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Engineering Division Lecture Series
HIV Strain Competition Modeling with Treatment Applications
Tuesday, November 10, 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Penn State Great Valley, Malvern, Main Building, Room 124
Dr. Ryan Zurakowski, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Delaware, and a faculty fellow at the Delaware Biotechnology Institute, will focus on an optimal treatment-switching strategy that minimizes the risk of HIV resistance to antiviral therapies. These risks emerge by manipulating the viral load prior to the therapies’ introduction. This strategy provides for a significant reduction in risk. The results are based on a generalized mathematical model used to describe HIV dynamics and are important to patient health due to the limited durability of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Although HAART provides a powerful strategy for HIV treatment, it cannot eradicate HIV virus or stop the development of multi-drug resistant strains, which is the primary reason for treatment failure. Because the number of independent treatment regimens is limited, a better control of drug-resistance risk is critical for the success of long-term antiviral therapy in HIV patients.
This presentation is free and open to faculty, staff, students, and the community. For more information, contact gvengin@psu.edu or 610-648-3243.