Graduate Assistant
University of Florida
Tampa, Florida, United States
My name is Lucas Melgar, and I am a second year PhD student at the University of Florida. My research focuses on developing strategies to avoid an immune response to protein therapeutics. We use a self-assembling peptide system that allows for the tagging of the protein such that it can be incorporated into the system, thus extending the half-life of the therapeutic. Upon repeated exposure, anti-drug antibodies may be produced against the protein thereby diminishing its therapeutic effect. Strategies that I have been investigating to mitigate or eliminate ADA production include: (1) harnessing the physical properties of the peptide system, (2) targeting the deposition of complement onto the fibrils, and (3) targeting the antigen processing pathway for MHC presentation. Through this work I aim to develop expertise in the immunogenicity of biotherapeutics and engineering strategies to prolong their function.
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Thursday, October 24, 2024
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM EST