Dr. Miller is a veterinary scientist whose research combines the fields of viral pathogenesis and mucosal immunology. For the most part, his research is conducted with non-human primates, especially macaques. Dr. Miller's group is studying the viral and host factors that influence genital transmission of SIV, and he is defining the route of virus dissemination after genital inoculation with SIV. Much of this work is now accepted as directly applicable to studies of HIV transmission. A significant portion of Dr. Miller's research is directed toward characterizing, and ultimately manipulating, the mucosal immune system of the female genital tract. It is hoped that this area of research will lead eventually to vaccines or strategies that can prevent sexually transmitted infectious diseases. Much of this work centers on understanding the role of the menstrual cycle in regulating local immunity and in determining the best strategy to elicit anti-microbial immune responses in the genital tract through vaccination. This work now extends into the innate antiviral immune responses present at mucosal surfaces inlcuding the respiratory tract with the goal of developing immunomodulatory interventions against bioterror agents. Please contact Dr. Miller at cjmiller@ucdavis.edu for further information.