Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, IU School of Medicine, Director of the Center for AIDS Research, IUPUI
Professor Johnny He has made a wealth of important contributions in the treatment of HIV and AIDS during his 15+ years in the field. He and his co-researchers have:
- Created an HIV reporter virus system used to detect virus infection and screen for anti-HIV therapeutics
- Identified how HIV adversely affects host cells, causes brain damage, and gains access into the brain
- Created a small rodent animal model to study HIV-brain interaction
- Created a brain-specific and inducible HIV Tat transgenic mouse model
- Identified a host protein called Sam68 as an indispensable host factor for HIV replication
I have enjoyed the total academic freedom that I have as an independent researcher. Our faculty is always open to work with and help each other.”