Brian Epling
How would you summarize what you currently do at NIAID?
I am currently a third-year Infectious Diseases (ID) fellow. I spent the first year of my fellowship on ID consult teams at the NIH Clinical Center as well as different hospitals in the area. After that, for my research training, I joined the research group of Dr. Irini Sereti in the HIV Pathogenesis Section of the Laboratory of Immunoregulation. I am currently involved in a variety of research projects and have a particular interest in studying infections and the immune response in people with HIV and other immune compromising conditions, as well as the role the immune system plays in accelerated aging in patients with HIV. Additionally, I am currently enrolled in the NIH-Duke Master's Program in Clinical Research, which is a master’s degree program with training focused on conducting clinical research.
What does a typical day at work look like for you?
My day is typically a mix between seeing patients, educational activities, collaborative research meetings, and working on research projects. I will see a few patients on our team’s study protocols, attend classes as part of the NIH-Duke Master’s Program in Clinical Research, attend conferences through the NIAID ID Fellowship Program, meet with our research and clinical teams, and spend time working on research projects.
How long have you been at NIAID and what was your career path to arrive here?
This is my third year at NIAID. I went to medical school at the University of Connecticut and then moved to the Washington D.C. area for internal medicine residency training at George Washington University. I have always had an interest in infectious diseases and, in particular, the study of what is unknown in the field of infectious diseases. The NIH was a perfect fit that has allowed me to pursue this passion through the NIAID ID Fellowship Program and Dr. Sereti’s research group.
How would you describe the culture at NIAID?
Extremely supportive and collaborative. As a trainee, I have been very fortunate to have been supported every step along the way. My mentors have always listened to my goals and found a way to help me accomplish them. Additionally, people here are highly collaborative, and projects are often the result of these collaborations.
Are there any special or unique projects that you are working on?
I was recently involved in a project studying people who experienced “rebound” symptoms after COVID-19, either with or without taking nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (Paxlovid). The study, “Clinical, Virologic, and Immunologic Evaluation of Symptomatic Coronavirus Disease 2019 Rebound Following Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir Treatment,” was published in Clinical Infectious Diseases in October 2022. The study showed that the onset of rebound symptoms corresponds to the development of a strong antibody and T-cell immune response, arguing against the hypothesis that uncontrolled viral replication is the cause of these symptoms.
What do you like about working at NIAID?
The people. As previously mentioned, everyone has been highly supportive of my career goals, and the opportunities for collaboration here are truly special.
What are your future career goals?
I am planning to stay at the NIH as a staff clinician after completing my fellowship training. I aim to continue to broaden our understanding of the interplay between the immune system and infections and, in particular, how infections impact immune compromised individuals.
Do you have any advice to offer others who might be considering working at NIAID?
I highly recommend the NIAID ID Fellowship Program for all who are considering pursuing a fellowship in infectious diseases and are interested in research in infectious diseases. The program has outstanding clinical training, and there is an exceptional breadth of research opportunities.