Dr. Alan S. Perelson is a distinguished mathematical biologist whose pioneering work has transformed our understanding of viral dynamics and immune responses. He currently serves as a Senior Fellow at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where he has been instrumental in establishing the field of computational virology. After receiving dual B.S. degrees in Life Sciences and Electrical Engineering & Computer Science from MIT in 1967, he earned his Ph.D. in Biophysics from the University of California, Berkeley in 1972. His early career included positions as an acting assistant professor of medical physics at UC Berkeley and an assistant professor of medical sciences at Brown University before joining Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1974, where he has built one of the most influential research programs in theoretical biology.
Dr. Perelson's groundbreaking research has made fundamental contributions to understanding how the immune system protects us from disease, with particular focus on HIV infection dynamics. His work elucidated many features of HIV infection, including establishing the scientific basis for the need to treat the infection with combination therapy, which has become standard clinical practice worldwide. Beyond HIV, his theoretical frameworks significantly contributed to the development of new cures for hepatitis C infection, demonstrating the profound translational impact of his mathematical approaches to virology. With over 600 publications spanning five decades, his research has established basic principles that continue to guide therapeutic development for viral diseases.
Beyond his direct research contributions, Dr. Perelson serves as an external professor at the Santa Fe Institute and heads the Theoretical Immunology Program, where he continues to shape the field of mathematical biology. He holds adjunct professor positions at Boston University, the University of Rochester, and the University of New Mexico, reflecting his broad influence across academic institutions. His leadership in theoretical immunology has been recognized through his membership in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and his fellowships in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, and the American Physical Society. As a recipient of the National Institutes of Health MERIT Award, Dr. Perelson remains actively engaged in advancing mathematical approaches to understanding immune responses and developing novel strategies for combating infectious diseases.
