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ENGINEERING IMMUNITY
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OUR TEAM
JAMES VOSS, PH.D.
Principle Investigator
Welcome to our website! I am an Institute Investigator in the Department of Immunology and Microbiology at Scripps Research in La Jolla California. I did my PhD in Structural Virology at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, France. My postdoctoral work was here at Scripps with Dr. Dennis Burton studying the antibody response to HIV and how protective HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies might be induced through vaccination. Because such antibody genes are so difficult to elicit from the natural human B cell repertoire, my lab is now interested in generating them from genome modified B cells. Our vision is to reprogram the B cell antigen receptor using CRISPR-cas and then to generate durable multi-specific broadly neutralizing antibody memory responses from such cells that would be capable of suppressing the virus in infected patients as a functional cure approach. While this is our main passion, we believe that engineered B cells will be broadly useful, transforming immunotherapy and even the treatment of genetic diseases like hemophilia. They can be used to help solve unanswered questions about B cell biology and the antibody response. We are also using them to perform directed evolution and to explore affinity maturation pathways in vitro. Finally, we are also especially motivated to develop biotechnologies that will make engineered B cell-based therapies inexpensive and accessible to all who may need them.
DISHA BHANGE, PH.D.
Postdoctoral Associate
Originally from India, I completed my Ph.D. from JNCASR, Bangalore where my work was primarily focused on studying HIV-1 latency with respect to variations in the promoter of the virus. I joined the Voss lab as a postdoctoral associate. Our group has grown into a very supportive working environment with people from diverse backgrounds and expertise. Currently, I am using CRISPR tools to generate "B-cell engineering vaccines" that aim to elicit HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies in pre-clinical animal models as an HIV cure approach. My dream is to carry promising models forward towards human clinical trials.  Besides research, I enjoy performing arts, cooking, and love interacting with new people.
MARY TENUTA
Graduate Student
Hello! I’m Mary and I’m originally from New York. I moved to San Diego to complete my undergraduate studies and graduated with a B.A. in Biology from the University of San Diego in 2018. I started working in the Voss lab in 2019 as a technician and then joined the lab as a graduate student in 2020. For my thesis, I am developing CRISPR-Cas9 modified rhesus macaque B cells that express HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies as antigen receptors. We are autologously engrafting and vaccinating these cells in order to elicit HIV bnAB memory responses which we can evaluate in the context of infection as cure approach. This project really embodies my main career aspiration which is to develop cutting edge genome editing technologies to improve human health for all. When I’m not in the lab, you can find me cheffing it up in the kitchen, catching live music, or on the tennis court.
JOONÂ HYUNGÂ AHN
Graduate Student
I've done my undergraduate in biology and chemistry, and masters in chemistry in Korea, working with peptides and proteins. Here, I am mainly focusing on double targeting mouse B cells to elicit more robust/durable bnAb expression, or bi- or tri-specific bnAbs in our engineered B cells. I am also working on in vitro affinity maturation system in cell lines and figuring out the fate of our engineered mouse B cells. I usually hit the gym, play some games when I am not in the lab.
TANAKA REMBA
Graduate Student
Hello! My name is Tanaka Remba and I am an aspiring immunoscientist. My long-term professional goals include leading a lab and conducting research at the interface of immunological engineering and science to improve medicine, biology, and overall human health. I hope to be involved in the clinical translation of immunotherapies so that they can be eventually made available to patients worldwide. When I am not dreaming about saving the world, I am chasing sunsets, experimenting with new recipes, feeding friends, traveling, or napping. My retirement plan is to open a restaurant that serves the foods I crave on that particular day so there is neither a set cuisine or menu.
MORGAN HARRIS
Graduate Student
I received a B.A. in Biology from Williams College in 2020. Prior to Scripps, I supported the COVID Convalescent-Plasma Expanded Access Program at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis and investigated the immune responses to malaria in the joint labs of Dr. Anne Frosch and Dr. Kristina Burrack. My time working with patients gave me valuable perspective on the human impact of research and fostered my desire to study HIV.
ALEX OLSON
Research Assistant
Hello! I'm Alex, originally a Vermonter who found his way to San Diego in 2018. I've been in the Voss group for 4 years now, focusing mainly on our mouse B cell engineering and recombinant protein pipelines. When I'm not at work you can find me cooking, dancing at concerts, playing piano, and doing yoga (all at the same time, of course). I also love time spent outside and enjoying the beauty our city has to offer, made all the more fun with my newly adopted dogs.
PUBLICATIONS
