معرفی
Zhilei Chen, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbial Pathogenesis & Immunology at Texas A&M University's Health Science Center. His research focuses on advancing protein therapeutics through innovative engineering, targeting infectious diseases such as Clostridium difficile and viral infections. The Chen Lab develops novel approaches like engineered DARPin proteins for toxin neutralization, SMURF technology for membrane protein binders, and artificial viral prophylaxis strategies.
Research interests include protein engineering, antiviral therapies, and affordable treatments for infectious diseases. Key projects involve creating broadly neutralizing non-antibody proteins for C. difficile infections and developing viral 'sink' cells to block viral spread. The lab integrates genetics, virology, and imaging techniques to engineer therapeutic proteins.
- Awards: NSF CAREER Award, TEES Select Young Faculty Award, Air Force Young Investigator Award, NIH New Innovator Award.
- Lab Highlights: Moved to MREB II in 2023, hosted new graduate students (2025), published breakthroughs in SARS-CoV-2 neutralization (2023) and C. difficile toxin inhibitors.
- Grants: Funded by NSF, NIH, and the Air Force for protein engineering and prophylactic development.
Lab activities emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration, with projects spanning from molecular engineering to clinical translation. Ongoing efforts aim to address unmet needs in infectious disease treatment through novel protein-based solutions.
