• MD, PhD degrees
   (University of Vienna, Austria, 1993)
• Residency in Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Diseases
   (University of Vienna, Austria, 1995)
• Fellowship in Infectious Diseases
   (University of Washington, 1998)
• Fellowship in Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Diseases
   (University of Vienna, Austria, 2000)

Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Diseases
(European Union 2000)

Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Diseases
(University of Vienna, Austria, 2003)

• Pathogenesis of mucosal HIV transmission
• Development and toxicity evaluation of topical anti-HIV microbicides
• Immunology of the reproductive tract
• Evaluation of mucosal immune responses to HIV vaccination

• The role of exosomes in semen for HIV infection in the genital mucosa in women
   (UW Royalty Research Award & NIH R21 Award)
• Standardization and comparative assessment of mucosal sampling techniques
   for evaluating vaccine-induced immune responses
   (HIV Vaccine Trials Network Genitourinary Working Group Award)
   International collaboration—Seattle, Chicago, Nairobi, Cape Town
• Optimization of T lymphocyte and antigen-presenting cell (APC) recovery
   from frozen genital secretions and tissues in women
   (HIV Vaccine Trials Network Genitourinary Working Group)
   Collaboration with UW Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Mucosal anti-HIV antibodies in exposed uninfected women participating in microbicide trials
   (Microbicide Trials Network Ancillary Project, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation)
• Associate Director, Microbicide Trials Network Immunology Core
   – Discovery of microbicide toxicity biomarkers using global gene expression analysis
   – Impact of systemic and topical pre-exposure prophylaxis on the immunological course
      of breakthrough HIV infection
   – Monitoring of peripheral blood mononuclear cell processing, freezing and storage
      procedures at participating MTN trial sites in Africa
• Co-investigator, HIV Vaccine Trials Network Laboratory Program
   – Vaccine-related changes of the mucosal immune environment
• Co-investigator, Viral determinants of HIV-1 transmission in African heterosexuals
   (NIH Program Project)
• Co-investigator, Nanoparticle microbicides for delivery of combination antiretroviral drugs
   – Collaboration with UW Department of Bioengineering (NIH R21/R33 Award)

MJ McElrath, L Ballweber, A Terker, A Kreger, P Sakchalathorn, B Robinson, M Fialkow, G Lentz, F Hladik. Ex vivo comparison of microbicide efficacies for preventing HIV-1 genomic integration in intraepithelial vaginal cells. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 2010;54:763-72.

J Zhu, F Hladik, A Woodward, A Klock, T Peng, C Johnston, M Remington, A Magaret, DM Koelle, A Wald, L Corey. Persistence of HIV-1 receptor-positive cells after HSV-2 reactivation is a potential mechanism for increased HIV-1 acquisition. Nature Med 2009;15:886-93.

B Doehle, F Hladik, J McNevin, MJ McElrath, M Gale. HIV antagonizes innate antiviral signaling pathways by targeting Interferon Regulatory Factor-3. Jour of Virol 2009;83:10395-405.

F Haldik, MJ McElrath. Setting the stage—HIV host invasion. Nature Reviews Immunol 2008;8:447-457.

F Hladik, P Sakchalathorn, L Ballweber, G Lentz, M Fialkow, D Eschenbach, MJ McElrath. Initial events in establishing vaginal HIV-1 entry and infection. Immunity 2007;26:257-70 and cover image.

J Zhu, DM Koelle, J Cao, J Vazquez, M Li Huang, F Hladik, A Wald, L Corey.  Virus-specific CD8+ T cells accumulate near sensory nerve endings in genital skin during subclinical HSV-2 reactivation. Jour of Experimental Med Mar 19, 2007;204:595-603.

F Hladik, H Liu, E Speelmon, D Livingston-Rosanoff, S Wilson, E Sakchalathorn, Y Hwangbo, B Greene, T Zhu, MJ McElrath. Combined effect of CCR5r32 heterozygosity and CCR5 promoter polymorphism A-2459G on CCR5 expression and resistance to sexual HIV-1 transmission. Jour of Virol 2005;79:11677-11684.

F Hladik, A Desbien, J Lang, L Wang, Y Ding, S Holte, A Wilson, J Xu, M Moerbe, S Schmechel, MJ McElrath. Most highly exposed seronegative men lack HIV-1-specific, IFN-ϒ-secreting T cells. Jour of Immunol 2003;171:2671-2683.

F Hladik, S Bender, RE Akridge, YX Hu, C Galloway, D Francis, MJ McElrath. Recombinant HIV-1 glycoprotein 120 induces distinct types of delayed hypersensitivity in persons with or without pre-existing immunologic memory. Jour of Immunol 2001;166:3580-3588.

F Hladik, G Lentz, RE Akridge, G Peterson, H Kelley, A McElroy, MJ McElrath. Dendritic cell/T cell interactions support co-receptor independent HIV-1 transmission in the human genital tract. Jour of Virol 1999;73:5833-5842.

See at http://www.cell.com/Cell_Picture_Show-immunology how Langerhans cells in the human vagina may serve as Trojan horses to help HIV spread beyond the initial portal of entry.