Biography - Dr. Charu Kaushic
Dr. Charu Kaushic is the Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity (CIHR-III) and a tenured Full Professor in the Department of Medicine at McMaster University, with a cross-appointment in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is also a member of the McMaster Immunology Research Centre and the Michael G. DeGroote Institute of Infectious Disease Research. Dr. Kaushic is viral immunologist who is internationally recognized for her leadership in sexually transmitted disease research.
As Scientific Director of CIHR-III, Dr. Kaushic oversees strategic investments in infection and immunity research across Canada and represents the Government of Canada at national and international forums. As a trained mucosal immunologist, Dr. Kaushic leads a robust interdisciplinary research program at McMaster University that focuses on better understanding host-pathogen interactions that influence women's susceptibility and immune responses to sexually transmitted viral infections, particularly HIV and herpes simplex virus. The goal of her research program is to develop gender-specific prevention and therapeutic approaches such as vaccines and immunomodulatory interventions to address the disproportionate burden of STIs on women worldwide. Her program also aims to empower women with the knowledge and tools necessary to make informed decisions about their reproductive health. Her research covers a broad spectrum from basic research to clinical and translational projects and has been supported continuously for past 25 years by multiple grants from CIHR, the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN), and the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR).
Dr. Kaushic has received numerous national and international honours in recognition of her research excellence and leadership, including the OHTN and CIHR New Investigator Award, the American Society of Reproductive Immunology Senior Investigator Award, the OHTN HIV Applied Research Chair and the CANFAR Leadership Award. Dr. Kaushic was inducted into the Government of Canada’s Women of Impact in Canada online gallery, and in 2022, was elected as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.
Dr. Kaushic is a passionate advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion in science, and is deeply committed to public education, particularly as it relates to women's reproductive health. She is especially dedicated to mentoring and supporting young women and individuals from underrepresented groups in pursuing careers and leadership roles in STEM fields.
- Date modified: