John D. Morrey is a research professor of virology in the Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences at Utah State University.  He is also director of the Institute for Antiviral Research, which has annual research funding of $3.8 million from the National Institutes of Health and private industry.  Morrey is currently the P.I. of three NIH contracts and grants for the discovery of therapies for West Nile virus, hepatitis B virus, and prion (Mad Cow-like diseases).  Most recently, Morrey’s research team has discovered important features on the pathogenesis of West Nile virus, and has learned that a potent monoclonal antibody is effective in preventing paralysis and mortality when administered, even after the virus has infected the brain.  These important discoveries have led the FDA to grant permission for a company to do clinical trials for this treatment, which is one of only a few possible West Nile treatments being investigated in people at this time.