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Professor and Chair
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD
Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
Christopher C. Broder, PhD, is Professor and Chair in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University (USU), Bethesda, MD. He received his PhD from the University of Florida. He served as the Director of the Emerging Infectious Diseases Doctoral Program at USU from 2006-2018. His laboratory’s major research areas are on virus-host cell interactions with an emphasis on virus entry and receptor discovery, virus-mediated membrane fusion, vaccines and countermeasures development. Additional research activities include multiplexed serology-based virus surveillance projects in bats, livestock, and people, with multiple collaborators in several countries. Current efforts focus on emerging zoonotic viruses including Nipah virus and Hendra virus and bat-borne rabies-like lyssaviruses among others. Major collaborative contributions include the discoveries of the CXCR4 and the CCR5 HIV-1 coreceptors; identification of the host cell receptor proteins (ephrin-B2 and ephrin-B3) used by Nipah and Hendra virus for infection; development of the Hendra/Nipah soluble G glycoprotein subunit vaccine, one version known as Equivac® HeV for use in horses in Australia (Zoetis, Inc.) and now in development as a Nipah/Hendra vaccine for people (Auro Vaccines, LLC) supported by CEPI; and the development of antiviral monoclonal antibodies, including the anti-Hendra/Nipah virus antibody m102.4, that has been used by compassionate emergency protocols in people with significant risk of infection, and which completed a Phase I clinical trial in Australia. Major research activities are supported by the NIH and DoD; and he is currently the principal investigator of a NIAID supported Center of Excellence for Translational Research (CETR) “Advancement of Vaccines and Therapies for Henipaviruses”.