Ian Wilson

Ian Wilson, PhD, is a distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI). He holds the Hansen Professorship of Structural Biology and is affiliated with multiple institutions, including the Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology and the Salk Institute as an adjunct professor. His career spans over four decades, with prior roles at Harvard University and TSRI's Molecular Biology department.

Wilson's research focuses on structural studies of the immune system, viral pathogens, and vaccine design. Notable projects include elucidating antibody-antigen interactions against HIV and influenza, structural analysis of T-cell receptors, and high-throughput methodologies for protein production and structure determination through his leadership of the Joint Center for Structural Genomics (2000-2016). His work bridges structural biology, virology, and immunology to advance vaccine development and therapeutic strategies.

Wilson has authored over 900 publications, with recent work emphasizing broadly neutralizing antibodies, SARS-CoV-2 structural immunology, and universal vaccine design against alphaviruses and coronaviruses. His awards include Royal Society Fellowship, membership in the National Academy of Sciences, and the Bernie Gilula Award for Faculty Excellence.

He has advised numerous students and led interdisciplinary teams in structural biology. His laboratories and collaborations focus on translating structural insights into practical applications, including antiviral therapies and diagnostic tools.