Professor Dr. Nikolaos Sgourakis

Biography

Nikolaos Sgourakis earned his PhD in Biology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2009, focusing on integrating simulation and experimental approaches to study intrinsically disordered proteins. Under the mentorship of Nobel Laureate David Baker, he modeled protein complexes using sparse data and explored biomolecular NMR spectroscopy's role in understanding viral immune evasion mechanisms. He has established an independent research program at the University of Pennsylvania and Children's Hospital Philadelphia, focusing on immunotherapy applications for pediatric solid tumors. His laboratory is part of the international Cancer Grand Challenges consortium, working to develop T cell-based therapeutics. His research marries structural biology with computational protein engineering to enhance immune surveillance targeting intracellular oncoproteins. Major research interests include human Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) structure and function, aiming to facilitate cancer immunotherapy. His long-term goal is to develop approaches that enhance immunogenicity in tumors with low T cell infiltration and to design novel peptide-focused binding modules for personalized therapeutics.

Research Interests