Ana Rodrigues

As of September 2024, I joined the group as a DPhil student in Biochemistry. I hold a scholarship at New College and am funded by the Oxford-MRC DTP and by an industrial partner, DJS Antibodies. My DPhil project aims to isolate and characterise monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the merozoite surface antigen, MSP2. This antigenic target is known to elicit mAbs with FC-effector functions, therefore, the development of therapeutic mAbs against MSP2 could improve clinical outcome if they are combined with a vaccine candidate.

Prior to my current position, in 2020-2021, I carried out my Biochemistry Part II project in the Draper Group. I produced, engineered, and characterised a panel of Ebola virus specific antibodies with the aim of improving their efficacy and potency for potential use as therapeutic and prophylactic agents.

Since graduating, I worked for two years under the supervision of Professor Bannard in the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine (WIMM), where I sought to understand the core immunological principles of B cells and germinal center biology.

In 2023 I re-joined the Draper Group as a Research Assistant, where I worked in the preclinical development of malaria vaccines and antibody therapeutics. Primarily, I was responsible for the production and characterisation of antibodies in the group.