Rate My Professor Rui Pedro Galao

Dr Rui Pedro Galao is Senior Lecturer in Infectious Diseases in the Department of Infectious Diseases at King’s College London. His research examines the interplay between RNA viruses and host cells, with a focus on mechanisms of innate immune responses to viral infection. He has developed a reverse genetics system to study the molecular bases of Ebola virus replication, pathogenesis and immunity. This approach has enabled identification of interferon-stimulated genes that exert antiviral effects against Ebola virus replication, and ongoing work characterises the mechanisms of action of these genes. Research also addresses host-virus interactions and molecular pathogenesis of Flaviviruses including Zika, Dengue and West-Nile viruses, with emphasis on mechanisms of sensitivity to and evasion of interferon-mediated responses to infection.

The Galao Lab investigates host and virus interactions, concentrating on innate immune responses to RNA virus infections. Research interests encompass immunology, virus RNA biology, virus-host interactions and mRNA decay pathways. The work contributes to university-wide research interest groups on RNA biology and on microbes in health and disease. Dr Galao holds appointments within the School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences in the Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine.