Rate My Professor Alan Hsu

Dr. Hsu's team has uncovered key insights, including the activation of a viral RNA sensor by influenza facilitating antiviral responses, delayed antiviral responses to human seasonal coronaviruses in bronchial epithelial cells, and influenza viral proteins disrupting antiviral networks through a novel 'interferon revving-up model,' leading to enhanced replication. They identified a microRNA upregulated in influenza contributing to exaggerated inflammation, with its specific inhibitor reducing viral replication and disease severity in normal and experimental COPD models. Current efforts target viral protein functions and host dependencies for novel therapeutics resistant to mutations and effective against multiple respiratory viruses, including influenza and coronaviruses, supporting pandemic preparedness. Awards include the Ann Woolcock Young Investigator Award (2012), TSANZ/AstraZeneca Respiratory Research Fellowship (2016), Frontiers Spotlight Award Finalist (2019), and multiple travel fellowships from FIMSA and others. Key publications encompass 'Iron metabolism determines the outcome of influenza A virus infection' (2023), 'Histone deacetylase-6 (HDAC6) promotes protective responses during murine influenza A virus (IAV) infection' (2022), 'Impaired Antiviral Stress Granule and IFN-β Enhanceosome Formation Enhances Susceptibility to Influenza Infection in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Epithelium' (2016), and 'Targeting PI3K-p110α Suppresses Influenza Virus Infection in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease' (2015).