Neha Arun, a Ph.D. candidate in the Yale Graduate Program in Microbiology, has been awarded a 2026 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Ms. Arun is completing her dissertation in the Mothes laboratory in the Department of Microbial Pathogenesis at Yale School of Medicine. The NRSA F31 supports predoctoral students with the potential to develop into independent scientists through mentored research training.
Arun's work investigates the persistent reservoir of HIV-1–infected cells, a major barrier to a cure for HIV, and addresses the need for broadly reactive strategies to eliminate infected cells. Antibodies that recognize the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) on infected cells can engage Fc-receptors on innate immune cells and trigger Fc-effector functions to clear infected cells. This project examines the molecular features that initiate Fc-receptor signaling in different immune cell types to inform effective HIV-1 therapeutic and cure strategies that optimize immune clearance of the infected cell reservoir.
Please also view Neha Arun's profile and a complete list of the Mothes lab's research publications.