At the Flyak lab at Cornell University, we study human antibody response to viral pathogens. We try to answer questions such as: how do human antibodies neutralize rapidly mutating viruses? How do human antibodies drive the virus to the unfit state where it can no longer infect the target cell? How can we design vaccines that mimic effective antibody responses seen in some individuals?

In our lab, we isolate antibodies from human individuals, characterize antibodies using a wide range of immunologic and biochemistry assays, and then use structural biology techniques to “see” how antibodies bind and neutralize viral pathogens.

We are currently focused on discovering the main principles of effective antibody response to the highly genetically diverse Hepatitis C virus - a leading cause of chronic liver disease and liver cancer.