“Molecular determinants of West Nile virus virulence and antigenicity.” GSBS Guest Speaker David Beasley, Ph.D. December 3, 2019

GSBS guest speaker David Beasley, Ph.D., presents results Molecular determinants of West Nile virus virulence and antigenicity.

Seminar Location: LIB-110 beginning at 10:00 am on December 3, 2019

Dr. David Beasley received a PhD in Life Sciences from the Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia in 1999 and is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, Texas. Research in his laboratory focuses on the molecular basis of virulence and antigenic variations between strains of West Nile virus and other flaviviruses. His lab’s wider research activities include studies related to the development of improved diagnostic and therapeutic reagents and vaccines for flaviviruses and other arboviruses. Dr. Beasley is the Director of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs for UTMB’s Institutional Office of Regulated Nonclinical Studies where he oversees the implementation and operation of GLP-based quality systems to facilitate conduct of animal model development and efficacy studies at ABSL3/ABSL4 necessary to support future licensure of medical countermeasures for bio-defense and emerging disease agents under the FDA’s Animal Rule. He also serves as a member of the Executive Committee of UTMB’s Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences, is the Associate Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center on Vaccine Research, Evaluation and Training on Emerging Infectious Diseases, and is a former Co-Director of UTMB’s select agent BSL3 laboratories.