Expertise:
Dr. Mullins obtained his Ph.D. in cell biology and biochemistry from the University of Minnesota. He did postdoctoral work at the California Institute of Technology before joining the faculty at the Harvard University School of Public Health. In 1989 he moved to Stanford University as Professor and was Chairman of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology from 1991 until his move in 1994 to the University of Washington where he is on the faculty of the Departments of Microbiology and Medicine. He was Chair of the Department of Microbiology from 1997 to 2002. He has served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Virology, AIDS and AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses.Research:
Research in Dr. Mullins' laboratory assists the fight against AIDS by seeking insight into the development of the disease in order to refine therapies and create effective vaccines. By relating our use of the techniques of molecular, computational and in vitro virus biology, to in vivo analyses of biological activity conducted by collaborating laboratories, we focus on events relevant to the HIV-human host relationship, disease induction and progression. Specifically, the lab is defining characteristics of HIV genomic variants associated with tissue, fluid and cell type compartmentalization, and linking these to studies of virus transmission and the kinetics and manifestations of disease. Links between cellular and humoral immune responses and HIV genetic variation and variant proliferation within infected individuals are being investigated. Means of generation of effective vaccines vaccine production and delivery are also being addressed.
