Dr. Rachel Roper Professor, Microbiology & Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University Host: Carol Teschke
Title of Talk: Poxvirus virulence genes, immunoregulation and improved vaccines
Summary: Poxvirus virulence genes may act to block antigen presentation and immune responses, and removal of these genes improves safety and efficacy of anti viral vaccines and viral anti cancer vaccines.
Abstract
Dr. Roper is an NSF and ¬¬NIH-funded tenured Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at East Carolina University (ECU) in the Brody School of Medicine. She received her B.S. from Texas A & M University, and her M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry where she received the M.A. Hare Research Excellence Award. She received her post-doctoral training at the NIH Lab of Viral Disease and was awarded an NIH Fellows Award for Research Excellence. Dr. Roper was part of the team that first sequenced and analyzed the SARS Coronavirus genome and oversaw SARS vaccine development and testing. She is an inventor on the patent, as well as patents on poxviruses. She is a member of the National Academy of Inventors, an ECU Woman of Distinction, and recipient of the School of Medicine Women’s Advocacy Award and Faculty Senate Extraordinary Service Award. Dr. Roper became interested in faculty gender issues in her roles Chairing: School of Medicine Women’s Faculty Committee, Chancellor’s Committee on the Status of Women, School of Medicine Promotion & Tenure Committee, Department Personnel Committee, and Faculty Welfare Committees. She was a Principal Investigator on the ECU National Science Foundation grant to advance Women in Science, Engineering, Technology, and Math.
To learn more about Dr. Roper and her research, visit
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