Werner Braun

Werner Braun is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, Texas. He is also a core member of the Sealy Center for Structural Biology & Molecular Biophysics. His academic journey includes a PhD in Theoretical Physics from ETH Zürich (Switzerland), postdoctoral research at ETH Zürich and Kyushu University (Japan), and a distinguished career in structural biology and immunology. He was elected an AAAS Fellow in 2007 for his scientific contributions.

Education:

• BS in Theoretical Physics, ETH Zürich
• PhD in Theoretical Physics, ETH Zürich
• Post-Doctoral Research: ETH Zürich (Kurt Wüthrich), Kyushu University (Nobuhiro Gō)

Research Interests:

Braun’s research focuses on understanding molecular mechanisms of protein function and allergenicity. Key areas include:

• Development of bioinformatics tools for predicting IgE epitopes (e.g., InterProSurf, PCPMer, Cross-React)
• Structural biology of allergens and the Structural Database of Allergenic Proteins (SDAP)
• Design of alphavirus vaccines targeting CHIKV and VEEV
• Assessment of protein toxin similarity for biotechnology applications

Grants & Collaborations:

• Funded by NIH, FDA, EPA, and industry partners (e.g., Bayer SAS)
• Collaborations with Dr. Scott C. Weaver (UTMB) on alphavirus vaccines
• Member of EPA’s FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel

Labs & Teams:

His research group operates within the Sealy Center for Structural Biology, focusing on allergen databases, vaccine design, and computational tools for protein analysis. Current projects include experimental testing of vaccine candidates and refining IgE epitope prediction methodologies.