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Medical Microbiology and Immunology

Zachary T. Hilt, Ph.D.

Zachary T. Hilt, Ph.D.Assistant Professor

Dr. Zachary Hilt’s lab is focused on two main questions related to developmental immunology: 1) why are some neonates susceptible to congenital infections, particularly Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections, 2) what are the long-term consequences of harboring persistent latent Herpesviridae infections on non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease? Dr. Hilt’s lab takes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the intersection of developmental biology, immunology, virology, and vascular biology through both basic and translational research. Dr. Hilt is passionate about developing novel models and approaches to bridge the gap between pre-clinical models and human disease.

Dr. Hilt conducted his research at Cornell University as a postdoctoral associate to study T cell development and neurological effects of congenital infections in the lab of Dr. Brian Rudd. Dr. Hilt finished the final year of his postdoc at Cornell in the lab of Dr. Hector Aguilar-Carreno where he helped develop a novel mouse model of long COVID. He obtained his Ph.D. in Translational Biomedical Sciences from the University of Rochester Medical Center to study platelet-derived factors and their effects on monocyte polarization and cardiovascular disease in the lab of Dr. Craig Morrell.

Dr. Hilt has achieved multiple prestigious awards including the NIAID Career Transition Award (K22) and the AAI Young Investigator Award and fellowships from the NIH and American Heart Association. His research appears in prominent scientific journals including Annual Review of Immunology, JCI Insight, Circulation Research, PLOS Pathogens and The Journal of Immunology.

Dr. Hilt dedicates time to teaching activities while mentoring students through his instruction of immunology courses and his involvement in STEM outreach and undergraduate research programs. He shares his research findings at domestic and international scientific meetings and maintains active involvement in research collaborations and scientific communication activities.

Education

  • 07/2015 – 03/2020
    Ph.D., Translational Biomedical Sciences
    University of Rochester Medical Center Dissertation: Platelet Derived Beta-2 Microglobulin and Transforming Growth Factor Beta Polarize Monocytes Towards Divergent Phenotypes Advisor: Craig N. Morrell
  • 09/2011 – 12/2014
    B.S., Biology, Minor, Philosophy
    St. John Fisher College

Fellowships and Awards

  • 2024: NIAID Career Transition Award (K22), NIH, NOA: 06/05/2024 
  • 2023: Young Investigator Award – AAI & NYIC 
  • 2022: American Association of Immunologist (AAI) – Postdoctoral Intersect Fellowship for Computational Scientists and Immunologist 
  • 2022: NIAID, Pediatric Research Loan Repayment Program (LRP), NIH 
  • 2021: Trainee Travel Award – Upstate New York Immunology Conference 
  • 2019 - 2020: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), F31 Predoctoral Fellowship, NIH 
  • 2018 - 2019: American Heart Association (AHA) Predoctoral Fellowship, American Heart Association 
  • 2016 - 2018: HIV Pathogenesis and Replication Training Grant (HIV T32), University of Rochester 
  • 2016 - 2017: Infection and Immunity: From Molecules to Populations Pilot Grant, University of Rochester 
  • 2014: Summer Science Fellows Program, St. John Fisher College 
  • 2011 - 2014: Presidents Scholarship, St. John Fisher College 

Presentations

  • 2024: Cornell Intercampus Immunology Symposium, Oral Presentation 
  • 2023: Massachusetts General Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center's Seminar Series, Invited Speaker 
  • 2023: Upstate Immunology Conference, Cooperstown NY, Oral Presentation 
  • 2022: Upstate Immunology Conference, Cooperstown NY, Poster Presentation 
  • 2021: Upstate Immunology Conference, Cooperstown NY, Oral Presentation 
  • 2019: Vascular Discovery From Genes to Medicine Conference, Boston MA, Oral Presentation 
  • 2019: Gordon Research Seminar: Cell Biology of Megakaryocytes and Platelets, Galveston TX, Poster Presentation 
  • 2018: Gordon Research Conference: Hemostasis, Waterville Valley NH, Oral Presentation 
  • 2017: American Heart Association: Scientific Sessions, Anaheim CA, Poster Presentation 
  • 2014: Tribeta National Convention, Erie PA, Poster Presentation 

Teaching, Leadership and Service

  • 2024: Instructor - Immunology/Infectious Disease Methods and Design II, Cornell University
  • 2024: Write a Researcher – STEM Outreach Program, Cornell University
  • 2023: Mentor - Microbial Friends & Foes Research Experiences for Undergraduates, Cornell University
  • 2019: Teaching Assistant - Cardiovascular Biology and Disease, University of Rochester
  • 2017 - 2018: Mentor - Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, University of Rochester
  • 2014: Substitute Teacher, Rush-Henrietta School District, Canandaigua Central School District 

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Morrell CN, Pariser DN, Hilt ZT, Vega Ocasio D. The Platelet Napoleon Complex-Small Cells, but Big Immune Regulatory Functions. Annu Rev Immunol. 2019 Apr 26;37:125-144. doi: 10.1146/annurev-immunol-042718-041607. Epub 2018 Nov 28. PMID: 30485751. 

