IDI VEP Co-Director and University Distinguished Professor Charts the Future of CRR

When Shan-Lu Liu, MD, PhD, distinguished university professor and scholar in the College of Veterinary Medicine, assumed leadership of Ohio State’s Center for Retrovirus Research (CRR) on July 1, 2026, he brought with him not only a distinguished record of scientific achievement, but also an international perspective on the future of virology research. As a world-renowned virologist, recent president of the American Society for Virology (ASV), co-director of the IDI Viruses and Emerging Pathogens Thematic Program, and former associate director of the CRR, Dr. Liu is uniquely positioned to guide the center through its next era of discovery and impact.  

Recruited to Ohio State in 2016 as part of the university's Infectious Diseases Discovery Theme initiative, Dr. Liu has developed an internationally recognized research program that has helped shape global understanding of how viruses interact with their hosts and evade immune defenses. His discoveries involving IFITM, TIM, SERINC and other host factors have advanced research on HIV, Ebola virus, Zika virus, SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens of major public health importance.

Dr. Liu recently completed his term as president of the American Society for Virology (ASV), the world's largest virology-focused professional organization. In that role, he witnessed firsthand the growing importance of virology research and scientific collaboration across the global research community. During his presidency, he initiated a series of efforts to enhance engagement between ASV with its members as well as the public, supported the broader virology community, and strengthened collaborations with other scientific societies. Under his leadership, ASV membership grew by nearly 20%, reflecting both the vitality of the field and the growing demand for virology expertise. 

Joining Dr. Liu on the leadership team is Amanda R. Panfil, PhD, an active IDI member, who was recently appointed associate director of the center. An associate professor in the Department of Veterinary Biosciences and an Infectious Diseases Institute member, Dr. Panfil studies the molecular mechanisms that drive human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection and disease. Together, Drs. Liu and Panfil represent a new generation of leadership committed to advancing scientific excellence while preparing the next generation of virologists and infectious disease researchers. As CRR's new leadership team, they are poised to build on the center's rich history while expanding its impact across Ohio State, the global virology community, and the broader infectious disease research enterprise.

Building on the strong foundation established under the leadership of longtime director Patrick Green, PhD, emeritus professor and distinguished university professor and scholar, the CRR now enters its next chapter under Liu's direction.