HIV, virus-specific T cells, elite controllers

Research Overview

The Walker Laboratory focuses on learning from patients to determine how the body fights back against viral infection using HIV as a highly relevant example, trying to uncover mechanisms by which it succeeds and, importantly, why it usually fails.  They study blood samples from persons with chronic HIV infection as well as from elite controllers, persons who are able to control HIV infection to undetectable levels without the need for antiretroviral therapy (ART) 

Recognition and Media

Dr. Walker is a recipient of the Doris Duke Distinguished Clinical Scientist Award, a member of the Association of American Physician, the National Academy of Medicine, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is also a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and American Academy of Microbiology, as well as the recipient of two NIH Merit Awards.

About

Dr. Walker received a BS in chemistry in 1980 from the University of Colorado, Boulder, also attending the Swiss Federal Technical Institute (ETH), and his MD from Case Western Reserve University. He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at MGH and Harvard Medical School, followed by an internship in pathology and fellowship training in infectious disease at MGH and Harvard Medical School. He is a native of Boulder, Colorado, and is board-certified in both internal medicine and infectious disease.