Tan Research Group

Antibody Biology Unit

The Antibody Biology Unit aims to study antibody responses to infectious pathogens at the monoclonal level. Our two major goals are to study the antibody responses to vaccination and infection at high resolution, and to investigate the use of monoclonal antibodies for prevention of infection or as tools for vaccine design.

Joshua Tan, Ph.D.

Chief, Antibody Biology Unit
Earl Stadtman Tenure-Track Investigator

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Education:

Ph.D., University of Oxford, England

Joshua Tan, Ph.D., is a Stadtman Tenure-track Investigator and an NIH Distinguished Scholar in the Division of Intramural Research of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Oxford, England. Prior to joining the NIH, he was awarded the Pfizer Research Prize for his malaria work and the Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowship to...

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Andrew J.R. Cooper, Ph.D.

Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow

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Education:

Ph.D., Immunology, University of Dublin, Trinity College

Andrew’s research aims to assess antibodies targeting known and previously uncharacterized merozoite antigens for their suitability as prophylactic and therapeutic tools, by analysis of potency, affinity, and precise antigenic epitope. Moreover, he aims to investigate the differences in antibody responses triggered by malaria infection and vaccination.

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Cherrelle Dacon, Ph.D.

Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow, Malaria Research Program

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Education:

D.Phil., Infection, Immunology and Translational Medicine, University of Oxford

Cherrelle’s work in the Antibody Biology Unit centers on the discovery and characterization of human monoclonal antibodies. Her current research focuses are (I) the identification of novel mAb targets on P. falciparum sporozoites and (II) the characterization of broadly neutralizing antibodies against human coronaviruses. Ultimately, this work will guide vaccine design and the development of novel...

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Shi-Hsia Hwa, Ph.D.

Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow

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Education:

Ph.D., Infection and Immunity, University College London

Shi-Hsia’s project aims to discover new B cell antigens in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) as well as functionally protective human monoclonal antibodies, using high-throughput, antigen-agnostic methods to isolate anti-Mtb antibodies from tuberculosis (TB)-exposed donors. While Mtb has a large number of protein, polysaccharide, and lipoglycan antigens that elicit specific antibodies, only a...

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Lauren E. Purser, B.Sc.

Laboratory Manager

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Education:

B.Sc., Biochemistry, Radford University

Lauren works as Lab Manager and supports all projects in the Antibody Biology Unit.

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Courtney A. Tucker, B.Sc.

Graduate Student

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Education:

B.Sc., Biology, American University

The focus of Courtney’s research project is to study antibodies that reduce or prevent the clinical manifestations associated with malaria infection using an antigen-agnostic approach to target asexual blood-stage malaria. Additionally, she is interested in identifying transmission-blocking antibodies capable of blocking the sexual reproductive cycle and parasite development in the mosquito vector...

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