Post-doctoral Research Fellow at Cleveland Clinic, United States
Dr. Gielenny M. Salem is an internationally trained biochemist and infectious disease researcher whose work spans over 15 years across five countries. She has consistently advanced the frontiers of virology, immunology, and structural biology, with focused expertise in flaviviruses and emerging viral infections. Currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Cleveland Clinic in the United States, Dr. Salem’s multidisciplinary training encompasses molecular biology, translational immunology, protein engineering, and viral pathogenesis. Her scholarly excellence and scientific rigor have led to numerous high-impact publications and research collaborations with institutions such as Institut Pasteur, A*STAR, and NIH Philippines. Her commitment to translational science continues to shape public health policies and therapeutic innovations in maternal-fetal infections and global virology.
Profile
ORCID
Education
Dr. Salem earned her Ph.D. in Microbiology and Public Health from National Chung Hsing University in Taiwan (2016–2024). During her Ph.D., she undertook specialized research fellowships in structural virology at Institut Pasteur, France (2023), and immunology at A*STAR, Singapore (2019–2020). Prior to her doctorate, she completed her M.Sc. and B.Sc. in Biochemistry from the University of the Philippines Manila, where she laid a strong foundation in molecular sciences and laboratory research. Her academic journey has been consistently marked by excellence, receiving accolades including Outstanding Ph.D. Student (2024) and multiple international research travel grants.
Experience
Dr. Salem’s professional journey began as a Research Assistant at the University of the Philippines, progressing to roles including Science Research Specialist II at NIH Philippines and Instructor at Ateneo de Manila University. Her transition to international research came through prestigious positions such as Visiting Scientist at A*STAR and Institut Pasteur. At Cleveland Clinic, she currently leads projects examining immune consequences of viral infections (Zika, Dengue, SARS-CoV-2) in pregnancy using advanced mouse models. She is well-versed in BSL-1 to BSL-3 laboratories and skilled in a range of molecular and immunological techniques, including virus neutralization, antibody generation, and structural bioinformatics. Her extensive teaching, mentorship, and project leadership further underscore her scientific versatility and impact.
Research Interest
Dr. Salem’s research interests lie at the convergence of virology, immunology, and structural biology. Her focus includes immune imprinting after repeated flavivirus infections, transplacental viral transmission, and structural analysis of virus-like particles as vaccine candidates. She is particularly invested in understanding how viral proteins influence immune responses in vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and neonates. Her cross-disciplinary expertise allows her to investigate the pathogenesis of viruses through molecular modeling, epitope mapping, protein engineering, and in vivo animal studies, contributing vital knowledge to pandemic preparedness and maternal-fetal health.
Award
Dr. Salem has been recognized with multiple honors throughout her academic and research career. She received the “Outstanding Ph.D. Student” award from National Chung Hsing University (2024), a Travel Grant from the Federation of European Microbiological Societies (2023), and was named Best Poster Presenter at the 23rd Pacific Science Congress (2016). Her earlier achievements include the Young Researchers’ Grant from the Philippine Society for Microbiology (2017) and Best R&D Paper (Bronze) by the Bureau of Agricultural Research (2011). These awards reflect not only her scientific competence but also her commitment to impactful research in public health.
Publication
Among Dr. Salem’s impactful works, the following seven publications stand out for their scientific merit and citation potential:
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Antibodies from dengue patients with prior exposure to Japanese encephalitis virus are broadly neutralizing against Zika virus, Communications Biology, 2024 – cited by 21 articles.
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SARS-CoV-2 ORF8 drives osteoclastogenesis in preexisting immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, JCI Insight, 2024 – cited by 18 articles.
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Transplacental SARS-CoV-2 protein ORF8 binds to complement C1q to trigger fetal inflammation, The EMBO Journal, 2024 – cited by 15 articles.
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Sustained chronic inflammation and altered childhood vaccine responses in children exposed to Zika virus, eBioMedicine, 2024 – cited by 12 articles.
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SARS-CoV-2 antibody response and serum neutralizing capacity of early unvaccinated COVID-19 patients in the Philippines, Journal of Clinical Virology Plus, 2025 – cited by 9 articles.
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Factors determining the outcomes of immune imprinting after repeated orthoflavivirus infections, Frontiers in Immunology, 2025 – cited by 7 articles.
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Viral infections of epidemic potential during pregnancy: long-term implications to maternal-fetal health, Nature Microbiology (under review), 2025 – expected high citation impact.
Conclusion
Dr. Gielenny Salem is an outstanding candidate for the Award Nomination, with her unparalleled dedication to virological and immunological research that addresses critical health challenges. Her work bridges foundational molecular insights with translational outcomes, enhancing vaccine design, diagnostic development, and therapeutic interventions for vulnerable populations. With over a decade of globally diverse research experience, a strong publication record, and notable contributions to maternal-fetal virology, she exemplifies the vision, innovation, and excellence befitting a scientific awardee. Dr. Salem’s trajectory promises continued leadership in infectious disease research and global health.