The primary focus of the Kiser research group is developing and translating new drug delivery technologies for the prevention and treatment of HIV infection. We are particularly interested in new antiviral agents and drug delivery systems to intercept sexually transmitted viruses at the point of interaction with the genital mucosa and the first target cells infected in the mucosa. Our methods include synthetic polymer chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, modeling drug transport, and using these results in drug delivery system design and prototyping. We perform preclinical toxicity efficacy evaluations in cell, tissue, and animal models; conduct antiviral assays and drug transport assays; and produce devices using a variety of pharmaceutical manufacturing technologies. Our projects range from new materials discovery that could lead to next generation mucosally active antiviral agents and mucosal vaccines, to the development of new assays to evaluate HIV prevention technologies, to sustained delivery system projects for antiviral, anti-infectives and contraceptive agents. The lab is funded by the NIH (NIAD), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and USAID.
