Satish Pillai

Satish Pillai, PhD, is a Senior Investigator at Vitalant Research Institute and a Professor at UCSF.12 He is a leading researcher in HIV cure research and global molecular surveillance of blood-borne infectious diseases.1

Dr. Pillai's research focuses on viral pathogenesis, particularly HIV. His laboratory uses a systems biology approach to study the antiretroviral effects of IFN-α in vivo, examining host gene expression, viral production, and viral evolution in HIV-1-infected individuals undergoing IFN-α therapy.5 His work has contributed to understanding how IFN-α suppresses HIV-1 replication in chronically-infected individuals by inducing host restriction factors.5

Pillai's educational background includes:

• Undergraduate studies at the University of Arizona
• Graduate fellowship at Los Alamos National Laboratory
• PhD from the University of California – San Diego1

In addition to his research, Dr. Pillai has held several notable positions:

• CDC Deputy Director, Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections
• Senior Liaison to Operation Warp Speed, COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force3

Recently, Dr. Pillai announced the launch of a new project on his LinkedIn profile (username: satish-pillai-5566494)4, demonstrating his ongoing involvement in cutting-edge research in the field of viral pathogenesis and infectious diseases.