Jack Saunders
Meet Jack Saunders, a DPhil student in Teresa Lambe's group (Oxford Vaccine Group) based in the IDRM. Jack studied Biochemistry at Exeter University before completing an MSc in Integrated Immunology. His research focuses on Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV) vaccine development in preparation for a potential future pandemic.
Can you give a brief overview of your career trajectory so far?
I am a third-year DPhil student on the Interdisciplinary Biosciences DTP course, with a focus on viral immunology and vaccine development. I studied for a BSc in Biochemistry at Exeter University before I came to Oxford in 2020 for the master’s in Integrated Immunology, which turned out to be quite a topical time to join this field! After graduation I spent some time working in the Jenner Institute as a research assistant on the Oxford/AZ COVID vaccine trial, before starting the DPhil in 2021 within the Oxford Vaccine Group under Professor Teresa Lambe.
What is your research focus?
My research focuses on the development of vaccines against Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV) for potential pandemic preparedness. This lesser known virus is endemic in a number of continents and is spread by ticks and livestock that then causes high fatality in humans during more serious outbreaks, with no treatments or vaccines available. My works aims to develop and progress novel vaccines that provide protection by using the adenovirus viral vector and mRNA technologies that were successful for the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. A key part of the early PhD has been looking to better understand the natural immune response in both humans and animals to aid vaccine design by establishing new assays to assess immunity.
What has been your highlight this past year at the IDRM?
A notable highlight this year has been starting our phase-I clinical trial of a vaccine for humans against CCHFV, led by Professor Lambe. The clinical trial of the ChAdOx2 CCHFV vaccine aims to confirm its safety and understand how individuals develop immunity following vaccination. This is one of the first in-human trials in the world for this virus, and it has been very exciting to see a number of years work from our team in the Oxford Vaccine Group advance to this stage of clinical development. Here in IDRM, we are running the assays to measure responses in participants - this has kept us busy the last few months with lots of samples coming in each week.
How have you contributed to IDRM life?
I have recently been using the flow cytometry facilities that the IDRM has to offer in the Sony ID7000 FACS machine. It has been great to be able to train other users on this and help further establish this technique so others in our group can use it for their own research. I also recently presented at the DPhil student “Get to know each other” event which was a good opportunity to talk about my research.
What do you look forward to most this year?
I am excited for the busy summer that I have planned which includes attending conferences on pandemics and vaccine development, an internship in Oxford within a cancer vaccine biotech company, and fitting in trips to New York and Lanzarote. So plenty to look forward to whilst squeezing in some DPhil work in-between to keep my supervisor happy!
What do you do outside of the lab/Institute?
If I am not stuck in the lab, you’ll likely find me playing or watching football, at the pub socialising with friends, or unsuccessfully trying to beat my PB at Parkrun. Within Univ college I am on the MCR committee as a Welfare Officer, where I enjoy promoting awareness of the support and opportunities available to students in the college and also importantly the hosting of welfare teas or brunches.