Human Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a virus found in more than 70% of the population in the United States. The virus remains dormant in healthy people. But for those with a weakened immune system, CMV can cause severe illness and death.

CMV is the primary focus of Pilar Pérez Romero, associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences who came to the university in 2023. Pérez Romero is a virologist who is researching new treatment and preventive options for the virus.

“The virus is really widespread, but immunocompromised individuals’ bodies cannot handle the infection. The existing treatments aren’t perfect, so we are trying to develop immunotherapy-based antivirals that work not only as a treatment, but also as prevention,” she said.

Her previous work in hospital environments taught her exactly the kind of immune response patients need to get protection from a natural infection. That is the response she is hoping to mimic in the design of a vaccine.

Along with her research, Pérez Romero currently co-teaches a laboratory course to undergraduates designed by Dr. Michael McConnell, associate professor of the practice in the Department of Biological Sciences. Their primary focus is the characterization of resistant mutations in multi-drug resistant bacteria, known as superbugs.

“We analyze with the students how the resistant mutations are affecting the bacteria in different ways, not only through the genes that are affected, but also phenotypically, looking at the traits that are impacted, to learn how they survive with that mutation to find a better treatment for the infections,” she said.

Next year, Pérez Romero will also teach virology with a focus in human biology to upper-level undergraduates and graduate students.

Originally from Spain, Pérez Romero came to the United States to get her postdoctoral degree from the University of Michigan, where she trained as a virologist. Following this, she went back to Spain and worked as a tenured associate professor at the Virology National Centre for Microbiology in Madrid.

After deciding she wanted to continue her career in the states, Pérez Romero came to Notre Dame with her husband, citing the opportunities, spirit, and culture here as driving factors. “You see other universities that are so competitive, and while we are also highly competitive, we mostly are collaborative. It’s one of the things I love most about Notre Dame,” she said.

Outside of her research and teaching, Pérez Romero loves to play and watch tennis, pointing to professional tennis player and Spain-native Rafael Nadal as the reason why she got into the sport. Since coming to the United States she has also become a Notre Dame football fan.

She and her husband, McConnell, have three children–a 13-year-old and 12-year-old twins. She is incredibly thankful for how she and her husband have worked as a team throughout their careers and takes great pride in her family.

Pérez Romero hopes that her enduring commitment to virology and her contributions to CMV treatment development will help to address a real global health challenge and positively change countless lives.

Originally published by Anna Salentine at science.nd.edu on March 05, 2025.