phd topics in virology

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Virology and Gene Therapy

Virology and gene therapy track.

faculty-to-student ratio

Bench-to-bedside thesis topics spanning basic virology and translational virology

Guaranteed 5-year internal fellowship.

includes full tuition, stipend and benefits

As outbreaks of potentially deadly diseases like influenza, Ebola or West Nile Virus continue to make headlines, so does the need to study the pathogens that cause them. Virologists play a key role in biological science, working to dissect and understand the nature of viruses and translate that knowledge into clinical practice. Discoveries over the past few decades show great promise in areas such as vaccine development, gene therapy and immunotherapy.

The Virology and Gene Therapy Track within the Ph.D. Program at Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Science offers a highly productive, interactive research environment for you to develop as an independent investigator. As a student, you’ll learn from and work alongside faculty members who have primary interests in virology, viral vectors and gene therapy. These areas overlap with the fields of biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, genetics, and immunology.

Current areas of research include:

• Molecular biology of viruses
• Mechanisms of virus-host interactions
• Gene therapy
• Oncolytic virotherapy
• Cancer immunotherapy
• Vaccine development
• Tissue engineering using viruses
• Genetic engineering using viruses

Students receive a comprehensive education in the biomedical sciences through a set of core courses. Specialized tutorials and journal clubs provide advanced training in the broad areas of molecular virology, host-cell interactions, tumor immunology, gene therapy of metabolic diseases, cancer gene therapy and vector development.

Students are introduced to the laboratories participating in the program. You have the opportunity to visit these laboratories and select three in which you spend eight weeks participating in a research project. You'll select your thesis lab in the spring.

In conjunction with the laboratory rotations, you begin fulfilling the core curriculum requirements as well as the virology and gene therapy requirements. Most students complete the core courses by the end of their first year, in addition to taking the written qualifying exam.

As a second-year student, most of your time is spent in the lab developing preliminary data toward your thesis project. By December of the second year, you draft your thesis proposal and take the oral qualifying examination on your proposal.

Second-year students also take advanced tutorials in virology and gene therapy as well as related areas.

The third and subsequent years are devoted primarily to pursuing thesis research with some additional courses.

Together with a thesis adviser, you select faculty members to participate in your thesis advisory committee. Thesis committee meetings assess the trajectory and evaluate the progress of your thesis research project on a regular basis. Upon completion, you write a thesis and present your findings in seminar form. This is followed by a thesis defense.

The Virology and Gene Therapy Track is a one-of-a-kind program that spans basic research in viral vectors to downstream analysis of clinical trial samples. This track prepares you to gain a solid understanding of virology as well as preclinical and clinical product development. Students in this track have a unique opportunity to see firsthand how academia interfaces with clinical, biotechnical and industrial interests to bring the next therapeutics from concept to patient bedside.

Justin Maroun M.D.-Ph.D. student, Virology and Gene Therapy Track

Mayo Clinic offered me the unique opportunity to study the biology of viruses and how to genetically alter them to become gene therapy vectors for my graduate studies. Mayo is probably is the only institution in the country that offers a graduate program this specialized.

Jeffrey Rubin Ph.D. student, Virology and Gene Therapy Track

I chose the Virology and Gene Therapy Track based on my interest in molecular virology and infectious disease. Our faculty not only has expertise in molecular virology, but we have experts in the field of oncolytic virotherapy and gene therapy as well. We also have access to patient samples, collaborations across the institution, and phenomenal core facilities.

Crystal Mendoza Ph.D. student, Virology and Gene Therapy Track

I was a tech at Mayo before transitioning to graduate school. I witnessed firsthand the value of having research buildings located alongside clinic buildings. Collaboration exists not only across departments but also within the clinic. We have clinicians attend our lab meetings, and I have clinicians on my thesis committee to help guide my research into actual treatments.

Christopher Driscoll Ph.D. student, Virology and Gene Therapy Track

Recent thesis topics

• “Use of Glucokinase Gene Delivery to Enhance Beta-Cell Proliferation and Function,” Brian Lu, Ph.D. (Mentor: Yasuhiro Ikeda, Ph.D.)
• “Sensing of HIV-1 by the Innate Immune System,” Swati Kumar, Ph.D. (Mentor: David Dingli, M.D., Ph.D.)
• “The Innate Immune System is a Major Determinant for Successful Oncolytic Measles Virotherapy," Cheyne B. Kurokawa, Ph.D. (Mentor: Evanthia Galanis, M.D.)
• "The Dual Role of Perforin in the Balance Between Protection and Pathology During CNS Viral Infection and Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) Disruption," Robin C. Willenbring, Ph.D. (Mentor: Aaron Johnson, Ph.D.)
• “B-type Natriuretic Peptide: Biology and Therapeutic Applications," Sara J Holditch, Ph.D. (Mentor: Yasuhiro Ikeda, Ph.D.)
• “Evaluation of Viral Gene Expression and E3 Immunomodulatory Functions of Adenovirus Serotype 26 to Inform Vector Design for Cancer Therapy," Mallory A. M. Turner, Ph.D. (Mentor: Michael Barry, Ph.D.)
• "Characterizing and Advancing Oncolytic Measles Virus Therapy Against Lymphoma," Tanner S. Miest, M.D., Ph.D. (Mentor: Roberto Cattaneo, Ph.D.)
• "Engineering and Development of Single Cycle Adenovirus Vectors as Mucosal Vaccination Platforms," Catherine M. Crosby, Ph.D. (Mentor: Michael Barry, Ph.D.)

Your future

Many graduates of the Virology and Gene Therapy Track choose to pursue postdoctoral training regardless of whether they intend to pursue careers in academia or industry. Other students choose to enter advanced training programs like clinical microbiology and biochemical genetics programs.

After graduating from the program, you could also choose to pursue a career in education, scientific writing and editing, or become a scientific grant program officer. Several students from our laboratories have become tenured faculty and leaders in industry and in foundations.

Meet the director

Welcome to the Virology and Gene Therapy track at Mayo Clinic — a leading medical institution where you’ll receive training from some of the world’s brightest, most-distinguished scientists and physicians.

