Overview

Research in the Truex Lab focuses on developing protein technologies to study and control protein structure and immune function. We pursue two main research programs. We study fold-switching proteins to identify the molecular interactions that allow one sequence to encode distinct folded structures. We also develop artificial transcription factors that activate immune cells for anticancer and antiviral immunotherapy. Students design and prepare peptides and proteins using automated flow synthesis, recombinant expression, and bioconjugation. They characterize protein purity, structure, stability, and function using chromatographic purification, LC-MS, NMR spectroscopy, and quantitative biophysical methods. Students also investigate cellular and immune activity using cell culture, flow cytometry, and other biochemical and immunological assays. These projects provide interdisciplinary training in protein engineering, chemical biology, biophysics, and cancer immunology. Please explore our site to learn more about our projects, publications, and opportunities for students and trainees.