James N. Herron

James N. Herron serves as Associate Professor of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Adjunct Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Utah, where he holds the leadership position of Vice Chair of Graduate Education for the Biological Chemistry Program. His academic appointments bridge pharmaceutical sciences and engineering disciplines within the university's research ecosystem.

His educational foundation includes sequential degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. This comprehensive training established his expertise in biophysical systems and molecular interactions.

Dr. Herron's research program centers on three interconnected domains: molecular characterization of antigen-antibody binding through X-ray crystallography and biophysical techniques; development of planar waveguide biosensors for rapid point-of-care clinical diagnostics; and engineering of targeted drug-delivery systems for autoimmune diseases including type I diabetes, lupus, and multiple sclerosis. His work integrates structural biology with translational applications to address critical gaps in immunodiagnostics and therapeutic delivery.

Analysis of his 2010-2025 publications reveals evolving expertise from foundational biosensor patents toward contemporary vaccine immunology and pharmaceutical education research. The plague vaccine studies demonstrate sophisticated immune profiling, while biosensor innovations maintain consistent focus on clinical translation. His 2025 educational research marks strategic expansion into competency-based pharmacy education assessment.

Scientific recognition:

• No specific awards or fellowships are documented in available materials

As Vice Chair of Graduate Education, Dr. Herron directs the Biological Chemistry PhD program's academic framework while maintaining an active research laboratory. His patented technologies in biosensing and sequencing demonstrate commercial translation potential, though specific grant funding details remain unreported. The laboratory's multidisciplinary output spans basic biophysical characterization to preclinical vaccine studies.

The research environment encompasses specialized facilities for protein crystallography, fluorescence spectroscopy, and waveguide biosensor development, supporting collaborative projects across immunology, pharmaceutical sciences, and biomedical engineering departments.