Our program works with other research and clinical programs at Mayo to facilitate rapid bench-to-bedside translation as well as easy access to clinical samples.

Our mission is to provide high-quality education you won’t find anywhere else.

Michael Barry, Ph.D. Virology and Gene Therapy Track Director Professor of Medicine Phone: 507-266-9090 Email: [email protected] See research interests

Browse a list of Virology and Gene Therapy Track faculty members

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Virology is an area of study within the Division of Medical Sciences, an administrative unit based at Harvard Medical School that coordinates biomedical PhD activities at the Longwood Medical Area. Students who study in Virology receive a PhD in medical sciences. Prospective students apply through Harvard Griffin GSAS; in the online application, select “Division of Medical Sciences” as your program choice and select "Virology" in the Area of Study menu.

Virology is one of the programs in the Harvard Integrated Life Sciences, which facilitates collaboration and cross-disciplinary research. Visit HILS for additional  application instructions .

This program is one of the few virology graduate programs in the country, and its small size provides the benefits of a smaller program, offering nearly a one-to-one ratio of students to faculty.

You will take advantage of a well-developed curriculum that focuses on analyzing, reading, and discussing papers to generate, present, and discuss research proposals. Most importantly, you will learn how to think as a scientist. You will have the opportunity to participate in state-of-the-art research involving molecular biology, cell biology of viruses, structural analysis, cryo-EM, and genomic analysis of cells and viruses.

Examples of student projects include structure and mechanism actions of antiviral antibodies, including SARS-CoV2, cellular genes that promote and inhibit viral infection, and mechanisms of viral oncogenesis.

Graduates have gone on to faculty positions at prestigious institutions such as MIT, Brandeis University, Duke University, and Yale University. Others have begun careers at leading companies like Moderna, Gilead, Pfizer, and Sanofi Pasteur.

Standardized Tests

GRE General: Not Accepted GRE Subject: Not Accepted iBT TOEFL minimum score: 100 IELTS minimum score: 7

See list of Virology faculty

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Questions about the program.

Virology (PhD) Graduate Programs

Interested in virology (phd) graduate programs.

The Program in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics provides training in the study of viruses as well as in the use of viral models to investigate basic problems in molecular genetics. The program is designed for students interested in either academic careers in teaching and research or those interested in careers in related aspects of medicine and industry. Research training is offered in viral genetics and physiology, viral pathogenesis, viral replication, molecular biology of viral pathogens, vaccine and therapeutic development, and the structural biology of viruses and viral macromolecular complexes. State-of-the-art Emory University-wide core facilities support the work of many of the laboratories. Model viral systems including Adenoviruses, Avian Sarcoma and Leukosis Virus (ASLV), Chikungunya virus, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Dengue virus, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and murine gamma herpesvirus 68, Filoviruses, Herpesvirus, Hepatitis B and C viruses, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1)/Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV), Influenza viruses, Measles virus, Polyomaviruses, Respiratory Syncytial virus (RSV), Rhinoviruses, Vaccinia virus, West Nile virus (WNV) are used to explore this exciting field.

Educational and Research Opportunities

The graduate experience in the Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Program (MMG) begins with an introduction to the faculty, current students, and their research through a series of short talks, discussions, and a poster session. The students then choose the first of three research rotations which are designed to give the student exposure to various research areas and techniques before choosing a direction and laboratory for their thesis research. In the first and second years, students also participate in courses which prepare them for analyzing, critiquing, and presenting research in the areas of bacterial genetics, biochemistry, microbial pathogenesis, molecular genetics in eukaryotic and prokaryotic systems, immunology, and molecular mechanisms for DNA rearrangements and gene regulation.

MMG graduate students are afforded the opportunity to teach for one semester in their second year; all students are prepared for this experience by attending a symposium on teaching strategies, techniques, and ethics. Journal clubs, seminars, and attending international meetings contribute to the graduate educational experience. Students usually complete their graduate work in four to five years and then move on to excellent postdoctoral positions enroute to academic, industry, and government research positions.

Research Environment

The research environment in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics is strongly interactive among different laboratories. There is Core support from the University for key technologies, including protein analysis, bioinformatics, and molecular modeling, electron and confocal microscopy, and a transgenic mouse facility. An NIH Training Grant has been awarded to us to train pre-and post-doctoral students in Molecular Mechanisms of Microbial Pathogenesis.

The research groups in the MMG Program are supportive of one another and students in the Program profit from the advice of faculty and postdoctoral associates in many different laboratories. Because the Program is Interdepartmental, it benefits from faculty with different backgrounds and the research labs are located at the main University campus, the Vaccine Center on the nearby Emory National Primate Research Center, the Veterans Administration Hospital facility, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All buildings are within a 15-minute walk of each other and are connected by shuttle bus service.

Campus Life

Located just 15 minutes from downtown Atlanta in the tree-lined suburban neighborhood of Druid Hills, Emory University is positioned along the Clifton Corridor, which also includes the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Cancer Society.

Emory University is home to nine major academic divisions, numerous centers for advanced study, and a host of prestigious affiliated institutions. In addition to Emory College, the University encompasses a graduate school of arts and sciences; professional schools of medicine, theology, law, nursing, public health, and business; and Oxford College, a two-year undergraduate division on the original campus of Emory in Oxford, Ga.

Emory was founded at Oxford by the Methodist Church in 1836. The University has 11,300 students and 2,500 faculty members who represent all regions of the United States and more than 100 foreign nations.

More info about Atlanta

Graduate Program

Virology Ph.D. degree will give students the opportunity to participate in state-of-the-art research involving molecular biology, cell biology of viruses, structural analysis, cryo-EM, and genomic analysis of cells and viruses.

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Immunology, Microbiology and Virology PhD Program

The Curriculum is intended to develop the skills necessary for pursuing research in the chosen discipline. It includes the core courses that are required for all students, and electives chosen by the student and advisor to augment topics relevant to the individual's research. Core courses are usually completed in the first year of study.

