John W. Mellors, MD

Dr. Mellors’ Lab focuses on mechanisms of HIV persistence and strategies to deplete the reservoirs of HIV that are the major barrier to curing the infection. Earlier work from the laboratory showed that low-level viremia persists in most individuals on long-term suppressive ART and that the level of residual viremia is predicted by the level of viremia before ART (Maldarelli, et al. PLoS Pathogens 2007). More recent work has shown that large cell clones containing intact proviruses capable of producing infectious virus constitute an important part of the HIV reservoir (Simonetti, et al. PNAS USA 2016). Current work focuses on identifying agents to reverse HIV latency and to eliminate HIV infected cells. The impact of innovative therapies on HIV reservoirs is being studied in Phase I/II trials of histone deacetylase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies to immune checkpoint ligands, monoclonal antibodies to HIV envelope glycoproteins, and TLR agonists. To accomplish this work, the laboratory is comprised of a talented team of research specialists, doctoral students, and postdoctoral PhD and MD fellows, and through close collaborations with top scientists locally and worldwide. Dr. Mellors offers trainees balanced guidance in multiple areas of basic and translational research and in authorship, grant writing, manuscript reviews and oral presentations. Recently graduated doctoral students have published more than 5 first author papers related to their thesis work.