Venue: Centre Broca
Rob Meijers 
Harvard University
Invited by Jonathan Elegheert (IINS)
Title
Developing synthetic antibody reagents for neuronal receptors and their ligands
Abstract
The Institute for Protein Innovation is a non-profit organization developing recombinant antibody panels targeting the human and mouse neuronal surfaceome. We focus on neurobiological pathways where there is a need for validated, reproducible reagents.
Using display technologies and machine learning, we systematically generate antibody panels that cover entire receptor families. This approach reduces antibody cross-reactivity and produces large, consistent sequence datasets that can be used for machine learning applications to further develop and optimize these antibodies.
Our synaptic cleft panel includes antibodies for receptor families like Neurexins, Neuroligins, Teneurins, Latrophilins and Eph receptors. We are also developing panels for axon guidance receptor/ligand families and for glial cell markers. We are mapping cross-family interactions and identifying how they can be modulated using our antibodies. Each reagent is evaluated for binding kinetics, potency, specificity, and aggregation, and formulated as chimeric human/rabbit antibodies.
These antibodies are distributed through Addgene following community validation. We are establishing a crowdsourced validation system with Addgene to build a reliable set of reagents supporting studies in neuronal migration and synaptogenesis. We also welcome input on additional targets that would benefit the field.
Biosketch
Dr. Rob Meijers is the Head of Neuroscience at the Institute for Protein Innovation (IPI), a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing protein science and technology in Boston, United States. At IPI, he leads efforts to develop renewable recombinant antibodies by combining synthetic biotechnology with machine learning protocols. The goal is to produce and distribute well-validated affinity reagents to support the life sciences community. Dr. Meijers’ team focuses on creating antibody panels for neuroscience applications, enabling the study of synapse formation, axon guidance, and other neural processes that require novel protein tools. He also is as a part-time lecturer at Harvard Medical School.