Thomas Friedrich
Credentials: Pathobiological Sciences Department
Position title: Immunity to influenza and AIDS viruses
Email: thomasf@primate.wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 265-3381
Address:
Room 127
585 Science Dr
Madison, WI 53711

LAB WEBSITE:
FOCUS GROUPS:
Virology; Immunology
RESEARCH DESCRIPTION:
Where do pandemic viruses come from? How do they evolve to infect humans and overcome our immune defenses? These questions guide research in my laboratory. We seek to understand how emerging and re-emerging viruses evolve to “jump” from other species and become transmissible in humans. Building on a foundation of examining viral evolution under immune selective pressure, we now investigate a range of questions about viral transmission and pathogenesis from an evolutionary perspective. Our work focuses on animal models of viral infection and transmission, but we also study viral infection and immunity in human subjects in order to ensure that our studies are relevant to human disease. Through our discoveries, we hope to contribute to the global campaigns against pandemic influenza, Zika virus, HIV/AIDS, and other emerging and re-emerging viruses.