LJI is specially positioned to find solutions to infectious disease challenges as many of the necessary tools are already in place at the Institute; such as the Immune Epitope Database (IEDB), which contains the world’s most comprehensive collection of immune targets. This database allows LJI Professor Alessandro Sette, Dr. Biol.Sci. to scour millions of entries for coronavirus-related information at a moment’s notice, and apply machine learning approaches to identify new potential targets. This data is made public to inform efforts to develop new diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines. Moreover, Dr. Erica Ollmann Saphire built a state-of-the-art cryo-electron microscopy and antibody discovery facility at LJI to reveal which parts of these emerging viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, can be targeted to inspire immune defense or new drugs. While these critical tools are at the Institute, flexible funding is still needed for these scientists to acquire the samples and other resources necessary to achieve the next breakthrough.

Private support for the Institute’s research efforts underway is crucial to expediting the discovery process for new therapies and vaccines for emerging diseases such as COVID-19. You can be part of the solutions LJI is pursuing by supporting the Institute’s research efforts here.

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