Mehul S. Suthar, PhD

Dr. Mehul Suthar is a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases at Emory University School of Medicine. He also holds appointments in Microbiology & Immunology, the Emory Vaccine Center, and the Emory National Primate Research Center. He directs the Center for Childhood Infections and Vaccines (CCIV) and the Pandemic Preparedness Program at the Emory Vaccine Center, advancing collaborative research to strengthen global defenses against emerging viral threats.

The Suthar Laboratory investigates the immune mechanisms that protect against viral infections, with a focus on flaviviruses (West Nile and Zika), SARS-CoV-2, and influenza. His team integrates animal models, primary human cells, and cutting-edge immunological approaches to define how innate and adaptive immunity shape outcomes during infection and vaccination.

Dr. Suthar has played a central role in national and international pandemic response efforts. He is a Co-Director of the NIH SARS-CoV-2 Assessment of Viral Evolution (SAVE) program and serves as an advisor to the World Health Organization on COVID-19 vaccine composition. His research has informed vaccine development and variant surveillance throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a recent publication in The Lancet Infectious Diseases (2025) demonstrated that a KP.2-adapted COVID-19 vaccine significantly improved neutralization against the emerging XEC variant, highlighting the ongoing importance of updating vaccines to meet global public health challenges.

Dr. Suthar is widely recognized for his contributions to virology and immunology, honored as one of the world’s most influential scientists by the Institute for Scientific Information (2023, 2024).