Welcome to the Ortlund Lab
Our mission is to make fundamental discoveries relating to hormone signaling, transcriptional control and host-pathogen interactions. We leverage these discoveries to pursue drug design as treatments for viral infections and chronic inflammatory diseases. We use a range of sophisticated biological techniques including cryo-electron microscopy, x-ray crystallography, mass spectrometry, deep mutational scanning and in silico simulations. Our primary research interests include lipid-mediated signaling and transport, development of LRH-1 modulators to treat metabolic disease, characterization of anti-inflammatory steroids and molecular evolution. With the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, we were well-placed to redirect our expertise to investigate detection and neutralizing antibodies using Cryo-EM, and to predict antibody escape using deep mutational scanning (DMS). Working closely with the RADx initiative, our methods have proven useful to multiple companies seeking FDA approval for their novel COVID-19 diagnostic methods. Currently we are expanding our technology to tackle other arising infectious diseases of concern.
Lab News
Dr. Ortlund Named AAAS Fellow
Eric Ortlund, Professor and Vice Chair of Biochemistry, has been named an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow. Dr. Ortlund is one of fourteen members of the Emory faculty named by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) as Class of 2025 Fellows.
AAAS selects Fellows for their outstanding efforts in the advancement of science based on research, teaching, administration and technology, as well as communicating and interpreting science to the public. Becoming an AAAS Fellow is considered a lifetime honor. In addition to advancing research, Fellows play a crucial role in shaping public policy and influencing national and global perspectives on critical issues.
Welcome Raining Huo!
Welcome Dr. Marek Bogacz!
New Funding
