Dr. Perlman has devoted his research career on investigating respiratory disease in humans and mice caused by pathogenic human coronaviruses, including SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)-coronavirus, Middle East Respiratory syndrome (MERS)-coronavirus, and SARS-CoV- 2 (COVID-19). Until recently, Dr. Perlman was one of only a handful of coronavirus virologists in the whole world, but that changed dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, Dr. Perlman created a genetically modified mouse susceptible to SARS infection in order to study the coronavirus and its potential treatments. That mouse model became one of the most effective tools in bringing the deadly pandemic to its knees and played a central role in the global quest for effective therapies against COVID-19. Because of his lifelong coronavirus expertise Dr. Perlman was invaluable in the development of effective vaccines and the design of treatments to fight COVID-19. He is quoted regularly on a range of COVID-19-related subjects by national media outlets such as The New York Times and currently serves on the advisory committees for the CDC and FDA. As such, he was also a key member on the FDA emergency-approval board for the COVID-19 vaccines, using his four decades of coronavirus expertise.