The Heise Laboratory primarily studies how viral and host genetic factors interact to influence the pathogenesis of virus-induced disease. Viruses studied in the Heise Lab include mosquito-borne, such as chikungunya virus, and respiratory viruses including influenza A virus and emerging coronaviruses. The lab is particularly interested in understanding the mechanisms underlying viral evasion of the host innate immune system and virus-induced immune pathology. In addition to studying the basic biology of these viruses, the laboratory is also actively engaged in developing small molecule antivirals against emerging alphaviruses and influenza viruses.
The Heise laboratory is located at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is affiliated with the Department of Genetics and the Department of Microbiology & Immunology.