Keivan Zandi, Ph.D, M.Sc

Keivan Zandi, Ph.D, M.Sc 

Associate Professor

Microbiology, Biochemistry & Immunology

Location: Research Building | Room #C312
E-mail: kzandi@msm.edu

Education

POSTGRADUATE:
Fellowship: 2010 - University of Malaya, Malaysia
Fellowship: 2003 - Queens University, Kingston, Canada

GRADUATE:
Degree: Ph.D in Medical Virology
Degree: M.Sc in Medical Virology

UNDERGRADUATE:
Degree: B.Sc in Microbiology

Research Interests

My research is grounded in the molecular virology of emerging, re-emerging, and chronic viral infections, with a particular emphasis on antiviral drug discovery and methodological innovation. Over the past two decades, I have led multidisciplinary programs across academia and industry focused on the development and preclinical evaluation of antiviral therapeutics targeting a broad spectrum of viruses, including flaviviruses, alphaviruses, influenza viruses, enteroviruses, SARS-CoV-2, and chronic viruses such as herpesviruses and hepatitis viruses.

A key component of my work involves advancing novel in vitro and in vivo platforms for therapeutic screening, including high-containment BSL-3 systems, and pioneering RNAi-based antiviral strategies. I also maintain a long-standing commitment to natural product research, exploring botanically derived compounds as viable antiviral candidates with translational potential.

Currently, I am focused on building comprehensive virology research programs and translational pipelines that integrate molecular insight, therapeutic discovery, and methodological rigor to address both acute viral outbreaks and chronic viral pathologies.

Clinical Interests

My clinical interests encompass both emerging and re-emerging viral infections as well as chronic viral diseases, with a focus on improving diagnostic approaches, therapeutic strategies, and public health responses to high-burden pathogens such as flaviviruses, alphaviruses, respiratory viruses, and persistent infections caused by herpesviruses and hepatitis viruses.

Publications

  • LeCher JC, Costa VV, Rust LN, Bassit LC, Patel D, Rezaei S, Moua J, Santos FRdS, Goncalves MR, Queroz-Junior CM, Marim FM, Zhou L, Lee S, McBrayer T, De R, Azadi N, Salman M, Zandi K, Amblard F, Burwitz B, Teixeira MM, Schinazi RF. Combating yellow fever virus with 7-deaza-7-fluoro-2'-C-methyladenosine. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2025 Apr 14:e0188924.
  • Charostad J, Rezaei Zadeh Rukerd M, Mahmoudvand S, Bashash D, Hashemi SMA, Nakhaie M, Zandi K. A comprehensive review of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1: An imminent threat at doorstep.Travel Med Infect Dis. 2023 Aug 29:102638.
  • Oo A, Zandi K, Shepard C, Bassit LC, Musall K, Goh SL, Cho YJ, Kim DH, Schinazi RF, Kim B. Elimination of Aicardi-Gouti猫res syndrome protein SAMHD1 activates cellular innate immunity and suppresses SARS-CoV-2 replication. J Biol Chem. 2022 Jan 25;298(3):101635.
  • Zandi K, Musall K, Oo A, Cao D, Liang B, Hassandarvish P, Lan S, Slack RL, Kirby KA, Bassit L, Amblard F, Kim B, AbuBakar S, Sarafianos SG, Schinazi RF. Baicalein and Baicalin Inhibit SARS-CoV-2 RNA-Dependent-RNA Polymerase. Microorganisms. 2021; 9(5):893.
  • Zaid A, Burt FJ, Liu X, Poo YS, Zandi K, Suhrbier A, Weaver SC, PhD; Texeira MM, Mahalingam S. Arthritogenic alphaviruses: epidemiological and clinical perspective on emerging arboviruses. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. 2020 5:S1473-3099(20)30491-6.
  • Zandi K, Bassit L, Amblard F, Cox BD, Hassandarvish P, Moghaddam E, Yueh A, Rodrigues GOL, Passos I, Costa VV, AbuBakar S, Zhou L, Kohler JJ, Teixeira MM, Schinazi RF. Nucleoside Analogs with Selective Antiviral Activity Against Dengue Fever and Japanese Encephalitis Viruses. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 2019. May 6.
  • Oo A, Rausalu K, Merits A, Higgs S, Vanlandingham D, Bakar SA, Zandi K. Deciphering the potential of baicalin as an antiviral agent for Chikungunya virus infection. Antiviral Research. 2018.150:101-111.
  • Hassandarvish P, Oo A, Jokar A, Zukiwski A, Proniuk S, Abu Bakar S, Zandi K. Exploring the in vitro potential of celecoxib derivative AR-12 as an effective antiviral compound against four dengue virus serotypes. Journal of Antimicrobal Chemotherapy. 2017. 72:2438 2442.
Full list of Publications: 
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=keivan+zandi&sort=date

Honors and Awards

  • 2021-2023: NIH Study Section Member (Broad Agency Announcement Applications)
  • 2021: NIH Study Section Member (COVID-19 Drug Discovery)
  • 2019: NIH Study Section Member (Drug Discovery and Resistance)
  • 2024: Keynote Speaker: RNA interference and siRNA: Pioneering Antiviral development. University of Malaya, Malaysia
  • 2020; Invited Speaker: The Emergence of Coronaviruses: How Prepared Are We? Queens College, City University of New York
  • 2018: Invited Speaker: Bioflavonoids: Natural compounds with potential antiviral properties against important arboviruses. Queens College, City University of New York
  • 2016: Organizing Committee Member, Eurovirology 2016 Conference, Madrid, Spain
  • 2015: Scientific and Organizing Committee Member, Bridging The Science Conference On Emerging Viral Infections, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA