Research

Our research program aims to eradicate infectious diseases by elucidating how pathogens gain access to host cells, manipulate cell machineries, and how the immune system responds to infection with a special emphasis on enveloped viruses. We are at the forefront of the viral fusion glycoprotein field and develop innovative and integrative methods to understand glycoprotein-mediated attachment to host receptors and membrane fusion, cross-species transmission of viruses, and the immune responses elicited by infection and vaccination in humans and animals. This work directly informs the development of vaccines and inhibitors in our lab and elsewhere.

Our work combines both fundamental research and translational studies and spans structural biology, protein engineering and design, virology, microbiology, immunology, biochemistry, biophysics and genomics. We designed, discovered, characterized and/or developed several molecules currently used in the clinic, evaluated in clinical trials or about to enter clinical trials, including a COVID-19 monoclonal antibody therapy, vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 (protein subunit and nucleic acid based), influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus as well as synthetic miniprotein viral inhibitors.

A complete list of our publications can be found here.