Morrison Center
Lincoln, NE 68583-0900
(402)-472-1971
Director, Nebraska Center for Virology
Professor
Dr. Eric's current research explores the use of bioinformatics, phylogenetics, immunology, and molecular biology to study the basic mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions and to create improved vaccines against microbial diseases. His research program can be broken into two arms, vaccine antigen design and vaccine platform design. First, they are testing ancestral/centralized genes to determine if they are useful as universal vaccines in vivo. In addition, they are exploring systems biology approaches to improve vaccine antigen design to improve the breadth and efficacy of the vaccine antigens. Second, vaccine platform design explores the use of alternative viral vectors as vaccines, as well as the development of safer more effective viral vaccine platforms.
Education
2002 - 2005 |
NIH T32 Postdoctoral Fellowship, Duke University Medical Center, Human Vaccine Institute, Interdisciplinary Research Training Program in AIDS, “A Universal Env Immunogen for all HIV-1 Subtypes.” 5R21AI055386-02, Mentor: Feng Gao |
2002 |
Ph.D. in Genetics, Texas A&M University Thesis: “Phylogenetic Analysis of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and the Development of a Mucosal Prophylactic Vaccine” Mentor: Ellen Collisson |
1997 |
M.S. in Virology/Immunology, Department of Biology, Texas State University. Thesis: “Synergistic Antiviral Inhibition of Newcastle Disease virus and Influenza A Virus” Mentor: Gary Aron |
1995 |
B.S. in Microbiology, Department of Biology, Texas State University |
Professsional Experience
2019 |
Associate Professor |
2012 - 2015 |
Associate Consultant, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Rochester |
2007 - 2015 |
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic |
2008 - 2012 |
Professional Associate in Research, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester |
2005 - 2006 |
Research Associate, Baylor College of Medicine, Center for Cell and Gene Therapy |
Publications
Bullard BL, Weaver EA. Strategies Targeting Hemagglutinin as a Universal Influenza Vaccine. Vaccines. 2021; 9(3):257 |
Bullard BL, Corder BN, DeBeauchamp J, Rubrum A, Korber B, Webby RJ, Weaver EA. Epigraph hemagglutinin vaccine induces broad cross-reactive immunity against swine H3 influenza virus... Nat Commun. 2021 Feb 22;12(1):1203. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-21508-6.PMID: 33619277 |
Bullard BL, Corder BN, Weaver EA. Species D Adenoviruses as Oncolytic Viral Vectors. Viruses. 2020 Dec 6;12(12). doi: 10.3390/v12121399. PubMed PMID: 33291224. |
Pubmed |
Google Scholar |
Honors and Professional Affiliations
2021 |
Dean's Award for Excellence in Graduate Education |
2021 |
Parent's Recognition Teaching Award, Division of Student Affairs, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Teaching Council and the UNL Parents Association. |
2020 |
Parent's Recognition Teaching Award, Division of Student Affairs, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Teaching Council and the UNL Parents Association. |
2019 |
Parent's Recognition Teaching Award, Division of Student Affairs, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Teaching Council and the UNL Parents Association. |
2019 |
Emerging Innovator of the Year 2019. NUTech Ventures. University of Nebraska |
2018 |
Palacios Independent School District, Distinguished Alumni Award |
2004 |
Travel Grant from the 2004 AIDS Vaccine Meeting Organizing Committee. Granted to support attendance of the 2004 AIDS Vaccine Meeting. Lausanne, Switzerland. |
2003 |
Travel Grant from the 2003 AIDS Vaccine Meeting Organizing Committee. Granted t to support attendance of the 2003 AIDS Vaccine Meeting. New York, New York. |
2002 |
NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship Award at the Human Vaccine Institute in the Department of Infectious Disease at the Duke University Center for AIDS Research. |
2002 |
Fisher Institute Medical Research Award. Awarded to students doing exceptional research in cell biology and genetics. Texas A&M University, College of Veterinary Medicine. |
1998 |
NSF Traineeship in Plant Genetics Purdue University |
1997 |
W. E. (Henry) Norris Jr. Scholarship Award for achievements and future contributions to the graduate program in biology. Southwest Texas State University, Dept. of Biology. |
1997 |
George H. Meyer Award in Microbiology for excellence in microbiology. Southwest Texas State University, Dept. of Biology. |
1997 |
Academic Excellence Award. Awarded to graduate students with at least a 3.75 G. P. A. Southwest Texas State University, Dept. of Biology. |
1997 |
Leadership Award. Southwest Texas State University, Dept. of Biology. |
1997 |
Competitive graduate instructional assistantship for the 1997-98 academic year. Awarded by the Dept. of Biology. Southwest Texas State University |
News
Researchers getting closer to a “universal” flu vaccine |
Vaccine shows signs of protection against dozen-plus flu strains |