Dr. Falzarano received his Ph.D. from the Department of Medical Microbiology at the University of Manitoba for determining the functional importance of post-translation modifications of Ebola virus glycoproteins. As a post-doc at Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, he investigated antiviral strategies for Ebola and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). This included the development of a new animal model (common marmoset) and the first potential treatment for MERS-CoV. Currently, his lab is focused on the development of vaccines for camels against MERS-CoV, as part of a One Health approach to eliminating MERS-CoV in humans. Currently, these vaccines are being assessed in an alpaca model of MERS-CoV. In addition, his lab is trying to understanding how MERS-CoV interacts with various host species and what consequence adaptations gained in different host have on the virus.

• Development of animal models, vaccines and therapeutics for emerging viruses
• Understanding the role of viral adaptations on virus biology in different hosts

• Development of MERS-CoV vaccines for camels using an alpaca model
• Characterization of MERS-CoV adaptations to different host species