Vaccine Research Center (VRC)

Clinical Trials Core Laboratory

Barney Graham, M.D., Ph.D.
Chief, Clinical Trials Core and Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory

Profile

Dr. Barney Graham is an immunologist, virologist, and clinical trials physician whose primary interests are viral pathogenesis, immunity, and vaccine development. His work is focused on HIV, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and emerging viral diseases. After graduating from Rice University, he obtained his M.D. from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 1979. He then completed residency and two chief residencies in internal medicine, a fellowship in infectious diseases, and a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, where he rose to the rank of Professor of Medicine with a joint appointment in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. In 2000, he became one of the founding investigators for the Dale and Betty Bumpers Vaccine Research Center (VRC) in NIAID, where he is the chief of the Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory and Clinical Trials Core. He is a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation and the American Association of Physicians and a fellow of the Infectious Disease Society of America and the American Academy of Microbiology. He has authored more than 190 scientific publications and is a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

The Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory focuses on the immunopathogenesis of respiratory syncytial virus and development of new vaccine platforms for viral diseases. Major projects include the following:

• Defining the role of the RSV G glycoprotein in modulating early immune responses and dendritic cell function
• Defining molecular mechanisms that alter CD8+ T cell phenotype and function to change the balance of viral clearance and immunopathology
• Defining gene-based vaccine delivery approaches that optimize T cell-mediated viral clearance and minimize immunopathology
• Development of a vaccine for RSV

The Clinical Trials Core performs Phase I trials of candidate HIV vaccines developed by the VRC. This involves community education on HIV prevention, recruitment of healthy adults into clinical trials, study design and analysis, and maintenance of regulatory standards. The Clinical Trials Core also conducts studies on the natural history of HIV infection and evaluates basic aspects of pathogenesis, antigen presentation, and immune response. In addition, clinical trials for alternative smallpox vaccines, Ebola virus, West Nile virus, SARS coronavirus, and H5 influenza virus have been conducted by the VRC.

For more information on Dr. Graham's research program, please refer to his laboratory description or bibliography .

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