Curriculum for all Students Entering the Program prior to the Fall of 2015

Core Course Curriculum for Ph.D. Students

(For students entering the program in the fall of 2015, or thereafter)

The Core Curriculum is designed to: (1) accelerate time-to-degree for doctoral students, (2) ensure that trainees can fully immerse themselves in independent research by the start of the second year, (3) accelerate the transition from a didactic undergraduate learning style to a self-directed, autonomous, adult learning style, and (4) to create the curricular “space” to allow trainees to explore a diversity of research career options.  The required core curriculum for the program, all of which is completed in the first year of graduate training, is:

Core Requirements Common to All Three Tracks

• IND 501 - Ethics in Research
• IND 431 - Foundations in Modern Biology I
• IND 432 - Foundations in Modern Biology II
• MBI 501 - Microbiology & Immunology Student Seminar
• MBI 507 - Laboratory Rotations
• MBI 519 - Experimental Design and Analysis

Fall Semester

• IND 431 - Foundations in Modern Biology (5 credits)
• IND 501 - Ethics in Research (1 credit)            
• MBI 501 - Student Seminar (1 credit)            
• MBI 519 - Experimental Design and Analysis (1 credit)            
• MBI 506 - Scientific Writing in Research (1 credit)            
• MBI 507 - Laboratory Rotations (add # of credits needed to total 16 including one option below)

In addition students must choose one of the following course options, based on their Track (Immunology, Microbiology or Virology)

Immunology Track option:

• MBI 473 - Immunology 3 credits and
• MBI 573 - Immunology Seminar 2 credits

Microbiology Track option:

• MBI 414 - Microbial Pathogenesis 3 credits and
• MBI 514 - Pathogenesis Seminar 1 credits

Virology Track option:

Total 16 credits

Spring Semester Year 1

• IND 432 - Foundations in Modern Biology II (5 credits)
• MBI 507 - Laboratory Rotations (1 credit)            
• MBI 506 - Scientific Writing in Research (1 credits)
• MBI 515 - Advanced Immunology (4 credits)
• MBI 521 - Microbial Gen/Phys Seminar 1 credits
• MBI 421 - Microbial Genetics and Physiology 3 credits and
• MBI 456 Virology (4 credits)

Years 2-4

After the first year of didactic course work, students immerse themselves in their research, seminar based classes and electives chosen in consultation with their advisor and thesis committee.

Immunology Track:

• MBI 540 - Advanced Topics in Immunology (one semester)
• MBI 580 - Immunology Research-in-Progress Seminar (at least six semesters)

Microbiology Track:

• MBI 570 - Advanced Topics in Molecular Microbiology (at least six semesters)

Virology Track:

• MBI 588 - Virology Research Seminar Series (at least six semesters)
• MBI 589 - Advanced Topics in Virology (at least two semesters)

Special Topics Courses

Science communication for diverse audiences (mbi 492).

Science Communication for Diverse Audiences (MBI 492) offers a hands-on based approach to improve science communication skills. Students will have the opportunity to work in small groups to learn basic presentation skills, distill their scientific message for a multitude of audiences, and become more comfortable presenting in front of groups. We will focus on improving communication with both scientific and non-scientific audiences.  This course integrates some of the newest training techniques in the field including improv and story telling, which serve to help scientists better connect to audiences in the moment. The course will also offer brief sections on writing for non-scientific audiences. Participants should come ready to step outside of their comfort zone and dive into a variety of different training techniques from week to week. 

Rotations in the first year of study in three different laboratories allow the students to gain experience with methodology and instrumentation, and to become familiar with prospective research advisors for their thesis project. At the end of the first year, students choose a permanent advisor and embark on a Ph.D. thesis research program. Students may choose any faculty member in the School of Medicine and Dentistry or a participating faculty member in the College of Arts and Sciences as their research advisor.

Learn more about lab rotations.

Qualifying Examinations

A Qualifying Examination at the end of the second year of studies is a means of determining the potential of the student for independent thought, experimental acumen, comprehension of the general field, and potential for exploiting a relevant problem in a scientifically sound manner. The M.S. degree is awarded upon successful completion of this examination.

Teaching Assistantship

A one-semester Teaching Assistantship is required. Students usually complete this requirement in the second year of study.

Student Seminar Series

The Student Seminar Series (MBI 501) is designed to develop the organizational and speaking skills necessary for an independent career in research and to facilitate exchange of research information within the program.

At the end of the first year, students choose a permanent advisor and embark on a Ph.D. thesis research program. Students may choose any faculty member in the School of Medicine and Dentistry or a participating faculty member in the College of Arts and Sciences as their research advisor. The Ph.D. is awarded based on development of an Independent Thesis Research Project as well as a written dissertation describing the rationale, methodology, results, conclusions and significance of the project.

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The legacy of virology research at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health can be traced to the School's beginnings.

Taught by Charles Simon, one of the first courses at the new school focused on “filterable viruses,” which grew out of his research efforts in this field. “We are now in possession of what is probably the largest collection of material bearing on diseases caused by filterable viruses that exists in the world today,” Simon told the School's founding dean William Henry Welch in 1923.

The tradition of virological investigation initiated by Dr. Simon remains a vital component of the research effort in MMI. We have assembled a dynamic group of researchers with a range of perspectives on the viral world, creating a highly collaborative, stimulating, and productive scientific environment.

Research Groups

Professor  Joseph Margolick  is the lead investigator in the Hopkins component of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study, which has been tracking the course of the HIV-1 epidemic in gay men and obtaining clinical specimens from them for almost 30 years. The valuable repository of specimens from this study have provided critical materials for longitudinal analysis of immunological, virological and behavioral factors involved in the effort to control this pandemic.

Using high-throughput, next-generation sequencing,  Dr. Richard Markham  has been following individual viral genetic evolution, particularly focusing on the impact of drug abuse on the course of HIV-1 and on the efficacy of antiretroviral therapy. His laboratory has also been developing novel techniques for interrupting sexual transmission of the virus.

The great influenza outbreak of 1918 is the nightmare scenario of a public health crisis—the emergence of a new viral variant that ultimately killed an estimated 50-100 million people within six months of its appearance. The ability of new variants of this virus to cross species barriers poses the risk of a repetition of the 1918 experience. The research of Associate Professor  Andrew Pekosz  on the role of specific viral proteins in the pathogenesis of this infection, lays the groundwork for developing universally protective vaccines that will anticipate the emergence of new viral variants.

