Debra has experience in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Immunology and Virology techniques. Her interests lie in viral and bacterial infections and their effect on immune system function. Prof Meyer has contributed to research in the chemistry of HIV/AIDS in particular developing synthetic vaccine components based on the viral envelope, factors augmenting concurrent HIV/Mtb infection as well as studying extracts from South African plants for activity against HIV. In one strategy, her research makes an attempt at directly addressing hypervariability of envelope proteins of HIV. She has successfully demonstrated how the immune system responds to hypervariable immunogens and identified plant extracts with the ability to inhibit HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. She still studies novel viral inhibitory compounds, synthetic vaccine components and AIDS pathogenesis.