Joel Collier, Ph.D.

Study shows that peptide nanofibers induce immune response in lungs and lymph nodes without requiring adjuvants for efficacy, indicating promise for new vaccine development.

An image of self-assembled peptide nanofibers, which are currently under investigation for engineered vaccines. Credit: Collier Lab

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is shining a bright spotlight on vaccine development. As numerous vaccines race through clinical trials, physicians and researchers continue to work on developing new vaccine technologies to generate the most effective vaccines with the fewest side effects.

A new proof-of-concept study by researchers at the University of Chicago and Duke University demonstrates the potential for one such platform, using self-assembling peptide nanofibers tagged with antigens to prime the immune system against a potential invasion.

Their research, published in Science Advances on August 7, 2020, showed that these nanofibers can induce an immune response and activate T cells without the use of additional adjuvants, which can induce inflammation and are associated with common vaccine side effects, like soreness at the injection site or low-grade fever… Continue reading.

WASHINGTON, D.C.— The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) has announced the pending induction of Joel Collier, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, to its College of Fellows. Dr. Collier was nominated, reviewed, and elected by peers and members of the College of Fellows For pioneering contributions to the design of immunologically active biomaterials..