Dr Marieke Pingen

(she/her)

Overview

I am a lecturer with the Wales Applied Virology Unit (WAVU). Our research focuses on how viral infection affects our brain. 

A plethora of viruses can infect our brain,which results in encephalitis: inflammation of the brain. Most commonly this happens by Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) and mosquito-transmitted viruses. Mortality rates are high, with survivors often experiencing long-term sequalae. Identification of the causative agent is often challenging, and very few antivirals are available. Therefore, it is very important we better understand viral infection and the resulting immune response, to identify novel treatment tartets.