Peter Palese

Who is Peter Palese?

Peter Palese, Ph.D, is an American microbiologist and Professor and Chair of the Department of Microbiology at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, and an expert in the field of RNA viruses.

Palese built "the first genetic maps for influenza A, B and C viruses, identified the function of several viral genes, ...defined the mechanism of neuraminidase inhibitors" and "pioneered the field of reverse genetics for negative-strand RNA viruses". Furtherance of this technique has been used by Palese and his colleagues in reconstructing and studying the pathogenicity of the extinct but deadly 1918 pandemic influenza virus. Reverse genetics also assist in the development of new flu vaccines.

Palese is the author of multiple book chapters and more than 300 scientific publications. He is on the editorial board for Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. He has been awarded multiple patents on viral vaccines and antivirals.