Independent Research
As a research scientist engaged in HIV research since 1987, my laboratory has advanced the field with more than 100 peer reviewed publications. During my career I have also trained 19 PhD students many of whom have gone on to have successful careers in science or science-related areas. Our contributions have been very impactful starting with the demonstration that HIV-1 incorporates host proteins that retain their function. We showed that LFA-1, an integrin adhesion molecule, is involved in HIV infection and syncytium formation. This was the first demonstration that a protein other than the virus receptor was involved in HIV biology. Another impactful first observation was that lipid rafts were involved in HIV-1 assembly and entry. This was the first time these membranes domains were implicated in virus biology. Our paper was followed by numerous others confirming the role of lipid rafts in the biology of a large number of enveloped viruses. The Hildreth laboratory also was first to demonstrate the pivotal role of cholesterol in HIV-1 biology and that it is required for both virus entry and release. There is now wide recognition of the importance of this lipid in the biology of many viruses, including several pathogenic human viruses. In collaboration with my colleague, Dr. Stephen Gould, my laboratory proposed that HIV-1 could be considered a Trojan exosome based on biochemical, cell biological and immunological data. This hypothesis generated a lot of interest and stimulated a number of studies aimed at proving or disproving the hypothesis. The role of exosomes in retrovirus biology is now the subject of numerous investigations originating in large part by our early work in this area.

1. Hildreth, J.E.K. and R.J. Orentas. (1989) Involvement of a leukocyte adhesion receptor (LFA-1) in HIV–induced syncytium formation. Science 244:1075-1078.
2. Graham, D.R., E. Chertova, J. Hilburn, L.O. Arthur, and J.E.K. Hildreth (2003) Cholesterol Depletion of HIV-1 and SIV with Beta-Cyclodextrin Inactivates and Permeabilizes the Virions: Evidence for Virion–Associated Lipid Rafts. J Virol 77:8237-8248. PMCID: PMC165256
3. Gould, S.J., A.M. Booth, and J.E.K. Hildreth (2003) the Trojan Exosome Hypothesis. Proc. Nat. Acad Sci USA 100:10592-10597. PMCID: PMC1968484. Song B, Puskás I, Szente L, Hildreth JE. Hyaluronic Acid-Based BiocompatibleSupramolecular Assembly for Sustained Release of Antiretroviral Drug. J PharmSci. 2016 Mar 12. pii: S0022–3549(16)00323-3. doi: 10.1016/j.xphs.2016.01.023.[Epub ahead of print]

Administrative Experience:
Dr. James E. K. Hildreth graduated Harvard University magna cum laudein chemistry in 1979 and was selected as the first African-American Rhodes Scholar from Arkansas. Dr. Hildreth graduated with a Ph.D. in immunology from Oxford University and obtained his MD from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine where he became the first African-American to earn full professorship with tenure in the basic sciences. In July 2005, Meharry recruited Dr. Hildreth to found the Center for AIDS Health Disparities Research. While at Meharry, Dr. Hildreth was the Program Director of the RCMI, of the RCMI Clinical and Translational Research Center (MeTRC) and co-Director of the Vanderbilt-Meharry Center for AIDS Health Disparities Research. In 2008, Dr. Hildreth was elected to the Institute of Medicine. In 2011, Dr. Hildreth became Dean of the College of Biological Sciences at University of California, Davis. On July 1, 2015, Dr. Hildreth returned to Meharry Medical College to serve as the 12th President and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Hildreth is the PI of the RCMI grant in Women’s Health at Meharry as well as the PI of the Endowment Grant from MIMHD. The RCMI program, which has been continuously funded for 25 years, provides funding support for essential core facilities in the College as well as start-up funds and salary support for the recruitment of new investigators in health disparities research. The Health Disparities Endowment program has been funded for 13 years, and has provided recruitment support to hire Endowed Chairs and Professors in health disparities disciplines such as Cancer Biology, HIV-AIDS, Brain and Behavior, Oral Biology, Reproductive Biology as well as funds for the recruitment of clinical investigators. In addition, endowed funds have also been obtained to support our dual degree programs (MD/PhD and DDS/PhD) and to establish an Office for Scientific Communications to support our investigators with editorial services for grants and manuscripts. Dr. Hildreth has a passion for mentoring young investigators and brings that energy to his role as President. Dr. Hildreth serves as the Co-Associate CFAR Director at Meharry Medical College.