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Rory Henderson

Associate Professor in Medicine
Medicine, Duke Human Vaccine Institute
2 Genome Ct, MSRB 2, Durham, NC 27710
2 Genome Ct, MSRB 2, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


Dr. Rory Henderson is an assistant professor in Medicine at Duke University, the head of molecular modeling and simulation in the Division of Structural Biology at the Duke Human Vaccine Institute, and the Project 1 lead for the Duke Center for HIV Structural Biology (DCHSB).

Dr. Henderson’s lab focuses on understanding how the dynamics of macromolecules of the immune system and its antigenic targets determine the immune response to infection and how these dynamics can be manipulated to guide the selection of a favorable antibody response. We utilize a diverse computational and experimental tool set to interrogate key pathogen and antibody dynamics and use rational design principles to design immunogens and probe putative functional mechanisms.  

With Dr. Henderson’s background in molecular modeling and simulation along with biochemical and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) techniques, he and his lab investigate these details at high spatial and temporal resolution. Together, these methods provide a promising approach toward accelerating the design and characterization of the next generation of vaccine immunogens.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Associate Professor in Medicine · 2024 - Present Medicine, Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Medicine
Member of the Duke Human Vaccine Institute · 2024 - Present Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published December 9, 2024
A Vaccine Strategy to Guide an Immune System Response to HIV
Published February 2, 2024
Scientists See an Ultra-Fast Movement in an HIV-1 Surface Protein
Published June 28, 2022
Duke Awarded Federal Grant to Build Structural Models of HIV

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Recent Publications


Engineering immunogens that select for specific mutations in HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies.

Journal Article Nat Commun · November 3, 2024 Vaccine development targeting rapidly evolving pathogens such as HIV-1 requires induction of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) with conserved paratopes and mutations, and in some cases, the same Ig-heavy chains. The current trial-and-error search for ... Full text Link to item Cite

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron XBB lineage spike structures, conformations, antigenicity, and receptor recognition.

Journal Article Mol Cell · July 25, 2024 A recombinant lineage of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant, named XBB, appeared in late 2022 and evolved descendants that successively swept local and global populations. XBB lineage members were noted for the ... Full text Link to item Cite

Mutation-guided vaccine design: A process for developing boosting immunogens for HIV broadly neutralizing antibody induction.

Journal Article Cell Host Microbe · May 8, 2024 A major goal of HIV-1 vaccine development is the induction of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs). Although success has been achieved in initiating bnAb B cell lineages, design of boosting immunogens that select for bnAb B cell receptors with improbabl ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


Structural and biophysical studies on natural SARS-CoV-2 variants

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2022 - 2027

Structural characterization of Fab-dimerized glycan-reactive antibodies that neutralize HIV-1

ResearchInvestigator · Awarded by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2021 - 2026

Accelerating Antibody-Antigen Association Through Interrogation and Exploitation of Encounter Complex States

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2021 - 2026

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Education, Training & Certifications


University of Arkansas, Fayetteville · 2016 Ph.D.