UT researchers played an integral role in developing the COVID-19 vaccine. The spike protein technology co-developed by professor Jason McLellan, Texas Biologics Executive Committee member, is used in many leading vaccines, including Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and Novavax. To date, hundreds of millions of people across the globe have been immunized against COVID-19 with vaccines that use this patented technology. Researchers at UT are now continuing to develop advanced vaccines, antibody treatments and technologies to address the next global pandemic.
Current Projects and Collaborations
Improved Vaccines
In partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UT researchers have developed an improved version of the spike protein technology, called HexaPro, with a goal of making vaccines accessible to people in lower-income countries.
Antibody Treatments
In collaboration with the UNC Center for Excellence in SARS-CoV2 Serologic Research, UT serological experts are using patented techniques to comprehensively analyze the molecular composition of the serological antibody repertoire and the cellular antibody repertoire to isolate human monoclonal antibodies from SARS-CoV-2+ individuals.
Preparing Against New Pathogens
UT researchers are developing a molecular understanding of the structure, function and antigenicity of intact, trimeric S proteins to identify sites of vulnerability that could be targeted by vaccines, therapeutic antibodies and small-molecule antivirals. These studies will provide the foundation for the development of immunotherapies and vaccines that broadly protect against highly pathogenic betacoronaviruses, including those that have yet to emerge.
