Luca Varani

Luca Varani is a Professor and Group Leader of the Structural Biology group at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), affiliated with the Università della Svizzera italiana in Bellinzona, Switzerland. His research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of antibody-pathogen interactions and engineering novel therapeutic antibodies.

• Education: Chemistry degree from University of Milan, PhD from MRC-Laboratory of Molecular Biology (University of Cambridge)
• Former postdoc at Stanford with EMBO fellowship
• Founder of CLBiotech (2022), a nanobody discovery and engineering startup

Varani's research spans structural biology, immunology, and biophysics with emphasis on viral pathogenesis and antibody engineering. His work combines experimental and computational approaches to study antibody-antigen interactions, particularly against emerging pathogens like SARS-CoV-2, Zika, and Dengue viruses. His group has pioneered structure-guided antibody engineering techniques that have led to multiple high-impact publications in journals like Nature, Cell, and Science.

Analysis of Varani's recent publications reveals a strong focus on SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses, with significant contributions to understanding neutralizing mechanisms, viral escape, and therapeutic antibody development. His work also extends to prion diseases, cancer immunology, and flaviviruses, demonstrating a multidisciplinary approach that bridges structural biology with translational medicine.

As a reviewer for high-impact journals and international granting agencies, Varani contributes significantly to the scientific community. He also serves as an evaluator for European startup accelerator programs and consults for antibody biotechnology companies, translating academic research into practical applications.

Varani leads a highly multidisciplinary research team that employs techniques ranging from NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography to cellular assays and computational modeling. His laboratory has been instrumental in developing bispecific antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens, with several candidates advancing toward clinical trials.