Steven M. Varga

Dr. Steven M. Varga is a Member of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. He focuses on the immunopathogenesis of respiratory viruses, vaccine development, and cancer immunology, particularly T-cell exhaustion.

• Education: PhD in Immunology from UMass Chan Medical School; BS in Biology from University of Notre Dame.
• Research: Studies RSV, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2 immune responses, intranasal nanoparticle vaccines, and T-cell dynamics in chronic infections and cancer.

His recent publications highlight collaborations in RSV pathogenesis, cross-protection against SARS-CoV-2, and mucosal vaccine strategies. The team explores innate immune responses, alveolar macrophage infections, and viral co-infections.

His lab team includes graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and senior scientists advancing pediatric infectious disease research and immunotherapy applications.