Dr. Christopher Barnes

Biography

Christopher O. Barnes is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Stanford University and a Sarafan ChEM-H Institute Scholar. His research leverages interdisciplinary approaches to address fundamental principles of viral-host interactions for therapeutic benefit. Before joining Stanford, Barnes earned his B.A. in Psychology and B.S. in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he also completed his M.A. in Chemistry. He then obtained his Ph.D. in Molecular Pharmacology from the University of Pittsburgh. His postdoctoral training was at the California Institute of Technology, where he utilized combined biophysical methods and in vivo approaches to study how viruses such as HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 infect host cells and elicit specific humoral immune responses. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he contributed significantly to understanding antibody-spike interactions through in-depth structural analyses. His work has garnered several accolades, including recognition as a Rita Allen Foundation Scholar and an HHMI Hanna H. Gray Fellow. The Barnes laboratory investigates viral-host interactions and aims to translate his knowledge of structural correlates of antibody-mediated neutralization into rational development of highly protective antibodies.

Research Interests