Thomas Friedrich

Focus Groups

Immunology/Immunopathology

Education

PhD, University of Wisconsin

Research Summary

RNA virus emergence, evolution, and pathogenesis
The overarching goal of our research is to understand how RNA viruses overcome evolutionary barriers to emerge and cause disease in humans. We study the ways that viruses evolve within individual hosts, and during transmission to new hosts, to do things like evade detection from innate and adaptive immunity or acquire the ability to infect new cell, tissue, and host types. Through our discoveries, we hope to contribute to the global campaigns against emerging and re-emerging pathogens like influenza, Zika, HIV, and SARS-CoV-2.

Research Detail

Why do we get sick? This simple question underpins all research in my laboratory. Our overarching goal is to understand why immune responses sometimes fail to protect us from acute and chronic viral diseases. We study innate and adaptive immune responses to acute and chronic viral infections and the mechanisms viruses have evolved to subvert them. Through our discoveries, we hope to contribute to the global campaigns against pandemic influenza and AIDS.

Our work focuses on immune responses to viral infection in nonhuman primates. Because monkeys’ physiology, genetics, and immune systems so closely resemble our own, they provide the best possible approximation of human infections. My lab is affiliated with the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, which provides expert veterinary care and support for the nonhuman primates used in research on campus.

Current research topics include:

• Determining the contribution of cellular immunity to protection against newly emerging influenza viruses in humans and animal models
• Understanding immune correlates of “elite control” of immunodeficiency virus infection
• Identifying novel primate viruses in Africa and assessing their pandemic potential

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