Alec Hirsch graduated from Swarthmore College with a B.A. in Biology in 1989 and received his Ph.D. in molecular Biology from Princeton University in 1999. He came to OHSU on a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Jay Nelson as his advisor. He was hired as Assistant Scientist at OHSU Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute in 2010 and currently holds the rank of Associate Professor.
The Hirsch lab studies multiple facets of the interaction of flaviviruses with the infected host. Currently, our work focuses on flaviviruses including dengue viruses, West Nile and Zika, Powassan viruses. Because we are experienced with BSL3 level containment, we have also contributed to research on SARS-CoV2, and have recently explored novel strategies for delivery of anti-SARS-CoV2 monoclonal antibodies to infected individuals. We are interested in identifying and characterizing important cellular proteins/ pathways involved in flaviviruses infection and pathogenesis, as well as the interplay between the virus and cellular innate immunity. This work has also been extended to translational programs directed at the discovery of anti-flavivirus molecules, and novel vaccine strategies for these viruses.