Beyond their importance in vast epidemics, viruses, because of their intimate interaction with the cells they infect, can also be used as a tool to study fundamental cell biology, providing an opportunity to exploit the limited genome of viruses to probe the more complex mammalian genomes and cellular pathways.  Dr. Sabra Klein  studies the immune response to hantavirus in rats and influenza in mice and humans to understand the basis for the differences in immune responses between males and females that are observed in a number of different infections.

Dr. Marie Hardwick’s  studies of pathogenetic mechanisms of Sindbis virus have evolved into a career focused on the cellular pathways involved in a type of “cell suicide” called apoptosis, a cellular mechanism that may be implicated in such diverse biologic processes as aging and the development of cancer.

Dr. Diane Griffin  has used this same virus to study host defense mechanisms against infections of the central nervous system, while using a different virus, measles, to gain insight into the development of the immune response in infants, who cannot be protected by the measles vaccine that is so effective in older children.

Not all human-associated viruses cause disease. The laboratory of  Dr. Jotham Suez  studies the naturally-occurring viruses in our body, collectively termed “the virome.” Similar to symbiotic bacteria, bacteriophages and non-pathogenic eukaryotic viruses interact with the human body systems. The Suez lab seeks to identify the factors that shape this viral community, and decipher the mechanisms through which virome perturbations underlie human diseases.

Division of Infection and Immunity

PhD Infection and Immunity

A PhD in Infection and Immunity offers an opportunity to work with world class scientists and to develop your skills as an independent researcher.

We offer a wide range of projects across the fields of infectious diseases, virology and immunology. A strength of the Division is its position at the interface between basic research and clinical medicine, fostered by UCL Partners, a consortium that links UCL with major hospital trusts in the area. Through our PhD programme we aim to:

• Teach students how to conduct world-leading research in infection and immunity
• Prepare them to become independent researchers
• Foster interdisciplinary research

UCL is a world leading university and a dynamic and exciting environment for your studies. The Division offers research training of the highest standard with the aim of forming the future leaders in the field. Our Principal Investigators are internationally recognised leaders in infection and immunity, providing students with a unique opportunity for networking and furthering their careers.

Key information and entry

Duration Full-time: 3-4 Years Part-time: 5 Years

Optional qualifications This degree is also available as a MPhil.

Entry requirements Please refer to the UCL Graduate Degrees Entry requirements webpage to see if you have the necessary qualifications to apply to study for a research degree.

Students must have obtained a First Class degree or equivalent from a good Institution. Candidates with an Upper Second class (2:1) degree or equivalent can also apply but in this case the standing of the Institution awarding the degree will carry more weight, along with A-level (or equivalent) results. Please note: for research degree study in our Division it is not necessary to have completed an MSc first. Previous research experience will be taken into account.

Overseas students should visit the UCL International Students website for guidance on academic degree equivalence. Overseas students must also demonstrate English language proficiency and meet UCL's English language requirements . For further information visit the UCL Prospective Students Graduate Research Degrees website.

Our PhD programme focuses on:

• Infection , which includes a strong virology community, both basic and translational (HIV-1, retroviruses, herpesviruses, hepatitis B and C viruses), and clinically oriented research in bacteriology (mycobacterium tuberculosis)
• Immunology , which includes T cell development and function, aging, innate immunity, host responses to infection, and autoimmune diseases (diabetes)
• Leukaemia and gene therapy approaches to treat cancer.
• Autoimmune diabetes
• Cancer and leukaemia/ gene therapy
• Computational immunology and bioinformatics
• Herpes viruses
• HIV and retroviruses
• Host-pathogen interaction
• Immune regulation
• Immunity to hepatitis
• Immunology of ageing
• Innate immunity
• Primary immune deficiency
• Tuberculosis
• Virus evolution and drug resistance

projects-supervisors-23-24.pdf

UCL offers a large selection of seminars and events with invited speakers from top Institutions worldwide. Students are encouraged to attend seminars that are relevant to their studies and their scientific interests. The Division organises bi-weekly external seminars in the fields of infection (virology, parasitology, bacteriology) and immunology, which students are expected to attend. The Division also organises weekly internal seminars where PhD students and postdoctoral fellows present their research to colleagues and faculty members.

A PhD Colloquium is held every year in June where all our PhD students present their research. Prizes for the two best presentations are awarded. A prominent scientist is also invited to give a keynote lecture covering their scientific discoveries and career. A Postgraduate Club is organised by students with the support of the programme Committee.

Fees and funding

There are a number of PhD Funding Schemes available via UCL. For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, visit the UCL Scholarships and Funding website. Overseas students (non-EEA nationals) must obtain independent funding that covers tuition fees for 3 years, subject to yearly increments, and living expenses. Funds to cover consumables for research are desirable but may not be necessary.

You must inform your prospective supervisor how you propose to fund your studies. If at this stage you have not secured funding, please indicate where you intend to seek funding from. It is essential you know exactly what costs are involved with studying a research degree.  The basic costs can be broken down into:

• Student fees
• Materials/ research costs
• Living costs.

For further details regarding fees visit the UCL Graduate Research Degrees website.

We are currently unable to offer studentships. However, we welcome applications from individuals who have secured, or intend to apply for their own studentship. Alternatively, you can apply to join one of the PhD programmes below. Once you have been accepted on to these PhD programmes, you will be able to choose a research project in Infection & Immunity.

• BBSRC London Interdisciplinary Doctoral Programme (LIDo)
• UCL-Birkbeck MRC Doctoral Training Programme
• UCL Graduate Research Scholarships
• UCL @ the Crick
• MBPhD Programme
• Wellcome PhD Programme for Clinicians

It is important to ensure that our students work in the most suitable research group and supervisor. Prospective students should look at our PhD Projects and supervisors list to decide which group topic you have the most interest and expertise in, and the investigator who subsequently you will nominate as your principal supervisor. Once you have discussed your plans with your prospective supervisor and you have both agreed that you should apply to study in their group, you will need to apply to UCL Admissions for a formal letter of offer to study. Please refer to the UCL Graduate Degrees Applying and entry webpage for further guidance and to apply online.

