A. Oveta Fuller

A. Oveta Fuller is an associate professor of microbiology and immunology at University of Michigan Medical School. She specializes in research of Herpes simplex virus, as well as HIV/AIDS. Dr.Fuller and her research team discovered a B5 receptor,[1] advancing the understanding of Herpes simplex virus and the cells it attacks. In 2014, she was named associate director of the University of Michigan African Studies Center.[2]

Dr.

Almyra Oveta Fuller
BornAugust 31, 1955
Mebane, North Carolina
EducationUniversity of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
OccupationAssociate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology
EmployerUniversity of Michigan Medical School

Early life and education

Dr. Fuller was born on August 31, 1955 in Mebane, North Carolina. Deborah Woods Fuller, her mother was a teacher and her father Herbert R. Fuller managed the family farm.[3] Dr.Fuller grew up near Yanceyville, North Carolina where she was the middle child of three.[3] As a child biology intrigued her at an early age. She was amazed how her grandmother recovered quickly from being bitten by a water moccasin after receiving antivenin, which was an antidote for snake venom. Although her grandmother snake bite contribute to her likeness for biology, there was also two notable biology teachers, Ms. Elam and Mr. Majette who inspired her as well.[3] After graduating from high school, she earned an Aubrey Lee Brooks Scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which she received a BA in biology in 1977. Dr. Fuller continued her education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to complete her Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology in 1983.

Career

In 1983 Dr. Fuller attended the University of Chicago for a postdoctoral fellowship and was supported by numerous fellowships, including Ford Postdoctoral Fellowship, Ann Fuller Cancer Fund Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, and a National Institutes of Health Postdoctoral Fellowship.[4] In 1988 Dr.Fuller became faculty member at University of Michigan Medical School as an assistant professor in the department of Microbiology and Immunology.[4] In 1995 she was promoted to associate professor with tenure.[4] Dr. Fuller also served as a faculty associate for the Center for Global Health, STEM Initiative, and African Studies Center at the University of Michigan. She is currently the associate professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the Medical School and faculty in the STEM Initiative of the African Studies at the University of Michigan.[4]

Dr. Fuller is the pastor at Bethel African Methodist Episocopal Church in Adrian, Michigan.[5] She is the science advisor at the global AME Church and adjunct faculty member at Payne Theological Seminary, which she teaches a biology course on HIV/AIDS.

Research

Dr. Fuller's research focuses on uncovering the molecular mechanisms of how pathogenic viruses enter and infect cells.[6] Specifically, her lab studies the pathogenesis of herpes and HIV/AIDS viruses. She is interested in understanding the modes of action of viral cellular entry and early infection, such as membrane fusion mechanisms.[6] Additionally, Fuller's lab is part of a collaborative effort with chemical engineering and human genetic researchers to develop microchip technologies for early, quick, and inexpensive methods of viral infection detection.[6]

Beyond the lab, Dr. Fuller has an extensive research program working with the Trusted Messenger Intervention (TMI) program to recruit the help of local religious leaders to address health inequalities with a main focus on HIV/AIDS testing, prevention, and treatment.[7] She has successfully implemented this program within communities in Zambia and the US and more recently has introduced new programs in other countries, including Liberia where the focus has been on preventable diseases such as HIV/AIDS and Ebola virus disease.[7]

Awards and recognition

Dr. Fuller received numerous awards throughout her career, in addition to the many fellowships she received as a postdoctoral fellow. In 1983 she was awarded the National Technical Association Service Award, Anna Fund Postdoctoral Award, and Thornton Professional Achievement Award. In 1987, she was also awarded the Ford Foundation fellowship and in 1992 she was awarded the NSF Career Advancement Award. Dr.Fuller other awards includes the Woman of the Year in Human Relations by the University of Michigan Task Force (1998) [4] her service with the Distinguished Service Award in Microbiology and Ministry from the Missions Society, AME, the Robert Smith Community Service "Humanitarian Award," and her biography was highlighted in "Distinguished African American Scientists of the 20th Century" (Kessler, Kidd, and Morin, Oryx Press, Phoenix, AZ, 1996).[4] In 2012, she received a Fulbright US Scholar Program award. In January 2013 she began nine months of research in the Copperbelt region in Zambia,[8] which her work focused on bringing biomedical information into communities through local religious leaders.

References
  1. Perez, A; Li, QX; Perez-Romero, P; Delassus, G; Lopez, SR; Sutter, S; McLaren, N; Fuller, AO (June 2005). "A new class of receptor for herpes simplex virus has heptad repeat motifs that are common to membrane fusion proteins". Journal of Virology. 79 (12): 7419–30. doi:10.1128/jvi.79.12.7419-7430.2005. PMC 1143644. PMID 15919898.
  2. "Oveta Fuller Joins African Studies Center as Associate Director". GlobalReach. 1 Aug 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  3. Kessler, James H.; Kidd, J.S.; Kidd, Renee A.; Morin, Katherine A. (1996). Distinguished African American Scientists of the 20th Century. Phoenix, Az: Oryx Press. ISBN 0-89774-955-3.
  4. Fuller, A. Oveta (22 October 2019). "A. Oveta Fuller CV" (PDF). University of Michigan.
  5. Brown, Kevin (21 November 2005). "U-M microbiology professor takes yearlong sabbatical to fight HIV-AIDS". University Record Online. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  6. "A. Oveta Fuller, Ph.D. | Microbiology & Immunology | Michigan Medicine". Microbiology & Immunology. 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  7. "A. Oveta Fuller | U-M LSA National Center for Institutional Diversity". lsa.umich.edu. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  8. "A. Oveta Fuller Earns Fullbright [sic] Scholar Grant". University of Michigan Global Reach. 10 January 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
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