Chris Posavad, PhD

Dr. Posavad has over 30 years of experience in the field of viral immunology. Her basic research area encompasses systemic and local T-cell responses to herpes simplex viruses. Her team has designed unique human cohorts to collect and evaluate clinical specimens including blood and mucosal specimens and led numerous cross-sectional and longitudinal studies to characterize the cellular immune response to genital herpes.

As the associate director of the LOU, she oversaw laboratory operations for several high-profile COVID protocols including the original Moderna mRNA-1273 and Variant trials, Mix&Match, MOMI-Vax, and COVAIL.  Since December 2023, she has been the director of the LOU where she directs and oversees LOU administration and operations, serves on the IDCRC Executive Management Team, and provides expertise and guidance on lab/assay selection and implementation in support of COVID and non-COVID IDCRC protocols. Dr. Posavad is based in Seattle in the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at the University of Washington.