Overview
Dr. Georgia Tomaras is a tenured Professor of Surgery, Professor of Immunology, Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology (AAM) and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Dr. Tomaras is Co-Director of the Center for Human Systems Immunology (CHSI) Duke University and Director of the Duke Center for AIDS Research (CFAR). Her national and international leadership roles include: Executive Management Team (EMT) leader and mPI for the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN); Director of Lab Sciences (HVTN); and Chair of NIH Vaccine Research Center (VRC) Board of Scientific Counselors. Her prior leadership roles include serving as the Director of Research, Duke Human Vaccine Institute (DHVI); Director of the DHVI Training Program; Associate Director of DHVI Research; Co-Director of the Interdisciplinary Research Training Program in AIDS (IRTPA) Duke; Chair of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) AIDS Vaccine Research Subcommittee (AVRS), and Advisory Counsel member of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Dr. Tomaras’ primary research focus is deciphering mechanisms of protective human immunity and identification of immune correlates of protection to further development of effective vaccines against infectious diseases.
Current Duke Appointments & Affiliations
Recent Scholarly Works
In vitro recapitulation of intramuscular mRNA vaccination with naive and recall antigens using a human lymphoid follicle chip platform.
Journal article iScience · July 17, 2026 Predicting the efficacy and toxicity of mRNA vaccines remains challenging. We describe an in vitro human model that replicates immune responses to lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-based mRNA vaccines upon intramuscular injection. Vaccines are administered to human ... Full text Link to item CiteDNA electroporation of HIV Env elicits robust T cell responses and memory B cell responses with muted serum antibody levels that can be boosted with recombinant protein.
Journal article Vaccine · April 19, 2026 Broadly neutralizing antibodies against the HIV envelope protein exhibit the potential to prevent HIV-1 acquisition, a concept demonstrated both in non-human primate (NHP) challenge models and in human clinical trials. The use of DNA for vaccination, in co ... Full text Link to item CiteCoordinated immune response distinguishes duration of SARS-CoV-2 viral particle shedding in humans.
Journal article iScience · April 17, 2026 SARS-CoV-2 acquisition induces a spectrum of COVID-19 disease severity and duration among people. Prolonged viral antigen shedding (PVS) is defined as when a person tests positive by direct antigen tests performed a minimum of 21 days apart. It is unclear ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Nonhuman Primate Option 1
ResearchInvestigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2032Interdisciplinary Research Training Program in AIDS
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2010 - 2030CIVICS Component C - Option 16 EA - COBRA
ResearchInvestigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2019 - 2029View All Grants
Education
External Links
Duke scientists find potent antibody to HIV-1 Duke Identifies Shortcomings In HIV Vaccine Duke Immunologist Q&A Duke Led Team -Accurate tool to track HIV infections Duke Research Prize ALICE leadership Duke highly cited Elected Fellow Tomaras Lab leaders Yates and Seaton CHSI leadership at Duke HIV Vaccine Trials Network Leadership