Hershenson/Popova Lab

Our laboratory studies respiratory viral infections. Of particular interest is the human rhinovirus. In addition to causing the “common cold,” human rhinovirus infections are the most common cause of exacerbations of asthma, COPD and other chronic lung diseases. We also study enterovirus-D68, a respiratory virus which has been associated with a polio-like illness in children. Finally, we are studying human coronavirus-NL63 which, like SARS-CoV2, utilizes the ACE2 receptor and has been associated with severe outbreaks of pneumonia in nursing homes and Kawasaki’s disease in children. Our work combines cell culture, animal models and human subjects research. The lab has a robust recycling program and actively reduces energy use by turning off unused equipment and by operating their ultra-low freezer at -70. {Originally certified gold: November 3, 2014}