At the Prem Lakshmanane Lab, we work to improve public health by reducing the impact of infectious diseases. By partnering with clinicians and global health leaders, we turn laboratory discoveries into accessible tools that benefit individuals and communities. Our current studies build on basic research in virology and immunology to develop solutions for tracking the spread of viruses across human populations and for individual patient-level diagnostics. We are also actively working on tools required for testing vaccines and the personalized, most effective use of approved vaccines.  The ultimate goal of our laboratory is to contribute to a healthier and more resilient future for all.

Immune Response to Infection and Vaccination

We have developed novel assays to study how the immune system responds to viral infections and vaccines, including tools for tracking antibody levels, mapping the specificity of responses, and determining how those responses change over time. We use techniques such as X-ray crystallography, cryo-electron microscopy, and site-directed mutagenesis to study mechanisms of antibody-mediated virus neutralization. We have built prototype vaccine platforms for clinically important virus families. The Lakshmanane laboratory is part of the US NIH initiative, the Research and Development of Vaccines and Monoclonal Antibodies for Pandemic Preparedness (ReVAMPP) Network.

Serodiagnostics for Emerging and Reemerging Viral Pathogens

We use structure-based approaches to design novel antigens for high-throughput, multiplex serological assays. We have active partnerships with local and international clinicians and epidemiologists to validate and implement the serological assays developed in the lab.

Personalized Vaccines

We recognize that immune responses vary among individuals. The Lakshmanane lab develops simplified tools to support informed decisions about vaccines tailored to individual needs, with the current focus on improving COVID-19 and pediatric rotavirus vaccines.

Prognosis for Viral Disease

Early detection of biomarkers at symptom onset can identify individuals at risk for severe disease. For example, while millions of people recover normally after dengue infection, a small percentage of those develop life-threatening conditions. Several factors have been identified as contributing to dengue disease severity, including prior flavivirus infection, levels of specific viral proteins that contribute to pathogenesis, and some host factors. Our laboratory is developing reliable tests to identify those at higher risk of severe dengue, to support timely clinical intervention.