Students must apply via the online prospectus . Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed either in person or via Skype. Alternatively you can apply directly to the aforementioned PhD Funding schemes and if offered a scholarship you will be able to register with the Division of Infection and Immunity. If you would like to discuss your options, in person, regarding PhD applications, potential projects or supervisors, please contact Satinder Ruprai ( [email protected] ) to arrange a visit to the Division.

Recent graduates have secured postdoctoral positions in universities or research institutions in the UK, Europe, the US and Middle East. Others work in research and development for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies or in scientific journalism, patent law, health consultancy and management . Career development advice will be provided throughout the PhD by supervisors and thesis committees. Our Postgraduate Club host meetings with senior faculty members who provide advice on career progression. In addition, the Club hosts informal talks and meetings with senior individuals working in industry, biotech, scientific writing and entrepreneurs.

UCL has a dedicated Careers office that offers advice on various aspects of the career progression, including preparation for job interviews and self-promotion. For further information visit the UCL Careers website. Through its Doctoral Skills Development Programme , UCL offers a vast choice of targeted courses for skills training, including communication skills, writing grant proposals, assertiveness, ethics, etc.

In addition to the social events organised by the Division, UCL offers a wide choice of leisure and social activities, including many clubs and societies and sporting facilities. For further information visit the UCL Study Abroad Guide: Life at UCL website. The Division has been awarded a Silver Athena Swan Award and is committed to supporting diversity in science.

Professor Ariberto Fassati Postgraduate Tutor (Research) [email protected]

Professor Benedict Seddon Deputy Postgraduate Tutor (Research) [email protected]

Ms Satinder Ruprai Divisional Research Administrator [email protected]

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Original Research 04 March 2022 MiR-103a-3p Promotes Zika Virus Replication by Targeting OTU Deubiquitinase 4 to Activate p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling Pathway Haiyan Ye ,  6 more  and  Limin Chen 2,586 views 9 citations

Original Research 04 March 2022 Heat Shock Protein A6 Is Especially Involved in Enterovirus 71 Infection Jiaoyan Jia ,  7 more  and  Qinchang Zhu 2,250 views 1 citations

Loading... Review 04 March 2022 Innate Immune Evasion by Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Yan Ouyang ,  4 more  and  Huifang Zhu 6,537 views 10 citations

Original Research 02 March 2022 The Construction and Immunogenicity Analyses of Recombinant Pseudorabies Virus With NADC30-Like Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus-Like Particles Co-expression Jun Zhao ,  8 more  and  Zhiwen Xu 2,626 views 9 citations

Original Research 28 February 2022 Isolation and Genetic Characterization of Parvoviruses From Dogs, Cats, Minks, and Raccoon Dogs in the Eastern Region of Shandong Province, China Jiakai Zhao ,  8 more  and  Yani Sun 1,556 views 4 citations

Loading... Review 24 February 2022 The Role of Deubiquitinases in Virus Replication and Host Innate Immune Response Qinglin Zhang ,  2 more  and  Wenyan Zhang 3,050 views 13 citations

Opinion 16 February 2022 What Should Be Learned From Repurposed Antivirals Against SARS-CoV-2? Miguel Angel Martinez 4,523 views 2 citations

Loading... Perspective 10 February 2022 The Hidden Enemy Within: Non-canonical Peptides in Virus-Induced Autoimmunity Manivel Lodha ,  2 more  and  Bhupesh K. Prusty 7,695 views 6 citations

Loading... Review 03 February 2022 The Emerging Role of RNA Modifications in the Regulation of Antiviral Innate Immunity Jie Tong ,  4 more  and  Guosheng Qu 7,098 views 18 citations

We have 45 Virology PhD Research Projects PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

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Virology PhD Research Projects PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

Funded phd- physiology and therapeutic modulation of oxidative phosphorylation in hiv-1 infected cells., phd research project.

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

This research project has funding attached. It is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions.

Comparison of in vivo, in vitro and AI tools to generate anti-RSV antibodies

Phd studentship to study the role of kidney-resident nk cells in the control of human cytomegalovirus & bk virus infections, (epsrc) graphene oxide as a direct anti-viral and a nanocarrier for small molecule drugs and crispr dnas in anti-viral therapeutics and in combating drug resistance, competition funded phd project (uk students only).

This research project is one of a number of projects at this institution. It is in competition for funding with one or more of these projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be awarded the funding. The funding is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions.

Assessing the burden of HTLV in England: co-infection with another blood borne or sexually transmitted infection

Next generation low-cost biosensors for detection of flu outbreaks, funded phd project (students worldwide).

This project has funding attached, subject to eligibility criteria. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but its funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

Understanding the Host-Pathogen interaction of PRRSV

Understanding the host-pathogen interaction of hepatitis e virus in pigs, the use of machine learning models to identify new non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors targeting hiv-1, self-funded phd students only.

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

UTS PhD Scholarship- Sydney Water- CRCSAAFE

Comparative virology – understanding how picornaviruses replicate.

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PhD/MPhil Medical Virology

Year of entry: 2024

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We require applicants to hold, or be about to obtain, an Upper Second class Honours degree, or the equivalent qualification gained outside the UK, in a related subject area for entry to a PhD programme. A Lower Second class Honours degree may be considered if applicants also hold a Master's degree with a Merit classification.

Full entry requirements

See full guidance on how to choose a project and submit an application on our websi te . You should then complete the online admissions application form to apply for this programme. Ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission, or this may delay the processing of your application.

Application deadlines

You must submit your application for a postgraduate research programme before the relevant deadline to be considered. You will not be able to apply after these deadlines have passed.

• January entry: 15 October (of the year prior entry)
• April entry: 15 January (year of entry)
• September entry: 15 June (year of entry)

Programme options

Programme overview

• Learn from some of Europe's leading researchers while undertaking your own project.
• Access some of the best research facilities in the world at both the University and in hospitals around Greater Manchester.
• Undergo training in transferable skills critical to developing early-stage researchers and professionals through the Doctoral Academy's training programme.
• Conduct research at a university ranked 6th in the UK (QS World University Rankings 2023).

