Derek M. Dykxhoorn

He is a molecular biologist interested in the mechanisms that regulate pathogenesis. His current research focuses on the impact that genetic and epigenetic variations have on the transmission, infection and replication of HIV-1. In particular, his research has focused on the application of functional genomic approaches (RNA interference) to understand disease processes, including the use of large-scale, full genome screening platforms for the identification of host factors, HIV-dependency factors (HDFs), required for HIV infection and replication and the development of novel siRNA delivery approaches that can be used for therapeutic intervention for HIV infected individuals or formulated into a microbicide to prevent viral transmission across mucosal surfaces.