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I study the evolution of infectious disease using the techniques of molecular phylogenetics, population genetics and protein homology modeling. In particular, I develop and apply computational techniques to study how antigenic proteins on the surfaces of pathogens evolve in response to host immune defenses.

Most of my efforts constitute basic research: I develop and test hypotheses about evolutionary processes. However, I also collaborate with scientists at public health agencies such as the CDC in applying my results to current efforts in disease surveillance, prediction and vaccine development.

My research primarily focuses on the influenza virus, which with subsequent pneumonia is the sixth leading cause of death in the US. I have also worked on the bacteria Chlamydia , which is the major cause of human blindness and venereal disease.

I am one of eight principal investigators on the NIH MIDAS (Models of Infectious Disease Agent Study) project of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (http://www.epimodels.org). The goal of MIDAS is to develop computational models of host-pathogen interactions, disease spread, prediction systems, and response strategies. MIDAS's mission is informed by the needs of policymakers and public health officials to have reliable and available computational and mathematical models to prepare for infectious disease outbreaks.

My MIDAS efforts combine computational analyses of influenza surface protein evolution with historical, epidemiological and immunological data; my goal is improvement in our ability to predict human influenza evolution.