https://www.schiffner-lab.com/home daily 1.0 2023-08-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a14f2d8a7170b95a3b875/1629119909634-RHOGCOI7AJPDCGLXN6Y3/image-asset.png Home https://www.schiffner-lab.com/positions daily 0.75 2022-03-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a14f2d8a7170b95a3b875/1629104447363-FK0VSNZRJAUORVBN9F0E/image-asset.jpeg Positions - Positions We currently have several positions for undergraduate students, PhD students and Postdocs available. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you are interested in vaccine development, structural biology, protein biochemistry and immunology! https://www.schiffner-lab.com/contact daily 0.75 2023-08-17 https://www.schiffner-lab.com/curriculum-vitae daily 0.75 2022-09-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a14f2d8a7170b95a3b875/1629099495248-ZKMG1Q06E1WQ8WK3AGNY/Schiffner_Portrait%5B2464%5D.jpg Curriculum Vitae - Awards Tobias Keene, D.D.S. Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, Dr. Tobias Keene brings a bit of unabashed Southern hospitality to all his patients. He moved to Washington, D.C. over thirty years ago as a freshman at Ivy College. Right after graduation, he attended World University’s School of Dentistry. Before opening Keene Dental in 1994, he worked for free clinics and some of the finest practices in the District. He is part of the 123 Dental Association and stays up-to-date on the latest dental discoveries. When not striving to keep his patients happy and healthy, he’s enjoys hiking with his family in Rock Creek Park. https://www.schiffner-lab.com/research daily 0.75 2021-08-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a14f2d8a7170b95a3b875/1629109564347-5Y2JMY4JEL4RJQFAD2F5/AR3A-c_overlay_02.png Research Reverse vaccinology Traditional vaccine development strategies have failed to produce prophylactic vaccines against a number of diseases, such as Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Most vaccines licensed to date act by inducing B cells that produce protective antibodies, but the high diversity of some viruses complicates the induction of broadly active antibodies. Reverse vaccinology starts with the screening of infected patients for antibodies with ideal properties. These rare so-called “broadly neutralizing antibodies” (bNAbs) are capable of inactivating most or all circulating viral variants. Information about the molecular characteristics of these bNAbs is then used to guide rational development of minimal immunogens capable of specifically and consistently inducing them by vaccination. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a14f2d8a7170b95a3b875/1629108305670-JWK08ZST68L6MV6X3F0G/AR3A-c_overlay_02.jpg Research Ongoing research Recent progress in rational protein design has given rise to the capability to develop proteins with precisely defined structures and functions. The Schiffner Lab combines computational modelling using the ROSETTA molecular modelling software suite with laboratory techniques such as directed evolution and high-throughput screening to rationally develop immunogens capable of inducing bNAbs against viruses such as Coronaviruses, Hepatitis C Virus and/or Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Immunogens are iteratively improved based on feedback from in vitro binding experiments and assembled into nanoparticles to improve immunogenicity.