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

• PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): Standard £4,786, Low £11,000, Medium £17,500, High £23,000 International, including EU, students (per annum): Standard £27,000, Low £28,500, Medium £34,500, High £40,500
• PhD (part-time) UK students (per annum): Standard £2393, Low £5,500, Medium £8,750, High £11,500 International, including EU, students (per annum): Standard £13,500, Low £14,250, Medium £17,250, High £20,250

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

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Programmes in related subject areas.

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

• Biosciences

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview, english language.

For applicants whose first language is not English, or if you have not studied recently in the UK, you must provide evidence of how you meet the English Language requirement.

We mainly accept IELTS or TOEFL tests. Please note IELTS and TOEFL are only valid for two years.

We require a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 overall or TOEFL (iBT) 90. Each component of the English test should meet the minimum requirement of IELTS 5.5 in all components, TOEFL (iBT 22). For the  writing component , we expect you to have achieved a minimum of 6.0 (IELTS).

If your IELTS or TOEFL expires before the start of your programme, you will need to take another official English test before we can issue you with a CAS for your visa application. This is a requirement of UKVI.

For more information about English language tests see English language requirements .

Please contact us at [email protected] for further information.

English language test validity

Other international entry requirements, application and selection, how to apply, advice to applicants.

In addition to the formal online application, candidates should send all supporting documents (CV, transcripts, certificates, confirmation of funding, English language ability (if applicable) and a personal statement).

About the personal statement   

We recommend that your personal statement summarises:

• any research experience and your interests;
• your motivation for postgraduate research study;
• why you want to do a postgraduate research degree in Manchester;
• your career development to date;
• your future career plans;
• other supporting information: recent publications if any or other research training and experience;

If you have completed a research project during your undergraduate/master's study, please give a short description of the work you undertook, including the following details:

• the research problem
• your key findings
• techniques acquired and skills learned

This information is especially important for applicants from overseas, so we can fully assess your practical background and experience alongside your academic qualifications. Failure to include this information may delay the processing of your application.

See further guidance on how to choose a project and submit an application  on our website  .

Interview requirements

Candidates will be required to attend an interview with their prospective supervisor as well as an independent Postgraduate Tutor. If it is not possible for you to attend in person, we are able to interview by Zoom/video conferencing.

Disclosure and Barring Service check

Programme details, programme description.

Medical Virology is an important and rapidly expanding field with sensitive molecular techniques leading to the discovery of many new viruses. Dramatic outbreaks of zoonotic virus infections (e.g. Ebola, MERS, SARS, Nipah, etc.,) are regularly seen and changes in climate, society habits, and medical practice have allowed newly emerging and re-emerging viral diseases to spread.

Control of viral disease is challenging; there are currently no antiviral compounds that have truly broad-spectrum activity so preventing and controlling infection is vital. Modern, rapid methods of diagnosis help us to understand the pathogenesis of virus infections, and more and more vaccines and antivirals are being developed and utilized. 

Current research interests include congenital infections, particularly human cytomegalovirus disease, and blood-borne virus infections such as hepatitis C virus, HIV and human polyomaviruses although these areas are not restrictive and a wide range of viral infections are of interest.

During your PhD you will gain practical laboratory experience in molecular virology, cell culture and serology techniques, and learn how these can be applied to both basic science questions and to solve clinical problems.  We work with collaborators within the University, the local hospital Trusts and with a wide ranging European network of clinical virologists.

Our position at the interface between basic research and clinical medicine allows our PhD programme to:

• Enable students to learn how to conduct world-leading research in infection and immunity
• Prepare our students to become independent researchers
• Foster interdisciplinary research

Special features

Training and development

All of our postgraduate researchers attend the Doctoral Academy Training Programme delivered by the Researcher Development team . The programme provides key transferable skills and equips our postgraduate researchers with the tools to progress beyond their research degree into influential positions within academia, industry and consultancy. The emphasis is on enhancing skills critical to developing early-stage researchers and professionals, whether they relate to effective communication, disseminating research findings and project management skills.

Teaching and learning

Applicants are specifically matched with a Primary Supervisor and individual project based on their research interests and background.

International applicants interested in this research area can also consider our PhD programme with integrated teaching certificate .

This unique programme will enable you to gain a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning, whilst also carrying out independent research on your chosen project.

Scholarships and bursaries

Funded programmes and projects are promoted throughout the year. Funding is available through UK Research Councils, charities and industry. We also have other internal awards and scholarships for the most outstanding applicants from within the UK and overseas.  

For more information on available the types of funding we have available, please visit the  funded programmes  and  funding opportunities  pages.

What our students say

Disability support, career opportunities.

Your postgraduate research degree will open up a range of career opportunities after you graduate. Find out more on the  Careers  page.

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• View all journals

Virology articles from across Nature Portfolio

Virology is the scientific discipline concerned with the study of the biology of viruses and viral diseases, including the distribution, biochemistry, physiology, molecular biology, ecology, evolution and clinical aspects of viruses.

The importance of spatial heterogeneity in disease transmission

Spatial heterogeneity in disease transmission rates and in mixing patterns between regions makes predicting epidemic trajectories hard. Quantifying the mixing rates within and between spatial regions can improve predictions.

• Emily Paige Harvey
• Dion R. J. O’Neale

Related Subjects

• Alphaviruses
• Arenaviruses
• Dengue virus
• Ebola virus
• Hepatitis B virus
• Hepatitis C virus
• Herpes virus
• Human papilloma virus
• Influenza virus
• Marburg virus
• Measles virus
• Metagenomics
• Phage biology
• Restriction factors
• Viral epidemiology
• Viral evolution
• Viral host response
• Viral immune evasion
• Viral membrane fusion
• Viral pathogenesis
• Viral reservoirs
• Systems virology
• Viral transmission
• Viral vectors
• Virus–host interactions
• Virus structures
• West nile virus

Latest Research and Reviews

Serum cytokine dysregulation signatures associated with COVID-19 outcomes in high mortality intensive care unit cohorts across pandemic waves and variants

• Henrike Maaß
• Mario Ynga-Durand
• Luka Čičin-Šain

Potential pandemic risk of circulating swine H1N2 influenza viruses

Influenza A viruses pose a continuing pandemic threat to humans. Le Sage, et al. describe a pandemic triage pipeline to evaluate the pandemic risk of emerging viruses and utilize it to characterize two widespread swine influenza A viruses.

