Dear Colleagues,

As Editor-in-Chief of Viruses, I am pleased to announce the recipient of the Viruses 2021 Young Investigator Award, Dr. Nicholas S. Heaton, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.

Dr. Heaton’s current work broadly focuses on understanding how respiratory RNA viruses induce inflammation and lung disease, as well as how virally induced damage is eventually repaired. His most recent study has revealed a new mechanism that prevents influenza-virus-induced lung inflammation from being transferred to a developing fetus during maternal infection.

We would like to thank the Selection Committee members, Drs. Luis Martinez- Sobrido, Dann Turner, K. Andrew White, Craig McCormick and Elizabeth White, for their evaluation of the candidates.

Congratulations to Dr. Heaton for winning this very competitive Young Investigator Award.

Eric O. Freed, Ph.D.
Editor-in-Chief, Viruses
Director, HIV Dynamics and Replication Program Center for Cancer Research
National Cancer Institute Frederick, MD, USA