Julie McElrath, M.D., Ph.D.

“As a parent, part of the reason I do this research is to create a brighter future for my son’s generation. It makes my work that much more important to me.”

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
Dr. McElrath is a global leader in the study of ways to prevent and control infection with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. She spearheads research in infectious diseases and human immunology, which sheds light on ways to protect against pathogens and improve outcomes for persons with chronic infections and cancer.

As a principal investigator and director of the HIV Vaccine Trials Network’s Laboratory Center, Dr. McElrath plays a key role in the largest international program for testing HIV vaccines. She also directs the Seattle Vaccine Unit, one of 30 international sites for testing candidate vaccines.
Her research focuses on how the early response of infection-fighting T cells against HIV contributes to the control of the disease. Her team is developing a fundamental understanding of how HIV enters cells lining the genital tract, a primary gateway to infection, and how specialized T cells in this tissue might protect against HIV exposure.

She studies individuals who have an unusual degree of control over the virus, including people who do not contract HIV despite repeated exposure and those whose infections do not progress for many years.
Her team also develops tests to predict the effectiveness of potential HIV vaccines before they move on to large-scale clinical trials so resources can be focused on only the most promising candidates