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2025 Virology Retreat

Welcome

Headshot of Aaron Schmidt

 

What an exciting time to study virology! Here at Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and affiliated hospitals, our virology community is at the forefront of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: from advancing vaccine candidates for human clinical trials and pioneering diagnostic and surveillance efforts to conducting basic research in SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis. This work continues our community’s long history of virology research. We have made, and continue to make, seminal contributions to basic research elucidating new structures of viruses, viral glycoproteins, and virus-encoded enzymes, characterizing viral trafficking within cells, and mechanisms that control cell growth. We are among the world leaders in the design and testing of HIV, genital herpes, and influenza vaccines. Learn more about our Program...

Virology Spotlight

Fighting Blindness with a Virus

Injecting the eye with a virus can treat age-related blindness—or kill the very cells that need healing. Virologist Apolonia Gardner, PhD ’26 investigates why this innovative treatment succeeds or fails. Read the full article on the Harvard Griffin...
Molecular Therapy, Cepko lab

Luochen Liu - Wu lab

Luochen, a fifth-year PhD student in the Virology Program and a member of Dr. Hao Wu’s lab, did not always envision a career in science for herself. Originally drawn to music, she discovered that research offered the same creativity and originality she...

Giancarlo Ospina

Luochen Liu

EVE-rybody ought to know about the Placenta

The placenta is one of the first organs to form during pregnancy. It sustains the fetus by exchanging nutrients, gases and waste between the fetus and its mother. But the placenta is also the interface between two genetically distinct individuals whose...

JC Lin

Figure 1: Co-option of ERV for placental development