Welcome

Our research focuses on key aspects of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), including structure and function of the envelope glycoproteins, vaccine development and evaluation in preclinical nonhuman primate models, and in-depth tracking of B cell/antibody responses. We use a variety of techniques in our lab including high throughput 10X Genomics single cell RNAseq, in vitro virus infection and neutralization methodology, molecular biology approaches, sequence analysis, flow cytometry, biolayer interferometry, and mammalian protein expression and purification. We also develop and employ computational and machine learning approaches to analyze large gene expression and B cell receptor sequencing datasets. We work closely with our collaborators who provide expertise in such areas as structural biology, glycan-protein modeling, and MD simulations. Our major goals are to design and advance novel vaccine immunogens, elucidate fundamental properties of the virus that could reveal new therapeutic targets and novel insight, and understand how B cells respond to antigens such as HIV-1 envelope in preclinical models. Our lab works together as a cohesive team to achieve these goals.

People

Cynthia A. Derdeyn, PhD

Dr. Derdeyn is a Professor and Vice Chair of Research in DLMP. She has worked on HIV-1 for more than 25 years and published more than 100 papers in the areas of HIV-1 transmission, pathogenesis, inhibitors, neutralizing antibodies, vaccines, and virus structure/function. She is also the Director of the DLMP Flow Cytometry Core, a Core Scientist in the Washington National Biomedical Research Center and holds the Peter Rabinovitch Endowed Professorship.

Kendra Cruickshank

Kendra specializes in molecular biology and virus neutralization assays.

Pooja Jain, PhD

Pooja works with a large consortium to analyze vaccine elicited neutralizing antibody responses in vaccinated nonhuman primates. In addition to designing and performing wet lab research, Pooja has extensive experience in biosafety compliance, and lab operations.

August Myers, MS

August specializes in 10X Genomics single cell RNAseq and antibody/protein production and characterization.

Amina Negash, PhD

Amina specializes in immune responses against viruses and preclinical vaccine studies.

Bryan Turnbull

Bryan manages day-to-day operations, performs lab work, and works in the DLMP Flow Cytometry Core.

Leanne Whitmore, PhD

Leanne performs computational work, including pipeline development, prediction algorithms, and data analysis and visualization.