My research focus includes understanding the virus-host interactions and vaccine-induced humoral, innate, and adaptive immune responses to evaluate the vaccine efficacy and to define the immune correlates of protection using preclinical in vivo animal models such as mice and non-human primates. I played a major role in developing multiple vaccine candidates and vaccination approaches for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) using mice and monkey models of the disease. These studies aimed to improve the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of MVA-based vaccines against ancestral and emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2. This included optimizing the routes of immunization (intramuscular, intranasal, oral needle-free vaccination) to elicit broader humoral and T cell responses against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) (Routhu NK, et al., Immunity, 2021; and Routhu NK, et al., Science Immunology, 2022).I showed that the novel SARS-CoV-2 RBD trimer protein-based vaccine in combination with either licensed adjuvant Alum or a potent TLR7/8 agonist (Alum/3M-052) induces robust neutralizing antibody responses and protects against SARS-CoV-2 challenge using mouse models (Routhu NK, et al., Nature Communications, 2021).My research also centered around the "SARS-CoV-2 Assessment of Viral Evolution (SAVE)" study, which addresses the booster efficacy of FDA-approved Moderna’s mRNA-1273 and Novavax’s ancestral (NVX-CoV2373) or BA.1 (NVX-CoV2515) spike vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 BA.5 omicron infection in non-human primates (Routhu NK, et al., Science Immunology, 2023).Developing a highly sensitive quantitative RT-qPCR-based assay to quantify the frequency of cells producing multiply-spliced (ms)_SIV RNA in SIV-infected non-human primates (NHPs). Furthermore, studying Zika virus-host interactions and the development of host-directed broad antiviral therapeutics (Routhu NK, et al., The Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, 2017 (Cover page); Routhu NK, et al., Molecular Pharmaceutics 2018; and Routhu NK, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2019).In summary, my diverse research experience and contributions have focused on critical aspects of infectious disease research, including virus-host interactions, vaccine development, and immune responses, particularly in the context of Zika virus, HIV, and COVID-19. These research findings have the potential to advance our understanding of infectious diseases and contribute to the development of effective vaccines and therapeutics for global health challenges.