Our research aims to establish T cell correlates of protection by integrating high-resolution single-cell studies of T cell quality (function, phenotype, trafficking) and specificity (virus, protein, epitope, TCR clonality) at the extremes of controlled/uncontrolled infections, and to design vaccines to recapitulate and test correlates. 

Funded projects:

I)Defining high-resolution T cell correlates of protection in abortive versus seropositive SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Rosetrees Trust and Pears Foundation Advancement Fellowship (2022-25)

Having identified an association between RTC-specific T cells and early viral control without seroconversion or disease (Swadling et al Nature 2022), we will characterise this population using unbiased and targeted approaches to identify T cell qualities that correlate with protection. 

II)Accelerated development of an infection blocking pan-coronavirus vaccination

Therapeutic Accelerator Scheme UCL (2022-23)

To test the hypothesis that a vaccine containing early expressed and conserved CoV-2 antigens, targeted to the respiratory mucosa, will provide pan-coronavirus protection.

III)     Bioinformatic Delineation of the TCR signature of HBV control

Medical Research Foundation fellowship (2018-22): 

To identify protective TCR sequences from the site of infection for use in next generation TCR gene therapy for HBV and to probe the biological link between specificity and function.