An American virologist who has held senior positions at the centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) for more than three decades. He was Director of the division of viral diseases at the CDC's National center for immunization and respiratory diseases and chief of the division of respiratory and intestinal viruses in the CDC's division of viral and rickettsiosis diseases. Anderson directed the CDC's program after the SARS outbreak and served as a special adviser on smallpox in the office of the Deputy Director for terrorism, preparedness and response.
He is currently the Marcus Professor and chair of the Department of infectious diseases, co-Director of the Department of pediatric infectious diseases at Emory University school of Medicine, and a virologist in the Emory division of vaccine evaluation and treatment in clinical trials.
Anderson's current research in vaccine development focuses on the immunopathogenesis of respiratory viral infections, especially respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which is an important cause of morbidity and mortality among young children and the elderly worldwide. His lab, which is partnering with the Vanderbilt University Medical center's asthma research center, is also studying the asthmatic immune response to RSV to identify new treatment approaches.