The Translational Antigen Discovery Laboratory operates at the interface of technology development, fundamental immunology, and translational therapy design. Our work is structured around four interconnected research directions that together aim to transform antigen discovery into a clinically actionable platform for immunotherapy.
First, we advance mass spectrometry and immunopeptidomics technologies to enable sensitive, reproducible, and scalable measurement of peptide–HLA complexes from diverse biological samples, including limited clinical material. By pushing the boundaries of analytical performance and experimental design, we seek to make direct antigen measurement compatible with real-world translational and clinical applications.
Second, we focus on the development of off-the-shelf immunotherapies enabled by non-classical HLA molecules. By exploiting the limited polymorphism and unique biology of non-classical HLA, we aim to identify shared, disease-relevant peptide–HLA targets that can support broadly applicable immune-based therapies, overcoming key limitations of patient-specific approaches.
Third, the laboratory is driven by a fundamental biological question: how the immunopeptidome functions as a language of the cell. We study how transcription, translation, protein turnover, stress, and disease states are encoded in peptide–HLA presentation, and how this surface-displayed information reflects cellular identity and dysfunction.
Finally, we apply these technologies and biological insights to guide therapeutic development and decision-making. Antigens identified through discovery pipelines are prioritised and translated into downstream applications, including targeted immunopeptidomics assays, T cell–based therapies, and vaccines. Through close collaboration with clinicians and industry partners, we aim to ensure that immunopeptidomic data directly informs therapy selection, design, and evaluation.
Together, these four directions position the laboratory to bridge fundamental biology and translational impact, enabling a new generation of precision immunotherapies grounded in empirical antigen discovery.
