Einstein Experts

Harris Goldstein, M.D.

Professor, Department of Pediatrics (Pediatric Allergy & Immunology)

Professor, Department of Microbiology & Immunology

Associate Dean for Scientific Resources

Charles Michael Chair in Autoimmune Diseases

Director, Einstein-Rockefeller-CUNY Center for AIDS Research

HIV pathogenesis and HIV cure The immune system's antiviral activityEngineering molecules to attack virusesCAR-T cell structure and function Biologics against cancer and viruses

Dr. Goldstein’s NIH-funded research centers on developing agents to amplify the capacity of the immune system to control HIV infection and achieve a functional cure for the disease. In seeking to “weaponize” the immune system to cure HIV, his lab uses molecular, cellular, and biochemical approaches, including CAR-T cells and the novel treatment strategy developed by Dr. Almo at Einstein for selective T cell amplification called synTac (synthetic T-cell activation).

Dr. Goldstein also studies the effects of HIV on the brain and central nervous system and the role of illicit drug use in accelerating HIV infection and causing neurological dysfunction. He is using mouse models developed in his lab to evaluate HIV vaccine candidates and other therapeutics.

As director of the NIH-funded Einstein-Rockefeller-CUNY Center for AIDS Research, Dr. Goldstein coordinates collaborations by more than 150 investigators from the three institutions. They are working to prevent HIV, to improve health outcomes for people living with HIV, and to find a cure for the HIV infection. In his role as associate dean of scientific resources at Einstein, he assesses new technologies for Einstein’s labs and oversees the work of over 40 shared scientific facilities.