Biographical Sketch
Nelson L. Michael, M.D., Ph.D
Nelson L. Michael, M.D., Ph.D is currently Director, Division of Retrovirology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (U.S. Military HIV Research Program), a multi-dimensional, international research program encompassing vaccine research and development, HIV prevention research, and clinical research.
Dr. Michael, a Colonel in the United States Army Medical Corps, entered his Army service in 1989 at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research's Department of Vaccine Research, Division of Retrovirology. Prior to serving as Director, Dr. Michael was the Chief, Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Pathogenesis for eight years, where he was instrumental in leading the HIV Diagnostic Laboratory (HDL) to College of American Pathologists certification in Rockville, Maryland, developing an international laboratory program abroad supporting HIV vaccine development, and was engaged in HIV clinical and pathogenesis research. The HDL serves as the U.S. military's retrovirology reference laboratory for HIV diagnostics, HIV-1 viral load and T-cell subset monitoring, and blood donor infectious disease confirmatory testing. Dr. Michael was appointed Director, Division of Retrovirology in January 2006.
Dr. Michael's research interests include HIV molecular pathogenesis, HIV clinical research, and HIV vaccine development.
Dr. Michael currently serves on the Vaccine Research Center Scientific Advisory Working Group (NIAID, NIH), Office of AIDS Research Advisory Committee (NIH), AIDS Research Advisory Committee (NIAID, NIH), AIDS Vaccine Research Working Group (DAIDS, NIAID, and NIH), Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology Scientific Advisory Board, Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator Scientific Steering Committee, and Medical School Admissions Committee, Uniformed Services University.
Dr. Michael is an Associate Professor of Medicine, Uniformed Services University and is a Diplomat, American Board of Internal Medicine. He serves as a peer reviewer of many scientific journals and is author, coauthor of more than 75 scientific publications, and eight textbooks. Honors include Army Commendation Medal (1992, 1996), Army Achievement Medal (1996), and Army Meritorious Service Medal (2004).
Dr. Michael graduated Summa Cum Laude from University of California, Los Angeles in 1979 with a degree in biology. He graduated from Stanford University with M.D. and Ph.D. (cancer biology) degrees in 1986. He trained in internal medicine at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital from 1986-1989.