Halmos Faculty Serves on Distinguished National Panel

From left, Dr. Stephen O’Brien, Ph.D., and Robert Gallo, M.D.

Stephen J. O’Brien, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Biological Sciences in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (HCAS), was invited to serve on a distinguished symposium panel to discuss the science of human viruses at the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Institute of Human Virology (IHV).

The symposium was also an event to celebrate the scientific legacy of the eminent biomedical researcher, Robert Gallo, M.D., who co-discovered the HIV and proved it caused AIDS, as well as pioneered studies that discovered the first human RNA tumor viruses (retroviruses).

The focus of the IHV2023 Symposium was “Viruses of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow”. It was held on September 28-29, 2023, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland.

Dr. O’Brien, who led the research team that described the first human gene to influence HIV-1 infection and AIDS progression, served on the discussion panel addressing the virology of COVID-19 and HIV. His research interests include human genetics, comparative genomics, genetic epidemiology, molecular evolution, HIV, FIV, AIDS, Virology, forensic genetics, conservation, and bio-informatics.

The symposium featured research luminaries including Robert Gallo, MD, Director Emeritus and Co-Founder of the IHV, and Rochelle Walensky MD, MPH, and Robert Redfield Jr., MD, both recent Emeriti Directors of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Many other notable scientific and clinical researchers presented discoveries on new viruses and new insights into viral infections and pathogenesis.

Posted 11/26/23