Anna P. Durbin, MD

My research involves the evaluation of experimental vaccines in human clinical trials. At the Center for Immunization Research, we have conducted numerous clinical trials of many different pediatric and adult candidate vaccines. These trials have included vaccines against HIV, hepatitis C, human papilloma virus, influenza, rotavirus, respiratory syncytial virus, dengue virus, and malaria. I am primarily interested in vaccines against dengue viruses and malaria have a very active dengue and malaria vaccine programs here at the Center for Immunization Research. We haven conducted numerous Phase I live attenuated dengue vaccine trials with the ultimate goal of identifying suitable monovalent vaccine viruses for inclusion in a tetravalent dengue vaccine.  In addition, we have conducted many Phase I malaria vaccine trials at our clinical site in Washington DC.  An important interest of mine is studying the immunopathogenesis of dengue infection and disease. We hope to better understand the viral, host, and immunologic factors causing severe dengue illness by extensively characterizing the cellular and humoral responses of volunteers to live attenuated dengue virus vaccines. In addition to our clinical studies, my laboratory is also developing an animal model of dengue using rhesus macaques.

2005: National Institutes of Health Merit Award for outstanding basic and translational research in developing vaccines for the prevention of respiratory virus and flavivirus diseases

2010: NIH Director's Award