Pitt has terminated non-essential research operations as have most institutions. For now, most RVF work in our lab has ceased. A consortium of researchers in the CVR (including my lab) are working on a measles-vectored vaccine platform. Its a lot of intense work in a short time. Stay safe during this very unusual time!
New grant on in utero transmission of Rift Valley fever virus
Amidst the chaos of COVID-19, we received a grant award from the NIH to continue our work on vertical transmission of Rift Valley fever virus in the context of vaccine safety. The novel coronavirus outbreak highlights the critical need to study emerging zoonotic viruses.
Welcome new PhD student
Welcome
We are excited to announce that Madeline (Maddy) Schwarz will be returning to our lab for her PhD work. Maddy is finishing her first year in the IDM PhD program. Look for lots of exciting things from Maddy!
Goodbye to Devin
Devin is sadly leaving us for a position as Import Specialist with Pitt. We will miss her and wish her the best while pursuing her new position.
Opportunities available
ASM Biothreats Conference
We will be at the ASM Biothreats conference in Arlington VA next week. This is ASM’s premier conference on high consequence pathogen research and policy.
I will be speaking in the From Surveillance To Bedside: Tools for the Next Outbreak session on Wednesday.
Joe will be presenting a poster in Poster Session 1 on Tuesday afternoon.
NIH Bunyavirus Workshop
What could be better than a FREE workshop of folks talking about my favorite type of virus - the Bunyaviruses!!
I will be attending the NIH’s Bunyavirus workshop this week and giving a talk on RVFV animal models. Please come an introduce yourself. We have some openings for opportunities in the lab!
Happy Holidays from the Hartman Lab
Upcoming Meetings
Hartman Lab will also be attending the NIAID conference on Bunyaviruses (Jan 13-14, 2020) and the ASM Biothreats Conference (Jan 28-30, 2020).
Hartman Lab will be at #TropMed19!
You can find us at the ASTMH Trop Med Annual Meeting Nov 20-24 in National Harbor, MD
Cindy McMillen will be giving a talk on Nov 21 #667 - Explants of human and ruminant placentas are targeted by members of the Bunyavirales order differently: comparing cellular and molecular mechanisms of infection to understand disparate rates of miscarriage between species
Devin Boyles will be presenting a poster #854 - Placental trophoblasts and giant cells are targeted for infection in a rodent model of congenital Rift Valley fever
Stop by and introduce yourself!