Hilt ZT, Pariser DN, Ture SK, Mohan A, Quijada P, Asante AA, Cameron SJ, Sterling JA, Merkel AR, Johanson AL, Jenkins JL, Small EM, McGrath KE, Palis J, Elliott MR, Morrell CN. Platelet-derived β2M regulates monocyte inflammatory responses. JCI Insight. 2019 Mar 7;4(5):e122943. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.122943. PMID: 30702442; PMCID: PMC6483513. 

Morrell CN, Hilt ZT, Pariser DN, Maurya P. PAD4 and von Willebrand Factor Link Inflammation and Thrombosis. Circ Res. 2019 Aug 16;125(5):520-522. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.119.315601. Epub 2019 Aug 15. PMID: 31415230. 

Hilt ZT, Ture SK, Mohan A, Arne A, Morrell CN. Platelet-derived β2m regulates age related monocyte/macrophage functions. Aging (Albany NY). 2019 Dec 18;11(24):11955-11974. doi: 10.18632/aging.102520. Epub 2019 Dec 18. PMID: 31852838; PMCID: PMC6949047. 

Hilt ZT, Morrell CN. Essential Amino Acids-Essential in Arterial Thrombosis. Circulation. 2020 Jul 7;142(1):65-67. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.120.046817. Epub 2020 Jul 6. PMID: 32628544. 

Pariser DN, Hilt ZT, Ture SK, Blick-Nitko SK, Looney MR, Cleary SJ, Roman-Pagan E, Saunders J 2nd, Georas SN, Veazey J, Madere F, Santos LT, Arne A, Huynh NP, Livada AC, Guerrero-Martin SM, Lyons C, Metcalf-Pate KA, McGrath KE, Palis J, Morrell CN. Lung megakaryocytes are immune modulatory cells. J Clin Invest. 2021 Jan 4;131(1):e137377. doi: 10.1172/JCI137377. PMID: 33079726; PMCID: PMC7773372. 

Hilt ZT, Maurya P, Tesoro L, Pariser DN, Ture SK, Cleary SJ, Looney MR, McGrath KE, Morrell CN. β2M Signals Monocytes Through Non-Canonical TGFβ Receptor Signal Transduction. Circ Res. 2021 Mar 5;128(5):655-669. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.120.317119. Epub 2021 Jan 29. PMID: 33508948; PMCID: PMC8319031. 

Godwin MD, Aggarwal A, Hilt Z, Shah S, Gorski J, Cameron SJ. Sex-Dependent Effect of Platelet Nitric Oxide: Production and Platelet Reactivity in Healthy Individuals. JACC Basic Transl Sci. 2021 Dec 8;7(1):14-25. doi: 10.1016/j.jacbts.2021.10.009. PMID: 35128205; PMCID: PMC8807728. 

Hilt ZT, Charles W, Cheng KE, Tabilas C, Steinhilber M, Wesnak SP, Smith NL, Schaffer CB, Rudd BD. Cutting Edge: CCR9 Promotes CD8+ T Cell Recruitment to the Brain during Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection. J Immunol. 2022 Dec 15;209(12):2281-2286. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200578. PMID: 36469843. 

Hilt ZT, Charles W, Ali T, Smith CV, Zhang S, Wesnak SP, Smith NL, Rudd BD. Cutting Edge: Retinoic Acid Promotes Brain-homing of CD8+ T Cells during Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection. J Immunol. 2024 Aug 12:ji2400150. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.2400150. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39132993. 

Taha TY, Ezzatpour S, Hayashi JM, Ye C, Zapaterro-Belinchon FJ, Rosecrans JA, Kimmerly GR, Chen IP, Walcott K, Kurianowicz A, Jorgens DM, Chaplin NR, Choi A, Buchholz DW, Sahler J, Hilt ZT, Imbiakha B, Wagi-Szmola C, Montano M, Stevenson E, Gordon M, Swaney DL, Krogan NJ, Martinez-Sorbido L, Aguilar HC, Ott M. "Enhanced RNA replication and pathogenesis in recent SARS-CoV-2 variants harboring the L260F mutation in NSP6." PLoS Pathog 21(3): e1013020.

Hilt ZT, Reynaldi A, Steinhilber M, Zhang S, Wesnak SP, Smith NL, Davenport MP, Rudd BD. Recent thymic emigrants preferentially undergo memory inflation after persistent infection. PLoS Pathog. 2025 Jul 28;21(7):e1013382. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1013382. PMID: 40720547; PMCID: PMC12316393.

Preprint

Brady AE, Revu S, Wu D, Fisk H, Kone K, Lydecker A, Purser EJ, Smith NL, Hilt ZT, Woodyear S, Caddy S, Rudd BD, McGeachy MM. Humanizing a CD28 signaling domain affects CD8 activation, exhaustion and stem-like precursors. bioRxiv 2025.03.10.642460; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.03.10.642460