Olivier Escaffre, PhD

I am a Senior Scientist in the Department of Pathology at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, Texas. My research is dedicated to understanding the pathogenesis, transmission, and host interactions of emerging zoonotic viruses with high public health relevance. Working within high-containment laboratories, I focus on high-consequence viral pathogens such as henipaviruses, filoviruses, arenaviruses, bunyaviruses, and coronaviruses. I utilize both in vitro and in vivo models to investigate the early stages of infection and viral dissemination. This includes advanced 2D and 3D human tissue models to study viral entry and host responses in physiologically relevant systems. Complementing these approaches, I have extensive experience conducting animal studies to examine viral pathogenesis and evaluate the efficacy of candidate therapeutics under conditions that mimic natural infection. My research supports the development and characterization of medical countermeasures, including antiviral drugs and biologics, with the goal of translating fundamental virology into real-world tools for outbreak preparedness and response.