• Valerie Le Sage
• Nicole C. Rockey
• Seema S. Lakdawala

MPXV DNA kinetics in bloodstream and other body fluids samples

• Silvia Meschi
• Francesca Colavita
• Fabrizio Maggi

Induction and antiviral activity of ferret myxovirus resistance (Mx) protein 1 against influenza A viruses

• Rubaiyea Farrukee
• Lara S. U. Schwab
• Patrick C. Reading

Seroprevalence study in humans and molecular detection in Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus in Thailand

• Paola Mariela Saba Villarroel
• Tanawat Chaiphongpachara
• Sineewanlaya Wichit

Dynamic label-free analysis of SARS-CoV-2 infection reveals virus-induced subcellular remodeling

Studying the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on organelle dynamics may shed more light on the mechanisms of viral replication. Here, the authors combine label-free holotomographic microscopy with AI to study subcellular changes and organelle dynamics upon SARS-CoV-2 infection.

• Nell Saunders
• Blandine Monel
• Mathieu Fréchin

News and Comment

Huge amounts of bird-flu virus found in raw milk of infected cows

New findings point to the milking process as a possible route of avian-influenza spread between cows — and from cow to human.

‘Preposterous’: Anthony Fauci denies cover-up of COVID origins during tense hearing

Long-awaited testimony ends in fireworks as US lawmakers spar over the former infectious-disease official’s pandemic actions.

• Lauren Wolf

Hope for global pandemic treaty rises — despite missed deadline

Delegates were at an impasse over key issues, but agreements on other public-health emergency measures spark cautious optimism.

• Mariana Lenharo

Trials that infected people with common colds can inform today’s COVID-19 challenge trials

• Jonathan Ewbank

A global pandemic treaty is in sight: don’t scupper it

Millions of people died of COVID-19 because the fundamental principle of equity between nations was ignored during the outbreak. That must not be allowed to happen again.

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• Institute of Virology
• TUM School of Medicine and Health
• Technical University of Munich

Research Topics

Our organism is constantly bombarded with countless pathogens, yet we are relatively healthy. This is partially due our immune system, which recognises and destroys most invaders with only few of them escaping and causing illness. The pathogenicity of viruses is determined by virus-host interactions that occur at various sites: (1) cellular proteins sense incoming viruses and either trigger alarm signals (e.g. cytokines) or are directly involved in destruction of pathogens. (2) The alarm signals induce changes in the cellular composition of proteins that execute an antiviral program. (3) Viral gene products perturb the initiation or the execution of the immune response by targeting central points in the antiviral cascade.

My lab is generally interested in the interaction of viral structures (proteins and nucleic acids) with host factors and the relevance for antiviral immunity. We aim to get functional and mechanistic insights in the interplay between viruses and the organism by studying virus-host interactions and protein expression profiles that are elicited by viral infections. Through this approach identify yet unstudied proteins and pathways that we are further testing in focused hypothesis-driven approaches that include testing of interactions on molecular basis, in vitro cell culture assays and in vivo models using genetically modified animals.

1. Interaction of viral nucleic acids with host proteins

We identified viral triphosphorylated RNA as specific ligand for the virus sensor RIG-I (Pichlmair et al., Science 2006). Using affinity proteomics followed by mass spectrometry we identified additional proteins binding specifically to this type of RNA. Interferon induced proteins with tetratricopeptide repeats (IFIT), for instance, bind PPP-RNA and perturb virus growth (Pichlmair et al, Nature Immunology, 2011). IFIT proteins bind PPP-RNA using a uniqe mechanism ensuring high specificity and affinity (Abbas et al., Nature 2013). IFIT1 depletion in vitro and in mice are specifically susceptible to infection with viruses including orthomyxo- (e.g. influenza A virus) and paramyxoviruses (e.g. vesicular stomatitis virus). Functionally, IFITs specifically target translation of viral RNA (Habjan et al., Plos Pathogens, 2013). Using similar approaches we identified a yet unstudied protein, NCBP3, as cap-binding protein (Gebhardt et al., Nature Communications 2015). NCBP3 binds NCBP1 to from an alternative Cap-RNA complex (CBC) that binds to mRNA and is important for RNA processing and export. Lack of NCBP3 is increasing vulnerability to virus infections, suggesting an important role of the alternative CBC during antiviral responses.

2. Systematic analysis of changes in the proteome after viral infection

Though comprehensive knowledge on changes in the transcriptome, comparable little is known on the global changes of the proteome after infection with individual viruses. We are assessing virally-induced changes in the global composition of the proteome as well as specific post-translational modifications.

3. Interactions viral and host proteins and functional consequences

Viruses require the host cellular machinery to replicate. We use viruses go guide us to cellular proteins and pathways that are determining virus pathogenicity. To this aim we are using mass spectrometry to study cellular binding partners of viral proteins using systems biology approaches (Pichlmair et al., Nature 2012). We identified 600 cellular proteins that are binding to of viral immune modulators (iVIMs). We are now complementing this survey to assess the functional consequences for antiviral immunity. This survey so led to identification of novel modes of transcriptional regulation by an orthomyxovirus that specifically affects genes required for host defense (Haas et al., Plos Pathogens, 2018). Furthermore, we identified a novel cell death pathway named Oxeiptosis that is targeted by viral proteins derived from diverse viruses. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are commonly generated during virus infections, engagement of toxic substances or teratogenic transformation of cells (Holze et al., Nature Immunology, 2018). The cellular protein KEAP1 senses increased ROS levels and activates a cell death cascades that involves the mitochondrial enzyme PGAM5 that dephosphorylates the protein AIFM1. This leads to cell death. Lack of oxeiptosis in mice induces hyperinflammation after virus infection, which is associated to increase immunopathology. 

