Pramila Rijal

Dr. Pramila Rijal is a RDM Principal Investigator and COI Career Development Fellow/Group Leader at the University of Oxford's Radcliffe Department of Medicine within the Medical Sciences Division. She leads the Rijal Group, which focuses on antibody, vaccine, and drug development against influenza and other infectious viruses, particularly targeting the influenza neuraminidase (NA) protein. Her research is conducted within the MRC Translational Immune Discovery Unit at the MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine.

• PhD from University of Oxford (2017)
• Over ten years of research experience in infectious diseases
• Specializes in human monoclonal antibody responses to viruses

Dr. Rijal's research program centers on three main areas: characterizing protective antibodies targeting the NA protein, engineering NA-based nanoparticle vaccines to generate broader immune responses, and identifying novel antiviral drugs targeting neuraminidase. Her work aims to address the limitations of current influenza vaccines, which primarily target hemagglutinin (HA) and provide suboptimal protection due to viral evolution. By focusing on NA, her research seeks to develop more effective vaccines and therapeutics with broader immunity against diverse influenza strains.

Analysis of Dr. Rijal's recent publications reveals a strong focus on influenza virus immunology and vaccine development, with increasing attention to SARS-CoV-2 and Ebola virus. Her work demonstrates expertise in monoclonal antibody isolation, structural characterization of viral proteins, and innovative vaccine platforms including single-cycle influenza viruses and nanoparticle vaccines. A notable trend is the development of alternative influenza vaccine strategies targeting neuraminidase rather than the traditionally targeted hemagglutinin, which could provide broader protection against evolving strains.

Dr. Rijal's research is supported by significant funding from the CAMS-Oxford Institute and the Novo-Nordisk Foundation. She leads a research team including postdoctoral researchers and doctoral students, with Samuel Gavronski listed as a DPhil student in her group. Her collaborative network includes prominent researchers from institutions worldwide, such as National Taiwan University, Beijing Institutes of Life Sciences, University of Cambridge, and the La Jolla Institute for Immunology.

The Rijal Group operates within the MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, utilizing state-of-the-art facilities for virology, immunology, and structural biology research. The group employs a multidisciplinary approach combining molecular virology, structural biology, immunology, and animal models to advance their research on influenza and other viral pathogens.