Dr. Richard J. Kuhn, is the Trent and Judith Anderson Distinguished Professor in Science in the Department of Biological Sciences, and Director of the Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease of Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
The Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology, and Infectious Disease (PI4D) is leveraging the significant diversity of life sciences, physical sciences and engineering on campus to invent and integrate basic immunologic advances, new diagnostics, probe basic biological and inflammatory processes, and to develop and commercialize novel intervention methods to control an array of chronic inflammatory conditions, cancer and infectious diseases. The Institute is structured around these four program areas: Imaging and Diagnostics; Immunology and Inflammation; Infectious Diseases; and Control and Intervention.
By integrating across program areas and leveraging Purdue's vast expertise and resources in inflammation, immunology and infectious disease, the center will partner with centers and Institutes in Indiana, USA, and globally creating synergies for maximum human impact.
Professor Kuhn's laboratory at Purdue University, USA, is interested in the replication, assembly and structure of RNA viruses with an emphasis on their interactions with the host. His molecular studies utilize cutting edge tools in functional genomics, high throughput systems technologies, cell biology, and structural biology. Our focus in recent years has been on model systems in the alphavirus and flavivirus groups, and include viruses such as Sindbis, Chikungunya, dengue, Zika, West Nile, and hepatitis C viruses. Most of these human viruses are transmitted by insect vectors and therefore alternate between widely diverse hosts. Directly related to the basic studies is application-based research that seeks to identify new therapeutics for disease intervention.
Professor Kuhn's will give a plenary presentation at conference entitled: "Building Capacity for Infectious Diseases and Immunology Research through Strategic International Partnerships: JUST-Purdue Regional Institute and PI4D"