David J. Sanchez, PhD
Professor, Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Director, Humanism
College of Pharmacy
Join year: 2011
PhD Biomedical Science
University of California San Francisco 2004
BS Biochemistry
University of Texas 1999
Postdoctoral Fellowship
Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics
University of California, Los Angeles 2004-2009
Viruses are not simply targets of immunity. Viruses actively manipulate the immune response against them in order to replicate and spread. The central question driving research in the Sanchez Lab is how viruses manipulate innate and adaptive immune signaling to create a cellular environment that favors viral persistence and replication. All successful human pathogens have evolved a sophisticated strategy: hijacking core immune signaling nodes to actively reprogram host cells, tipping the balance from clearance toward productive infection.
Our laboratory is currently focused on three interrelated projects: (1) defining the mechanisms by which HIV manipulates antiviral, innate immune signaling to enhance viral spread and establish long-lived reservoirs; (2) determining how the oncogenic herpesvirus KSHV deploys specialized viral proteins to evade innate immune activation and surveillance; and (3) mapping the fundamental signaling cascades that govern innate immune activation during viral infection, with the goal of identifying how host regulatory networks are engaged, modulated, and exploited across diverse viral infections. Collectively, these projects are focused on a shared goal: defining the molecular logic of viral immune reprogramming to identify new therapeutic targets for limiting disease and achieving durable viral control.
Beyond bench research, Dr. Sanchez is committed to pushing virology research into conversations that matter. He advocates for rigorous, accessible science at the intersection of virology and public health. Understanding how viruses interact with a person at the molecular level is never purely for research but also sets the foundation on which meaningful public health responses are built.
Principal Investigator, “HIV Targeting of IPS-1/MAVS to Block Type I Interferon” NIH, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), R03 program, 2026-2028.
Principal Investigator, “HIV Redirecting Innate Immunity by Vpu Targeting of JAK1” NIH, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), R03 program, 2023-2025.
Principal Investigator, “Disruption of Type I Interferon Induction by a KSHV Homologue of IPS-1” NIH, National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH notice of special interest on "High" Priority AIDS Research on AIDS-defining Cancers, R21 program, 2021-2024.
Principal Investigator, “Manipulation of Type I Interferon by HIV Infection” NIH, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), R15 program, 2018-2021.
Principal Investigator, “KSHV Modulation of Type I Interferon” NIH, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), R03 New Investigator program, 2013-2015.
Kung, J. L., & Sanchez, D. J. (2026). The 2026 Andes virus outbreak: What genomic stability reveals about virulence.Virulence,17(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/21505594.2026.2698897
Sanchez, D. J. (2026). Finding the needle in a haystack: Single amino acids that shape viral virulence.Virulence,17(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/21505594.2026.2675758
Tang, WS, Sanchez, DJ.(2025) Antiviral Therapy and Cardiovascular Toxicity. In: Agrawal, D.K., Škrbić, R., Stojiljković, M.P., Djuric, D.M. (eds) Cardiovascular Toxicity. Advances in Biochemistry in Health and Disease, vol 33. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-90598-8_14
Miranda, D., Jr., & Sanchez, DJ.(2025). Lenacapavir’s success: Revitalizing antiviral drug discovery. Virulence, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/21505594.2025.2497902Epub 2025 May 2. PMID: 40314591; PMCID: PMC12051603.
Miranda D., Jr., He B, Sanchez JC, Sennatti A,. Bontemps JR, Tran JT, Tang WS, Sanchez DJ. (2024) “A Viral-Encoded Homologue of IPS-1 Modulates Innate Immune Signaling During KSHV Lytic Replication”. bioRxiv 2024.07.24.604690; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.07.24.604690
Ventocilla K, Miranda D Jr, Sanchez DJ.(2024) Lentivirus Transduced T Cell Lines Response to Pro-inflammatory and Antiviral Cytokines in the Presence of HIV. Preprint:bioRxiv 2024.07.27.605446; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.07.27.605446Published Version: Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 12, 222-235. doi: 10.4236/jbm.2024.1210019.
Sanchez, D. J.(2024). Measles virus: Continued outbreaks while striving for eradication (Invited Editorial). Virulence, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/21505594.2024.2386022
Zhang Y, Wang Z, Lu Y, Sanchez DJ, Li J, Wang L, Meng X, Chen J, Kien TT, Zhong M, Gao WQ, Ding X. Region-Specific CD16+ Neutrophils Promote Colorectal Cancer Progression by Inhibiting Natural Killer Cells. Adv Sci (Weinh). 2024 May 24:e2403414. doi: 10.1002/advs.202403414. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38790136.
