children, and pose significant risks to individuals with compromised lungs. His work has expanded to include SARS-CoV-2 research during the pandemic, examining viral pathogenesis and potential therapeutic interventions.

Dr. Pickles' publication record demonstrates consistent productivity from 2011 through 2025, with a clear trajectory from fundamental virology studies toward translational applications. His recent work (2023-2025) shows increased focus on advanced airway epithelium models, humanized animal models for viral infection, and novel therapeutic approaches including monoclonal antibodies and gene therapy strategies. The integration of computational modeling with experimental approaches represents a growing aspect of his research program, particularly evident in his SARS-CoV-2 related publications.

Dr. Pickles maintains extensive collaborations across multiple disciplines as evidenced by his co-authorship patterns, working with researchers in pulmonology, immunology, gene therapy, and computational biology. His laboratory bridges basic science with clinical applications, particularly in developing novel approaches to treat respiratory viral infections in vulnerable patient populations with underlying lung diseases.