Rate My Professor Larry Corey

Corey's research focuses on virology, viral immunology, and vaccine development, particularly herpes simplex virus pathogenesis, host immune responses at mucosal surfaces, and immunotherapies for chronic viral infections including HSV-1/2, HIV, EBV, VZV, and HHV-8. In the early 1980s, he collaborated with Gertrude Elion to develop acyclovir as the first effective antiviral for genital herpes, proving its safety for long-term use and inspiring therapies for HIV, hepatitis B/C, cytomegalovirus, and influenza. His discoveries include genital herpes increasing HIV susceptibility, early HIV replication in blood necessitating prompt therapy, and antivirals preventing mother-to-infant HIV transmission, alongside combination antiretroviral treatments extending HIV patient life expectancy. Under his leadership, programs at Fred Hutch and the University of Washington developed diagnostics reducing transplant complications and boosting long-term survival by 41%. With over 850 publications, notable works include "Efficacy and Safety of the mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine" (New England Journal of Medicine, 2021) and "A strategic approach to COVID-19 vaccine R&D" (Science, 2020). Awards include the Alexander Fleming Award from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (2022), election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2012), Cubist-ICAAC Award (2012), E. Russell Alexander Award, and Pan American Society for Clinical Virology Award.