Nancy L. Haigwood, Ph.D. Professor of Pathobiology and Microbiology Research Affiliate, Center on Human Development and Disability haigwood@u.washington.edu 206-256-7338 University of Washington, Box 357238 Seattle, WA 98195-7238

Dr. Haigwood’s research interests are primate lentivirus immune control, perinatal transmission of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), and vaccines. Perinatal transmission of HIV in humans is associated with delays in cognitive, motor, language, and social development; a primate model is valuable for testing vaccines or therapies. One goal of Haigwood’s research is to understand what factors increase or decrease the likelihood of transmitting the infection from mother to fetus or infant.

Specifically, Haigwood’s lab investigates the role of SIV and HIV envelope-specific neutralizing antibodies as therapies and recently showed that neutralizing antibodies can not only block infection, but can also directly reduce HIV infectivity in vivo. As is seen in HIV infection of humans, macaques infected with pathogenic lentiviruses have variable time to disease (phenotypes termed rapid progression, typical progression, and slow- or non-progression). Haigwood and colleagues are characterizing viral variation, viral phenotype, coreceptor utilization, and neutralizing antibody response as a function of disease progression. Another goal is to understand the viral and immunological factors involved in perinatal transmission of SIV, potentially facilitating the design and testing of novel therapies and vaccines for infants. The long-term goal is to develop HIV vaccines that fully or partially protect humans from HIV infection.

Nancy Haigwood's web page

University of Washington • Center on Human Development and Disability Box 357920 • Seattle WA 98195-7920 USA • 206-543-7701 •chdd@u.washington.edu

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