Claire was awarded a PhRMA Fellowship which began on February 1, 2025. Claire is a Microbiology doctoral candidate in the lab of William Petri in the Division of Infectious Diseases & International Health.
Claire received her Bachelor of Science degree from Arizona State University, double majoring in Molecular Biosciences & Biotechnology and Physics.
We asked Claire to tell us about her research and hopes for the future. Here’s what she said:
Can you tell us about your research?
My research is focused on understanding how our immune response can drive severe disease following a respiratory viral infection. Our lab previously uncovered a novel link between type 2 immunity and COVID-19 severity and my preliminary experiments have found the alarmin cytokine IL-33, a known inducer of type 2 immune pathways in the lung, drives pathogenesis in a mouse model of COVID-19. My future research will elucidate the role of IL-33 signaling in the SARS-CoV-2-infected lung and will determine how therapeutic blockade of this cytokine leads to improved disease outcomes. This work will further our understanding of how modulation of type 2 immunity can serve as a novel therapeutic strategy in the treatment of respiratory viral infection.
What drives or motivates your scientific pursuits?
I find research in the biomedical sciences to be both fascinating and fulfilling. I am driven by a curiosity to understand mechanisms of disease and by the notion that my work could one day positively impact patient care. I am inspired by how the diligent and creative work of scientists can bring about life-saving therapeutics and I cannot imagine a more fulfilling objective to which I could devote my career.
What are your future goals?
My primary career goal is to conduct translational research in the fields of infectious disease and immunology that has the potential to positively impact patient care. More specifically, I intend to pursue a career as a scientist in the biopharmaceutical industry with a focus on drug discovery.
Congratulations on winning this fellowship, Claire!