The Center for Virology and Vaccine Research (CVVR) at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center aims to promote research and education activities related to virology, vaccinology, and related disciplines, including basic, translational, and clinical vaccine research. The Center consists of primary and affiliate faculty and focuses on the development of vaccines against infectious, oncologic, degenerative, and other diseases.

Research Programs

CVVR Clinical Trials

The mission of the CVVR Clinical Trials Unit is the development of novel preventive and therapeutic approaches to viral illnesses such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Zika Virus.

Our goal is to include patient volunteers from every race, ethnicity, and gender background in early-phase and first-in-human studies.

Together, we can move to move forward with these promising efforts.

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Core Facilities

Flow Cytometry Core

The Flow Cytometry Core facility provides equipment, and consultation and data analysis services by dedicated personnel to both in-house and outside researchers. Areas of expertise include non-human primate (NHP) and infectious disease research. The Flow Cytometry Core is committed to providing the latest software and equipment to better assist peer researchers. The Flow Cytometry Core facility is affiliated with Harvard University and is supported by the NIH Center for AIDS Research (CFAR).
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Harvard Catalyst-red on white

Harvard Catalyst Clinical Research Center

The Harvard Catalyst Clinical Research Center (CRC) is a core facility provided to all Beth Isreal Deaconess Medical Center investigators as well as affiliated Harvard faculty for the conduct of clinical trials. The CRC provides contiguous space for inpatient, outpatient, and administrative support activities and is located at BIDMC. CRC staff includes nurses, dieticians, a laboratory assistant, and a unit coordinator. The unit is open for patient activity 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

HIV-1 Neutralizing Antibody Core

The HIV-1 Neutralizing Antibody Core provides in vitro HIV-1 neutralizing antibody assay services to BIDMC and the external research community. The core is GCLP-compliant; it serves as a resource for assessing the breadth and potency of HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies, and for characterizing the neutralization phenotype of HIV-1 isolates.
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CVVR Academic Program

In addition to material and technical support, the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research offers a rich intellectual environment for early stage investigators and students. CVVR hosts weekly meetings for its postdoctoral fellows and graduate students to discuss ongoing work, as well as bi-monthly journal club lunches and weekly CVVR seminars with invited speakers. All postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty are encouraged to submit abstracts and to attend conferences and other professional meetings.

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Young Investigators

The Young Investigator Committee identifies critical issues affecting young and early career investigators working within CVVR. The Committee connects junior faculty, senior postdoctoral fellows, and other researchers with the goal of building fruitful collaborations, finding solutions to the challenges in research, and developing careers.

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Calendar of Events

Fri 03

Seminar Cancelled

April 3 @ 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

Fri 10

Seminar Cancelled

April 10 @ 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

Fri 17

Seminar Cancelled

April 17 @ 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

Fri 24

Seminar Cancelled

April 24 @ 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

May 01

Seminar Cancelled

May 1 @ 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

News and Events

All/CVVR Events/News

7newsboston

2020-03-31/by Morgana Silva

Researchers, healthcare experts working to develop COVD-19 vaccine as death toll surges

Scientists at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center are in the early stages of developing a vaccine to treat COVID-19. Read Article

2020-03-31/by Morgana Silva

Ending the Pandemic

“The stunning epidemiology and clinical features of COVID-19, particularly the potential for explosive and asymptomatic spread, increase the chance that a vaccine may actually be required to…

2020-03-30/by Morgana Silva

WBUR’s All Things Considered Broadcast: March 30, 2020

Dr. Dan Barouch speaks with Lisa Mullins from WBUR about COVID-19 vaccine plans with Johnson & Johnson. Listen more

2020-03-30/by Morgana Silva

Johnson & Johnson Announces a Lead Vaccine Candidate for COVID-19

BG logo

2020-03-30/by Morgana Silva

US and J & J commit $1b to coronavirus vaccine codeveloped by Beth Israel

Clinical trials are set to start by September, and if all goes well, it could be ready for emergency use early next year. Read Article

2020-03-27/by Morgana Silva

Here are some of the Mass. businesses and institutions on the front lines of the COVID-19 battle

"The industry in Massachusetts is going to the mat to fight this thing." Read Article

2020-03-26/by Morgana Silva

How Does the Coronavirus Behave Inside a Patient?

