Katherine Luzuriaga, MD, professor of pediatrics and medicine and vice provost for clinical and translational research, received a 2014 Distinguished Achievement Award from Tufts University for her research in preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission and using early therapy to functionally cure an HIV-1 infected infant. Tufts presents the awards annually to alumni who have made significant contributions to their profession and who are recognized for leadership in their field.
As a member of the 2014 Distinguished Alumni Panel on Saturday, April 26, Dr. Luzuriaga joined her fellow alumni honorees to discuss trends in their fields and reflect on how Tufts has shaped their careers. Other panelists included British politician Michael Dobbs, writer of House of Cards; Marsha “Marty” Evans, retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral and women’s rights advocate; and Eric T. Washington, chief judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.
Luzuriaga joined the UMMS faculty in 1990 and served as chief of the division of pediatric immunology, infectious diseases and rheumatology from 1999 to 2012. Her research, which has been continuously NIH-funded over the past 20 years, focuses on the viral and immunopathogenesis of persistent viral infections in children, including HIV and Epstein Barr virus.
As a physician-scientist, she is passionate about translating research discoveries into practice. Luzuriaga is the founding director of the UMMS Office of Global Health.
Related links on UMassMedNow:
Luzuriaga named vice provost for clinical and translational research
Discovery prompts new hope for pediatric HIV cure at UMMS
Researchers describe first 'functional HIV cure' in an infant
Early HIV treatment aids long-term viral suppression in teens
