Dr. Lee Gehrke

Biography

Lee Gehrke is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology at Harvard University, specializing in the field of positive strand RNA viruses. His current research focuses on how cells recognize viral invaders and initiate immune responses. He is interested in global health and collaborates with engineers to develop rapid point-of-care diagnostic devices for detecting pathogens and enabling real-time epidemiology. Gehrke's work emphasizes the distinction between self and non-self identification in immune responses, examining how Viral RNA features, known as Pathogen Associated Molecular Patterns (PAMPs), are recognized by host Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs). His studies on the innate immune response provide insights into how different viral RNAs activate specific receptors, such as influenza activating the RIG-I receptor and poliovirus activating the MDA5 receptor. Understanding how RNA containing modified nucleotides evade immune detection is another aspect of his work. Additionally, Gehrke leads a multidisciplinary group funded by the NIH, developing innovative diagnostic devices for public health needs.

Research Interests