Dr. Bryan R. Cullen is a preeminent leader in molecular virology and a distinguished authority on viral gene regulation mechanisms. He currently holds the prestigious James B. Duke Distinguished Professorship in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology at Duke University School of Medicine, where he has established himself as one of the institution's most influential researchers. After obtaining his B.Sc. in Biochemistry from Warwick University and M.Sc. in Virology from the University of Birmingham in the UK, he completed his Ph.D. in Microbiology at Rutgers University before embarking on his distinguished career in the United States. In 1987, he was recruited to Duke University Medical Center as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, launching his decades-long tenure at one of the nation's premier medical research institutions. As the founding director of the Duke University Center for Virology, he has built a world-class research hub that continues to advance our understanding of viral pathogenesis and host-virus interactions.
Dr. Cullen's groundbreaking research has fundamentally transformed our understanding of how viruses regulate gene expression through RNA-mediated mechanisms and epitranscriptomic modifications. His laboratory pioneered the study of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications in viral mRNA, demonstrating that these epigenetic marks significantly enhance viral mRNA and protein expression across multiple viral families including HIV-1, influenza A virus, and SV40. With over 325 research publications to his name, he has been consistently recognized as one of the most highly cited scientists in microbiology, reflecting the profound impact of his discoveries on the field. His work identifying the m6A 'writer' METTL3 and 'reader' YTHDF2 proteins has provided crucial insights into the mechanistic basis of viral enhancement, establishing new paradigms for understanding virus-host interactions at the molecular level.
Beyond his research achievements, Dr. Cullen has profoundly shaped the virology community through his extensive editorial service on 11 prominent scientific journals and his mentorship of countless trainees who have gone on to establish independent research careers. As a Fellow of both the American Academy of Microbiology and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, he has helped establish standards for virology research that have influenced the field globally. Currently, his laboratory is pioneering new approaches to treating chronic viral diseases through CRISPR/Cas technology while continuing to explore the regulatory roles of viral microRNAs and epitranscriptomic modifications. His strategic shift toward epitranscriptomics research since 2018 positions his laboratory at the forefront of viral gene regulation research for the next generation of scientific discovery.
