Fikadu G. Tafesse

Dr. Fikadu G. Tafesse is a researcher at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), with prior academic roles including Instructor in Medicine and Assistant in Immunology at the Ragon Institute of MGH, Harvard, and MIT. He holds a PhD from Utrecht University and conducted postdoctoral studies as an NWO Rubicon fellow at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research (MIT).

• Education: PhD in Biochemistry/Microbiology (Utrecht University, The Netherlands)
• Affiliations: OHSU (current); Ragon Institute (former); Whitehead Institute (former)

Dr. Tafesse’s research focuses on host-pathogen interactions, particularly the roles of lipid biology in HIV-1 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections, and the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 variants. His work spans nanobody-based antiviral strategies, lipid-protein interactomes, and serological assay validation.

Recent publications highlight trifunctional lipid derivatives for studying viral entry, MR1 antigen presentation mechanisms, and immune imprinting in SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. His studies have appeared in Nature Protocols, Journal of Biological Chemistry, and Science Immunology.

Notable scientific award: NWO Rubicon Fellowship.

• Scientific Awards:
  • NWO Rubicon Fellowship