George Washington University · BiochemistryProtein Therapeutics and Viral Response Lab
David Baker · Washington, District of Columbia
Research Focus
David Baker's research lab focuses on the design and development of new protein therapeutics to tackle public health challenges, particularly in response to pandemics like COVID-19. By using advanced computational techniques, the lab aims to create small proteins that can effectively neutralize viruses and mitigate severe immune responses. This research not only targets the current health crisis but also prepares methods for rapid responses to future infectious diseases.
protein designCOVID-19minibindersantiviral agentscytokine antagonistscomputational biologytherapeutic developmentpublic health
Research Aims
4AIM 01Develop hyper-stable minibinders that bind tightly to the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein.
AIM 02Enhance the effectiveness of minibinders to prevent viral evasion.
AIM 03Create antagonists for key cytokines involved in severe COVID-19 reactions.
AIM 04Test therapeutic efficacy of designed proteins in rodent models.
Skills the Lab Values
computational protein designminiprotein engineeringanimal models for diseasein vitro protein testingmolecular modelinghigh performance computingimmunogenicity assessmentdrug delivery methods
Output against the department
Publications1,579top 1% of dept.1st of 402
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations146ktop 1% of dept.3rd of 402
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.