Nicolas Chomont, Ph.D

Associate Professor Nicolas Chomont is a researcher in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Université de Montréal – CHUM Research Center.

He obtained his PhD in medical virology at Pierre et Marie Curie University in Paris where he extensively studied the interactions between HIV and the genital mucosa. From 2004 to 2009, he joined Dr Sekaly’s team at the University of Montreal for his post-doctoral training. During this time, he described several cellular reservoirs that contribute to the persistence of HIV in infected individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy. Following this appointment, he pursued his research as a principal investigator at the Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute of Florida to characterize these reservoirs which represent the main obstacle to HIV eradication.

Associate Professor Chomont is overseeing studies to unravel the molecular mechanisms involved in HIV latency and to develop novel therapeutic strategies aimed at reducing the size of the HIV reservoir. His laboratory investigates the immunological mechanisms that contribute to the persistence of HIV infected cells during ART (T cell proliferation and survival) and how they can be modulated to accelerate the clearance of the reservoir.

Associate Professor Chomont co-leads DARE RF1, Objective 1-2 with Dr. Lillie Cohn.