2026

What is the title of your project, and what is its primary focus?

The title of my project is “Restoring APOBEC3 Antiviral Activity Through Enhanced Targeted Degradation of Vif” where the primary goal of the project is to improve affinity of binders of Vif that can be used for targeted degradation and thus restore host defenses. 

How does your project align with the Center’s objectives?

The project aligns with the center’s objectives by using the knowledge already gained from HARC scientists to create new targeted treatment strategies. It is exciting to be at this point to be at in any scientific story. 

What is the most inspiring aspect of your research?

Because I am primarily a tool developer, I think the best part of my research is the ability to improve methods or create new ones while targeting and learning about difference disease areas. What we learn in this project will go beyond HIV, it will teach us how we can improve treatments for other disease as well.

What are your thoughts on the importance of advancing our understanding of HIV–host protein complexes and expanding therapeutic targets and treatment strategies for HIV/AIDS?

Advancing our understanding of HIV–host protein complexes is critical because HIV relies on host cellular machinery to replicate and persist. By studying host interactions, we can identify new therapeutic targets that go beyond the virus itself and instead disrupt the host pathways the virus depends on. Because HIV has a high mutation rate, resistance can develop resistance in existing antiretroviral therapies and expanding the range of therapeutic targets could make treatments longer lasting.