Dr. Tafesse leads a lab that has contributed timely research related to the COVID-19 pandemic, while preparing for the next one. The lab is devising a strategy to make it possible to develop therapeutics and diagnostics that can be readily tailored to treat emerging diseases. They envision a nanobody discovery technology platform that would allow researchers to generate effective nanobodies against emerging viral pathogens within weeks, instead of months or years.
Fikadu Tafesse, Ph.D.
Assistant professor of molecular microbiology and immunology in the OHSU School of Medicine
Area(s) of expertise:
- Host-pathogen interaction of viruses (coronaviruses / flaviviruses / HIV) and bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)
- Vaccine efficacy / antibody mediated immunity
- Nanobodies