Deborah M. Brown did B. S. in Biology from State University of New York at Geneseo in 1987, M. S. in Microbiology and Immunology, from University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry in 1994 and Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology in 2002. In 1994-1996, he was Technical Associate in University of Rochester, 1996-2001 Pre-doctoral Candidate Department of Microbiology and Immunology from University of Rochester.

Deborah M. Brown interested in the immune response to viral infections, specifically focusing on the CD4+ T cell response to influenza. His post-doctoral studies at the Trudeau Institute determined that CD4 T cells contribute to clearance of highly pathogenic influenza virus by more direct mechanisms than has previously been appreciated. They have shown that CD4 cells acquire perforin mediated cytotoxicity that has historically been restricted to CD8+ killer cells. It is this unique characteristic of CD4 T cell function that forms the basis of our research program here at UNL. The overall goal of our research is to understand the innate signals that promote the differentiation of protective CD4 T cell responses to ultimately facilitate the design of new vaccine strategies against existing and emerging infectious diseases.