Dr. David Martinez is a distinguished scholar at the forefront of viral immunology research with expertise in pathogens of global health significance. He currently holds the position of Assistant Professor of Immunobiology at Yale University School of Medicine where he leads innovative research on viral immunity and vaccine development. Dr. Martinez earned his PhD in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology from Duke University in 2018, where he trained at the Duke Human Vaccine Institute under renowned immunologist Dr. Sallie R. Permar. His foundational training was further strengthened through postdoctoral studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with leading coronavirologist Dr. Ralph Baric, work that positioned him at the epicenter of critical pandemic response efforts.
Dr. Martinez has made transformative contributions to the field through his work on vaccine development during the global pandemic, playing an instrumental role in the creation of the FDA-approved Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine which received Emergency Use Authorization. His research has significantly advanced our understanding of immune responses to flaviviruses including Dengue virus and coronaviruses, with his work being cited over 20,000 times according to his Google Scholar profile. He further contributed to the development of human monoclonal antibody therapies from Eli Lilly and AstraZeneca that received FDA Emergency Use Authorization for COVID-19 treatment. This exceptional body of work has established him as a leading voice in understanding how the human immune system responds to and protects against viral pathogens.
As a Hanna H. Gray Faculty Fellow of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Dr. Martinez continues to investigate the complex immune mechanisms that differentiate antibody responses to related viral pathogens such as Dengue virus, Zika virus, yellow fever virus, and West Nile virus. His laboratory is particularly focused on understanding why individuals previously infected with Dengue virus can experience severe hemorrhagic reactions when exposed to a second variant, with the goal of leveraging these insights to prevent or cure viral diseases. His current research program seeks to unravel the fundamental immunological principles that could inform the development of next-generation vaccines and therapeutic approaches against emerging viral threats. Dr. Martinez's work bridges basic science and translational medicine, promising continued significant contributions to global public health through innovative immunological research.
