Research summary
In the past 45 years, the world has faced two pandemics caused by RNA viruses: HIV and COVID-19. As Canada Research Chair in HIV Pathogenesis and Viral Control, Dr. Eric Arts aims to better understand how the viruses that cause these diseases develop and are transmitted.
He and his research team are focusing on the amino acid sequence and glycosylation patterns of transmitted HIV to help develop a vaccine and enhancing an HIV treatment to improve its delivery and effectiveness. Arts and his team also hope to prevent the cognitive dysfunction that can occur with long COVID by understanding the different ways in which COVID-19 variants of concern develop and the effectiveness of antiviral and anti-inflammatory treatments. Ultimately, their goal is to control these viruses, help develop effective vaccines for them, and prevent their long-term consequences.