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Faculty of MedicineProgram in Cryo-EM Guided Drug Design

Imaging Proteins Using Electrons
Imaging with electrons allows researchers to discern atomic details of large, complex molecules like proteins. During the imaging process, the interaction of electrons with the molecules being imaged inflicts damage that can alter the structure. Cryogenic temperatures (cryo-EM) can reduce the extent of this damage, but as we showed in a recent study, some parts […]
Visualizing Proteins with Cryo-EM
This image displays a number of the critical elements for determining the structure of a protein by cryo-electron microscopy. First, a solution containing many identical copies of a protein are spread on a grid (upper left), and quickly frozen to liquid nitrogen temperatures. These are imaged with an electron beam (teal), producing black-and-white images showing […]
HIV in the Brain
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) primarily attacks helper T cells, rapidly-dividing cells that are critical components of the immune system. The immune system keeps the virus in check by eliminating infected T cells. However, the virus can also occasionally invade long-lived cells like macrophages in the blood, or astrocytes in the brain, hiding away and […]
T cells Transfer HIV
This post is dedicated to the memory of our colleague Gavin Murphy, the primary author of this study, who passed away July 4, 2017. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the causative agent for AIDS (or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). The virus primarily infects CD4+ T cells, a class of immune cells critical for defense […]
Stepping into a Melanoma Cell
The image above shows the internal organization of a melanoma cell, a cancer cell descended from pigment-containing skin cells. This image was generated from data acquired with focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM), a method for 3D imaging of cells that we have been developing in our laboratory for several years. In a study […]
Formation of the HIV Core
Before reaching their mature, fully infectious form, HIV virus particles transition through an immature, non-infectious state. In the non-infectious form, the inside of the virus particle is lined with a lattice of Gag proteins. During the virus’ transition from the immature state to the fully infectious state, a piece of the Gag protein (the capsid) […]
A 3D View of SIV
The simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), like its close relative human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), infects immune cells (such as T cells) using its envelope glycoprotein spike. Many copies of this spike dot the membranous outer surface of the virus, while the virus’ genetic material is packed within, inside a conical core. Individual copies of the virus, […]
Dendritic Cell with HIV
Classic images of dendritic cells show long finger-like appendages flowing around and circling the cell body; these appendages, called dendrites, are the feature that gave rise to the cell type’s name. But in studies published by our lab in 2010-2011, new high-resolution 3D images revealed that the appendages are more like flaps than fingers, and […]
Visualizing Ebola Virus
As with most viruses, the Ebola virus itself is very small – too small to be seen even in a high-powered light microscope. But when visualized in an electron microscope, the surface of the filament-shaped virus particle (also known as a virion) can be seen, studded with small proteins on its surface (upper right of […]

Cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM) and drug design

Our research program is focused on exploring frontiers in structural biology and drug design using cryo electron microscopy (cryo-EM), with the central goal of accelerating the development of effective therapeutic agents. The program is guided by two overarching themes:

Drug Design

A highly focused team effort to use high-resolution cryo-EM imaging of native protein complexes to design effective therapeutic agents targeting cancer, infectious diseases and brain disorders.

Technology Development

An interdisciplinary approach towards developing next generation technologies in cryo-EM and related methods using automated workflows coupled with advanced image processing and machine learning.

News

$140M for UBC-led research hub to accelerate drug development and biomanufacturing

The University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine News | June 4, 2024

The funding supports four multidisciplinary research projects through Canada’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub (CIEBH), a UBC-led alliance of more than 50 academic, industry, not-for-profit and health system partners that have come together to make Canada a leader in advanced immune-based therapeutics like RNA vaccines, antibody treatments and cell therapies.

Federal government invests in pandemic rapid response lab at UBC

Business in Vancouver | May 31, 2024

The federal government today announced $140 million in funding for Canada’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub (CIEBH) out of the University of BC. It will support four multi-disciplinary research projects.

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