Dr Katherine Brown

1. Infections and Trauma
Translational research aimed at developing diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics. Current projects include the development of novel recombinant antibody reagents for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. We utilize three-dimensional structures in computational predictions to create new routes for enhancing expression and purification of recombinant biologics. These macromolecules (antibodies and antigens) have potential for diagnosing and
treating disease arising from pathogenic bacteria and viruses. A
substantial proportion of our research involves collaborations with industry. In
addition, we are currently optimizing new tissue-based models of traumatic injury and wound infection. Our research includes both fundamental and applied studies related to understanding how pathogens interact with damaged tissues and developing strategies to improve the outcome of trauma-induced infections in the respiratory system.

Collaborators:
Dr. William Proud, Imperial College London, UK
Professor Alun Williams, University of Cambridge, UK
Professor Pietro Cicuta, University of Cambridge, UK
Macromoltek LLC, Austin, TX, USA
Bioo Scientific (Perkin-Elmer), Austin, TX, USA

2. Soft Materials
Many natural lightweight biomaterials such as scales, horn, and skin are composed of layers of different structures that work together to impart properties such as strength, toughness and/or tear-resistance. We are developing methods to study how macromolecules and their assembled structures contribute to the material properties of soft biological composites. Experimental platforms traditionally used to study dynamic mechanical responses of hard materials, are being adapted to study these soft materials at a variety of lengthscales.
Material studies are complemented by imaging studies that include high-speed
photography, optical and electron microscopy, and microCT. Data obtained are used in collaborative modeling studies to better understand resilience and failure
mechanisms, and to drive the design new artificial materials with material properties suitable for applications in engineering and biomedicine.

Collaborators:
Professor Marc Meyers, University of California at San Diego, USA
Dr. William Proud, Imperial College London, UK
Professor Alun Williams, University of Cambridge, UK

3. Nanoparticles and Imaging
Lanthanide nanomaterials are being increasingly investigated for applications in bioimaging and molecular recognition, due in part to their advantageous photo-physical properties. With the Jones Group at the University of Texas at Austin (link), we are exploring the self-assembly properties and bio-imaging potential of lanthanide based molecular nanoparticles for applications in cell and tissue-based imaging. Biophysical characterization includes the use of small-angle X-ray scattering methods to understand the solution-based structure properties of these materials in different chemical environments.

Professor Richard Jones, University of Texas at Austin, USA
Dr. Emily Que, University of Texas at Austin, USA
Dr. Dmitri Svergun, EMBL-DESY, Hamburg, Germany