Dr. Ravi Kane

Biography

Professor Kane’s group conducts research at the interface of biotechnology and nanotechnology. The group designs nanoscale polyvalent therapeutics and works on molecular engineering of biosurfaces and nanostructures. The major focus of the group’s research involves the design of polyvalent ligands, which are nanoscale scaffolds presenting multiple copies of selected biomolecules. The Kane group has made seminal contributions to the fundamental understanding of polyvalent recognition and has designed polyvalent inhibitors effective in vivo. Currently, the group is designing polyvalent molecules to control stem cell fate and polyvalent inhibitors against pathogens such as HIV and influenza. The group is also working on designing nanoscale scaffolds for antigen presentation as part of novel strategies for designing vaccines, which could lead to the development of “universal” influenza vaccines, as well as effective vaccines targeting RSV and malaria. Additionally, the interests of the group involve optogenetics, including the development and application of methods to use light to control cell function, and the design of enzymes and nanocomposites targeting antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

Research Interests