From cancer therapy to diagnostics: a new protein tool
Published on: 12 May 2026
EMERGING GROUP
Howard Group
Biologics and BioNano Technologies
The Howard group, led by Dr Chris Howard, specialises in the development of innovative biologics and bio nano technologies for the detection and treatment of disease.
Major research interests include:
- Protein and antibody engineering, self signalling fusion proteins, programmable bio-nano sensors, bioassays and diagnostic platforms for the detection of infectious diseases with focus on pandemic threat pathogens including COVID 19, influenza and emerging threats.
- Bispecific antibody targeting of bionanomaterials for precision diagnostics, mRNA therapeutic and vaccine delivery.
- Protein display libraries, biopanning strategies and protein discovery. Specific focus on discovery of proteins that bind nanomaterials such as Lipid Nanoparticles and virus targets.
- Genetic code expansion, unnatural amino acids and novel bioconjugation strategies
- Design, Biomanufacture, Purification and Functional analysis of proteins
Research Areas
- Discovery and Development of Biologics
- Bionanotechnology platforms, Bioconjugation and Bioassays
- Precision Virus Diagnostics
- Targeted Nanomaterials for mRNA vaccine delivery
Research Highlights
Funding
Since 2019
- NHMRC Ideas Grant: "COVID & Beyond": Innovative rapid response nanoprobes to detect the next pandemic threat. (2025-2027)
- Sanofi Translational Science Hub (TSH) Grant: Nano-bioengineered molecular tools for targeted mRNA delivery (2025-2026)
- ARC Discovery Grant: An integrated nano-bioengineered chip for enhanced molecular evolution (2022-2025)
- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Pilot and Innovation Grant: Innovative delivery methods for the biologic soluble RAGE to prevent Type 1 Diabetes (2021-2024)
- Advance Queensland Industry Fellowship: Novel Virus Trap Nanotechnology for COVID-19 Detection (2020-2023).
- ARC Linkage Grant: Smart affinity membranes for manufacture of high value therapeutic proteins (2019-2022).
Publications
Click here to view Howard group publications
