Richard Sloan

Biography

We aim to understand how cell intrinsic innate immunity inhibits HIV and similar viruses. Host cells express a variety of antiviral factors that directly inhibit viral infection, these are often inducible by type-I interferons, or may be basally expressed. By identifying and understanding these antiviral factors we can develop new paradigms in antiviral therapy and understand viral disease susceptibility within individuals and populations. We identify factors through screening technologies, typically in collaboration with other groups, such as Chen Liang (McGill University, Montreal) and Áine McKnight (Barts and The London School of Medicine). A particular current focus are interferon induced transmembrane proteins (IFITM) that inhibit cell entry of a number of clinically important viruses such as HIV-1, influenza A virus, Ebola virus and Dengue virus. More recently we have started work on RNA-associated early-stage Anti-viral Factor (REAF), which potently inhibits HIV reverse transcription.

Research Interest

Infection and Pathway Medicine