Postdoctoral Associate
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Reem Abu Rass, PhD, postdoctoral associate at the Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. She received her PhD from the George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences at Tel Aviv University.
Her current research focuses on neonatal herpes simplex virus (nHSV) infections, with particular emphasis on comparative genomics to understand mother-to-baby transmission patterns. She is investigating the molecular mechanisms and barriers that influence vertical HSV transmission, seeking to identify factors that may prevent or facilitate viral transfer from infected mothers to their newborns. Through genomic analysis of paired maternal-neonatal samples, she seeks to elucidate the viral and host determinants that contribute to transmission outcomes.
Dr. Abu Rass is actively expanding her research through collaborative efforts to obtain additional HSV clinical samples, enabling larger-scale genomic studies that will enhance our understanding of transmission dynamics and inform evidence-based approaches to protecting vulnerable newborns.