“And, logically, the larger amount of virus should trigger more severe disease by prompting a brisker inflammatory response. But that is still speculative. The relationship between initial…

2019-12-18/by Academic Web Pages

Medical All-Stars

The Boston Red Sox honored Dr.Stephenson on June 7th,2019 as a Medical All-Star for her work in the HIV research field.

2019-12-18/by Academic Web Pages

2019 CVVR Visiting Professor

We were honored to have Dr. Robert Siliciano, MD, PhD. join us for our annual visiting professor this year.

2019-06-25/by Academic Web Pages

2019 Boston Pride Parade

Members of CVVR joined Team BIDMC for the 2019 Boston Pride Parade.

2019-06-18/by Academic Web Pages

2019 Boston AIDS Walk

Members of the CVVR joined TEAM BIDMC for the 2019 Aids Walk, which is the largest HIV/AIDS awareness event in New England.

2019-03-07/by Academic Web Pages

Conference on Retrovirus and Opportunistic Infections 2019

“The annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) brings together top basic, translational, and clinical researchers from around the world to share the latest studies,…

2018-12-18/by Academic Web Pages

2018 Reeves’ Annual Winter Employee Event

2018 Reeve's Annual Winter Employee Event

2018-11-18/by Academic Web Pages

2018 CVVR Visiting Professor

We were honored to have COL. Nelson Michael join us this year as our 2018 visiting professor.

7newsboston

2020-03-31/by Morgana Silva

Evaluation of a mosaic HIV-1 vaccine in a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 1/2a clinical trial (APPROACH) and in rhesus monkeys (NHP 13-19).

Lancet, 2018. Read Article

Evidence that CD32a does not mark the HIV-1 latent reservoir.

Nature, 2018. Read Article

Fetal neuropathology in Zika virus-infected pregnant female rhesus monkeys.

Cell, 2018. Read Article

Antibody and TLR7 agonist delay viral rebound in SHIV-infected monkeys

Nature, 2018. Read Article

Zika virus persistence in the central nervous system and lymph nodes of rhesus monkeys.

Cell, 2017. Read Article

Ad26/MVA therapeutic vaccination with TLR7 stimulation in SIV-infected rhesus monkeys.

Nature, 2016. Read Article

Antibody-mediated protection against SHIV challenge includes systemic clearance of distal virus.

Science, 2016. Read Article

Cryo-EM reveals a novel octameric integrase structure for betaretroviral intasome function.

Nature, 2016. Read Article

Protective efficacy of multiple vaccine platforms against Zika virus challenge in rhesus monkeys.

Science, 2016. Read Article

Vaccine protection against Zika virus from Brazil.

Nature, 2016. Read Article

Zika viral dynamics and shedding in rhesus and cynomolgus macaques.

Nat Med., 2016. Read Article

Rapid inflammasome activation following mucosal SIV infection of rhesus monkeys.

Cell, 2016. Read Article

Antigen-specific NK cell memory in rhesus macaques.

Nat. Immunol., 2015. Read Article

Protective efficacy of adenovirus/protein vaccines against SIV challenges in rhesus monkeys.

Science, 2015. Read Article

Rapid seeding of the viral reservoir prior to SIV viraemia in rhesus monkeys

Nature, 2014. Read Article

All Publications >

Research Programs

Neuro-Virology/Immunology

Translational Immunology

Viral Pathogenesis

CVVR Clinical Trials

Core Facilities

Flow Cytometry Core

Harvard Catalyst Clinical Research Center

HIV-1 Neutralizing Antibody Core

CVVR Academic Program

Young Investigators

Calendar of Events

Center for Virology and Vaccine Research

CVVR Clinical Trials Unit

Affiliates