My laboratory investigates the structural and molecular mechanisms that govern immune recognition, with the goal of advancing vaccine design and therapeutic antibody development for infectious diseases and cancer. We integrate structural biology techniques—such as cryo-electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography—with protein engineering and immunological assays to understand how antibodies and nanobodies engage viral surface proteins and tumor-associated antigens.

A major focus of our research is on clinically significant viral pathogens, including paramyxoviruses, lyssaviruses, retroviruses, coronaviruses, and herpesviruses. We combine high-throughput antibody discovery platforms with structural characterization to rapidly identify and define potent neutralizing antibodies and nanobodies. By resolving high-resolution structures of viral glycoproteins in complex with these antibodies, we pinpoint conserved epitopes that can be targeted for broad-spectrum vaccines and therapeutics. In parallel, we apply these approaches to cancer immunotherapy, developing nanobody-based agents that recognize tumor-specific antigens with high affinity and selectivity.

Our overarching aim is to uncover fundamental principles of antigen recognition and immune modulation in viral infection and cancer, and to translate these insights into structure-guided strategies for therapeutic intervention. Through close collaboration with immunologists, virologists, oncology experts, and clinicians, we bridge basic discovery with translational impact.