Biography

Dr. Ganem’s lab explores the molecular biology of human viral pathogens and the diseases that they cause. Results from Ganem’s lab were pivotal in identifying KSHV as the causative agent of Karposi’s sarcoma.

The lab continues to work on KS as well working to identify novel viruses that may be the cause of human diseases of infectious origin. While completing his undergraduate studies at Harvard, Ganem did research in bacterial genetics in James Watson’s lab.

He enjoyed the challenges of lab work but decided to pursue a medical degree. He received his M.D. and completed his internship and residency at Harvard. Ganem then moved to UCSF where he studied the hepatitis B virus as a post-doctoral fellow with Harold Varmus. Ganem has been a faculty member in the Departments of Microbiology and Medicine at UCSF since 1982 and an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute since 1991.

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