Michelle Ozbun, 1985
Michelle Ozbun, who graduated in 1985, is a molecular virologist known for developing a strategy to measure how many infectious human papillomavirus particles are left on a surface following disinfection. Her election as a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology highlights her contributions to science and public health.
Ozbun, an endowed professor in viral oncology at the University of New Mexico (UNM) Cancer Center, is designing a gel that would be the first HPV antiviral treatment to fight pre-cancers. Her work is anchored in the Ozbun Research Laboratory, a basic-to-translational-science research team committed to creating a collegial, interdependent atmosphere that fosters scientific independence and critical thinking among students, post-docs and staff. The lab is dedicated to making significant, timely advances in understanding how HPV infections progress to malignancies. Guided by passion and perseverance, they strive for scientific excellence and embrace the philosophy that science is a global endeavor where collaboration triumphs over competition.
Ozbun is also a member of the Center for Infection and Immunity and serves as program director of the training program in Infectious Disease and Inflammation/Immunology at UNM Health Sciences Center (HSC). Her team actively collaborates with other UNM HSC laboratories with shared interests in virology, signaling, intracellular trafficking and cancer biology, forging connections that strengthen the global fight against HPV-related diseases.