Dr. Pablo Irusta obtained his Ph.D. degree (1999) in microbiology at Yale University. His research at Yale explored signal transduction mechanisms triggered in cancerous cells, specifically in virally transformed cells. After obtaining his Ph.D. degree, Dr. Irusta conducted postdoctoral research at Johns Hopkins University on mechanisms of cellular suicide, a process that is usually triggered by viral infections. He joined the faculty of the Department of Human Science in 2004, where he continues to conduct research in the area of molecular signaling pathways utilized by cells during physiologically normal conditions and during viral infections.