Weber, Scott

Background

Dr. Scott Weber is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology where he teaches courses in Immunology, Molecular Biology, and Flow Cytometry. His research is focused on improving the immune response to infectious disease, asthma, and cancer. He received his undergraduate and master degrees from BYU and his doctorate from the University of Illinois. Prior to coming to BYU, he worked as a Post Doctoral Fellow and Research Instructor in the Department of Pathology and Immunology at the Medical School at Washington University in St. Louis.

Cancer Research

Engineering immunological proteins with improved function: A focus of the Weber lab is engineering immunological proteins with improved function. We are working to understand how high affinity T cell receptors differ in their ability to recognize antigen and cause T cell activation. High affinity T cell receptors are engineered using yeast display and directed evolution and are a novel tool for targeting T cell epitopes not recognized by antibodies. High affinity T cells may be useful as therapeutics in an infectious disease or cancer setting when coupled with pro-inflammatory cytokines or in autoimmunity when coupled with anti-inflammatory cytokines.