Robert Davey

Professor of Virology, Immunology & Microbiology

See BU Profile for additional information and publications.

Research Interest

We work with hemorrhagic fever viruses, which represent the most dangerous emerging and re-emerging pathogens. These viruses, such as Ebola, Marburg, Lassa, and Nipah, are often not well studied and have few treatment options available. We are fortunate to work in the NEIDL, which houses a suite of BSL4 laboratories where research can be conducted safely. Our goal is to develop new small molecule-based treatments for these viral diseases.

Drugs, in conjunction with vaccines, protect us against disease. These drugs, which are small molecule and antibody-based, are particularly effective for short- to mid-term protection or in areas where a recent outbreak has occurred or vaccination is not possible. All drugs function by disrupting the activity of proteins or related processes. Most antiviral drugs used clinically target viral proteins, such as proteases. However, many of the viruses we study have few such targets. Instead, targeting host proteins that viruses use to infect cells offers many more potential targets for treatment.

We employ two approaches to discover new treatments targeting virus and virus-dependent host protein interactions. The first approach is traditional screening, commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry, to test libraries of small molecules that inhibit viral infection of cells. The second approach involves using systems and cell biology techniques to identify host proteins essential for viral infection, followed by biochemical methods to disrupt these interactions. This holistic approach to drug development involves a diverse scientific team, including technical staff, graduate students, and senior postgraduate scientists. We encourage innovative thinking and the application of techniques from various scientific disciplines.