Influenza viruses are pathogens of great significance to public and animal health. Dr. Perez studies the changes that allow influenza viruses to jump animal species and cause disease in humans. Dr. Perez’s long-term goal is to provide a comprehensive map of molecular changes associated with animal-to-human (A2H) and human-to-human (H2H) transmission of influenza viruses. Such information is crucial to better prepare against influenza viruses with zoonotic potential and/or of pandemic concern. Dr. Perez’s laboratory uses a wide range of in vitro and in vivo approaches to better understand influenza virus host range and improve existing and/or develop new universal vaccines and antivirals. Dr. Perez contributions on the role of quail as a host for influenza viruses with expanded host range was one argument that led to banning live quail in Hong Kong poultry markets in 2002. Later, Dr. Perez’s group demonstrated the molecular aspects responsible for respiratory droplet transmission of avian influenza viruses of the H9 and H7 subtypes in ferrets (mammals). During 2005-2011, Dr. Perez was responsible for the program “Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza in the US”, a USDA-funded multi-institutional project with a comprehensive research and surveillance structure. Since 2007, The Perez’s lab is part of the NIAID-funded CEIRS Center for Research on Influenza Pathogenesis (CRIP), led by Dr. Adolfo Garcia-Sastre at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York. In April 2015, Dr. Perez joined the Department of Population Health, University of Georgia as Georgia Research Alliance Distinguished Investigator and Caswell S Eidson Chair in Poultry Medicine within the Poultry Research and Diagnostic Center. Since 2017, Dr. Perez is also affiliated with the Center for Vaccines and Immunology.

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