Harry Pickering joined the Reed Lab in January 2020 as a postdoctoral scholar. His work combines clinical research and computational tools to study systems immunology of viral infections, including CMV in the context of solid organ transplantation, influenza vaccination and SARS-CoV-2, with a particular focus on immunocompromised and otherwise vulnerable populations. The ultimate goal of his work is to understand the cross-talk between innate and adaptive immune responses and how this impacts the interaction between host and virus, with a view to improving clinical care, including antiviral treatment and vaccine delivery, in high-risk populations.
Harry received his BSc in Biological Sciences from the University of Edinburgh in 2012, and completed his MSc the following year in Molecular Biology of Parasites and Disease Vectors at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. From 2013-2016 he studied at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) for his doctoral degree, investigating novel immune targets in Chlamydia trachomatis utilizing immunological and genomic tools. Following completion of his PhD, Harry was employed as a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Clinical Research at LSHTM, working on developing a vaccine against ocular C. trachomatis infection, with additional research involving in studies of epidemiology, genomics and immunology of multiple infections, with a focus on neglected tropical diseases in sites across sub-Saharan Africa and the Pacific Islands. Outside the lab, he enjoys browsing local record stores, California’s endless breweries and watching any sport he can find.
Welcome Harry!