Jim Drake

Jim Drake is a Professor in the Department of Immunology and Microbial Disease at Albany Medical College. He earned his PhD from Roswell Park Memorial Institute in 1989, where his research focused on MHC Class II-restricted antigen presentation to CD4 helper T cells. His current laboratory investigates the cell biology and molecular mechanisms underlying antigen processing and presentation, with ongoing studies examining how peptides from B cell receptor-bound antigens are selectively loaded onto MHC class II conformers.

Drake's research interests center on immunological processes including antigen processing/presentation, B cell activation mechanisms, MHC class II structural biology, and molecular signaling in immune responses. His work integrates molecular biology techniques with immunological models to understand fundamental mechanisms of adaptive immunity.

His recent publications (2016-2023) demonstrate sustained focus on MHC class II structure-function relationships, B cell receptor signaling pathways, and the molecular basis of antigen presentation. These studies consistently employ biochemical, structural, and cellular approaches to investigate immune recognition mechanisms.