Huang S, Li Y, Zhang S, Chen Y, Su W, Sanchez DJ, Mai JDH, Zhi X, Chen H, Ding X. (2024) A self-assembled graphene oxide adjuvant induces both enhanced humoral and cellular immune responses in influenza vaccine. Journal of Controlled Release, 365(716-728).
Miranda D Jr and Sanchez DJ “Monkeypox as a warning to preserve global herd immunities. (Invited Editorial)” Virulence 2023;14(1):2154424. doi: 10.1080/21505594.2022.2154424.
Law A, Sanchez DJ, Hata M and Hsu D. “The Critical Role of the Pharmacist in the Global COVID-19 Pandemic.” in Contemporary Issues in Global Medicine and Moving Toward International Healthcare Equity. 2022, Page 274-292.
Miranda D Jr and Sanchez DJ “Cytokine storm and stem cell activation in unveiling potential targets for diagnosis and therapy.” in Stem Cells and COVID-19. 2022, Pages 59-70.
Thankam FG, Sanchez DJ, Agrawal DK. “Design of the lentivirus-driven sustained LR12 delivery system for TREM-1 inhibition for palliating atherosclerosis.” Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 2022; 477(3), 701+.
Miranda D Jr and Sanchez DJ “Targeting Viral RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerases as an Antiviral Therapy.” Curr Med Chem. 2021;28(40):8384-8391. doi: 10.2174/0929867328666210204205726.
Ding X, Krutzik PO, Ghaffari AA, Zhaozhi Y, Miranda D Jr, Cheng G, Ho CM, Nolan GP, Sanchez DJ., “Cellular Signaling Analysis shows antiviral, ribavirin-mediated ribosomal signaling modulation.” Antiviral Research, 2019 Sep 9;171:104598. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2019.104598. [Epub ahead of print]
He B, Tran JT, and Sanchez DJ, “Manipulation of Type I Interferon Signaling by HIV and AIDS-Associated Viruses,” Journal of Immunology Research, vol. 2019, Article ID 8685312, 10 pages, 2019.
Houghton JS, Nguyen H, Casillas P, Dizon TMA, Nguyen NV, Miranda D Jr, and Sanchez DJ. (2019) Stimulation of IL-16 Release by Cells Exposed to HIV Virion Proteins. J Immunol Infect Dis 6(1): 101.
Nguyen, NV Tran, JT and Sanchez, DJ. (2018) HIV Vpu and Nef Block Type I Interferon Signaling Through Disruption of STAT1 Phosphorylation. Innate Immunity. 24(8): 490-500. 1753425918803674 doi:10.1177/1753425918803674.
Wang L, Liu S-Y, Chen H-W, Xu J, Chapon M, Zhang T, Zhou F, Wang YE, Quanquin N, Wang G, Tian X, He Z, Liu L, Yu W, Sanchez DJ, Liang Y, Jiang T, Modlin R, Bloom BR, Li Q, Deng JC, Zhou P, Qin FX-F, Cheng G., (2017) Generation of a Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine that Elicits Broad Protection in Mice and Ferrets. Cell Host & Microbe, 21(3):334-43. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2017.02.007.
Sanchez DJ, Miranda D Jr, Marsden MD, Dizon TMA, Bontemps JR, Davila SJ, et al. (2015) Disruption of Type I Interferon Induction by HIV Infection of T Cells. PLoS ONE 10(9): e0137951. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0137951
Liu SY, Sanchez DJ, Cheng G. New developments in the induction and antiviral effectors of type I Interferon. Curr Opin Immunol. 2011 Feb: 23(1): 57-64. Epub 2010 Nov 29. Review
Sanchez DJ, Ding X, Schopf E, Liu Y, Deng JC,Yang S, Cheng Y, Ho CM, Cheng G. Harnessing Nanotechnology to Create New Diagnostics and Treatments for Infectious Disease. Nanotechnology (IEEE-NANO), 2010 10th IEEE Conference on August 2010: 75-79.
Sanchez DJ, Miranda D Jr, Arumugaswami V, Hwang S, Singer AE, Senaati A, Shahangian A, Song MJ, Sun R, Cheng G. A repetitive region of gammaherpesvirus genomic DNA is aligand for induction of typeI interferon. J Virol. 2008 Mar;82(5):2208-17.Epub2007 Dec12.
Renn CN, Sanchez DJ, Legaspo AJ, Sieling PA, Cheng G, Modlin, RL. Function of Langerhans cell-like dendritic cells in antiviral immunity of the skin. J Immunol. 2006 Jul1;177(1):298-305.
Sanchez DJ, Gumperz JE, Ganem D. Regulation of CD1d display and function by a herpesviral infection. J Clinical Investigation. 115:1369-1378(2005).