Top Research Topics in Virology

Table of Contents

Virology is a branch of science that mainly focuses on some of the conventional fields of viruses and mainly involves virus classification, structure, infection and other advanced scientific areas. It covers areas like viral genomics, all computational approaches in several viral diseases of living and non-living organisms. In last few years the world has been witnessing some of the major issues involving viruses like HIV, HPV and this are challenging researchers with some of the most recent outbreaks like EBOLA and Zika virus. This clearly indicates that the world of virologist should become more active and updated.

One of the most important and striking characteristics of virus is their fast-evolutionary changing aspects in nature. The continuous interaction between viruses and other host organisms is promoting rapid changes in the population of virus thereby leading to virus and host evolution for their sustension.

But due to lack of analytical methodologies, there is very poor accumulation of information on the structure, function and evolution of viruses. But recent advancement in the genomic science as well as computational approach may open novel avenue of research of the virus and host interaction by incorporating information on evolution, structure and functions. If you are among those thinking of pursuing some research work in the field of virology, and searching for some new topics, then here are few topics based on virology which you can take up for conducting research.

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A new, nano-scale look at how the SARS-CoV-2 virus replicates in cells may offer greater precision in drug development, a Stanford University team reports in Nature Communications . Using advanced microscopy techniques, the researchers produced what might be some of the most crisp images available of the virus’s RNA and replication structures, which they witnessed form spherical shapes around the nucleus of the infected cell.

“We have not seen COVID infecting cells at this high resolution and known what we are looking at before,” said Stanley Qi , Stanford associate professor of bioengineering in the Schools of Engineering and of Medicine and co-senior author of the paper. “Being able to know what you are looking at with this high resolution over time is fundamentally helpful to virology and future virus research, including antiviral drug development.”

Blinking RNA 

The work illuminates molecular-scale details of the virus’ activity inside host cells. In order to spread, viruses essentially take over cells and transform them into virus-producing factories, complete with special replication organelles. Within this factory, the viral RNA needs to duplicate itself over and over until enough genetic material is gathered up to move out and infect new cells and start the process over again.

The Stanford scientists sought to reveal this replication step in the sharpest detail to date. To do so, they first labeled the viral RNA and replication-associated proteins with fluorescent molecules of different colors. But imaging glowing RNA alone would result in fuzzy blobs in a conventional microscope. So they added a chemical that temporarily suppresses the fluorescence. The molecules would then blink back on at random times, and only a few lit up at a time. That made it easier to pinpoint the flashes, revealing the locations of the individual molecules.

Using a setup that included lasers, powerful microscopes, and a camera snapping photos every 10 milliseconds, the researchers gathered snapshots of the blinking molecules. When they combined sets of these images, they were able to create finely detailed photos showing the viral RNA and replication structures in the cells. “We have highly sensitive and specific methods and also high resolution,” said Leonid Andronov, co-lead author and Stanford chemistry postdoctoral scholar. “You can see one viral molecule inside the cell.”

The resulting images, with a resolution of 10 nanometers, reveal what might be the most detailed view yet of how the virus replicates itself inside of a cell. The images show magenta RNA forming clumps around the nucleus of the cell, which accumulate into a large repeating pattern. “We are the first to find that viral genomic RNA forms distinct globular structures at high resolution,” said Mengting Han, co-lead author and Stanford bioengineering postdoctoral scholar.

Video showing the different colored fluorescent labels blinking on and off, revealing more precise locations for individual molecules. | Leonid Andronov, Moerner Laboratory

The clusters help show how the virus evades the cell’s defenses, said W. E. Moerner , the paper’s co-senior author and Harry S. Mosher Professor of Chemistry in the School of Humanities and Sciences. “They’re collected together inside a membrane that sequesters them from the rest of the cell, so that they’re not attacked by the rest of the cell.”

Nanoscale drug testing 

Compared to using an electron microscope, the new imaging technique can allow researchers to know with greater certainty where virus components are in a cell thanks to the blinking fluorescent labels. It also can provide nanoscale details of cell processes that are invisible in medical research conducted through biochemical assays. The conventional techniques “are completely different from these spatial recordings of where the objects actually are in the cell, down to this much higher resolution,” said Moerner. “We have an advantage based on the fluorescent labeling because we know where our light is coming from.” 

Seeing exactly how the virus stages its infection holds promise for medicine. Observing how different viruses take over cells may help answer questions such as why some pathogens produce mild symptoms while others are life-threatening. The super-resolution microscopy can also benefit drug development. “This nanoscale structure of the replication organelles can provide some new therapeutic targets for us,” said Han. “We can use this method to screen different drugs and see its influence on the nanoscale structure.”

Indeed, that’s what the team plans to do. They will repeat the experiment and see how the viral structures shift in the presence of drugs like Paxlovid or remdesivir. If a candidate drug can suppress the viral replication step, that suggests the drug is effective at inhibiting the pathogen and making it easier for the host to fight the infection. 

The researchers also plan to map all 29 proteins that make up SARS-CoV-2 and see what those proteins do across the span of an infection. “We hope that we will be prepared to really use these methods for the next challenge to quickly see what’s going on inside and better understand it,” said Qi.

For more information

Acknowledgements: Additional Stanford co-authors include postdoctoral scholar Yanyu Zhu, PhD student Ashwin Balaji, former PhD student Anish Roy, postdoctoral scholar Andrew Barentine, research specialist Puja Patel, and Jaishree Garhyan, director of the In Vitro Biosafety Level-3 Service Center . Moerner is also a member of Stanford Bio-X and the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, and a faculty fellow of Sarafan ChEM-H . Qi is also a member of Bio-X, the Cardiovascular Institute , the Maternal & Child Health Research Institute (MCHRI), the Stanford Cancer Institute, and the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, an institute scholar at Sarafan ChEM-H , and a Chan Zuckerberg Biohub – San Francisco Investigator.

This research was funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health. We also acknowledge use of the Stanford University Cell Sciences Imaging Core Facility.

Taylor Kubota, Stanford University: [email protected]