Jessica Prodger
Assistant Professor
Postdoc: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, National Institutes of Health, USA
PhD: University of Toronto
MSc: University of Toronto
Office: Dental Sciences Building, Room 3007F
Phone: 519.661.2111, ext. 84743
Email: jprodge@uwo.ca
Lab Website: Prodger Lab Website
Area of Study:
Developing Novels Strategies for HIV Prevention and Cure in Africa
-Global health
-Genital immunology
-Genital microbiota
-Mucosal HIV susceptibility
-HIV persistence in sub-Saharan Africa
Research Profile
Our first research goal is to understand natural resistance/susceptibility to HIV-1. Penile anaerobic bacteria can increase HIV-1 risk, but the exact species and mechanisms underpinning this risk are unknown. Our group is working to illuminate these, to develop targeted antimicrobials to prevent HIV-1.
Our second goal is to understand the unique barriers to curing individuals living with HIV-1 in sub-Saharan Africa. HIV-1 remains incurable due to the stable integration of viral DNA into the host genome. We are working to characterize persistent HIV-1 infection in Uganda, and plan to test HIV-1 cure strategies as they become available.