Maudry Laurent-Rolle, MD, PhD, BS

I spent the last 16 years studying the molecular mechanisms utilized by pathogenic viruses, specifically flaviviruses, to antagonize host immune responses. During my training in the Post Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai I helped developed a reporter assay system that was used to screen dengue virus-encoded proteins’ ability to inhibit the type I interferon response. During my graduate school years, I was awarded a competitive NIH F31 grant based on my doctoral studies focused on understanding how West Nile virus (WNV), dengue virus (DENV) and yellow fever virus (YFV) inhibit the host innate immune response. I characterized the molecular mechanisms by which these viruses use the nonstructural protein 5 (NS5) to inhibit interferon signaling albeit through distinct mechanisms. My thesis project as well as several collaborations resulted in a provisional vaccine patent, a book chapter, and several articles that have been published in high impact journals.

After completing my Internal Medicine residency, I joined the Infectious Diseases Fellowship program here at Yale University. After the first intensive clinical year, I transitioned to basic science research where I focus on characterizing the molecular mechanism(s) by which the antiviral protein, CMPK2 restricts viral replication. The results of this work may lead to the development of new drug targets. In addition to my research, I am also a lecturer in the department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry here at Yale School of Medicine. My clinical experiences and research training in virology as well as biochemical and immunological methods place me in a position to answer the fundamental questions that will contribute to my overall long term goal of vaccine design and development of antivirals.