Edwards Pradenas Saavedra
Edwards Pradenas Saavedra graduated from the University of Concepción (Chile) in 2014 with a degree in Medical Technology (Clinical Bioanalysis, Haematology and Blood Bank specialism), completing a final research project that evaluated two methods for extracting and purifying human genome DNA. From 2015 to 2016 he was in charge of emergencies and quality and was technical director of the SOTEM Clinical Laboratory (Biobio Clinic) in Chile.
Between 2016 and 2017 he completed an MSc in Advanced Immunology at the University of Barcelona-Autonomous University of Barcelona, with a final research project — at IrsiCaixa — on characterizing the humoral response in controllers and non-controllers of HIV-1 infection.
In 2017 he was awarded a grant to fund doctoral studies in Spain by the Chilean government’s Advanced Human Capital Training Programme (National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research; CONICYT). Since 2018 he has been employed as a predoctoral researcher in the IrsiCaixa Cell Virology and Immunology (VIC) group, with Dr Julià Blanco and Dr Jorge Carrillo as his thesis supervisors. His work is focused on characterizing neutralizing antibodies targeting the HIV glycoprotein envelope, with the goal of developing a new vaccine platform.
Immunization with V987H-stabilized Spike glycoprotein protects K18-hACE2 mice and golden Syrian hamsters upon SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Immunisation efficacy of a stabilised SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein in two geriatric animal models.
A monoclonal antibody targeting a large surface of the receptor binding motif shows pan-neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 activity.
Immunogenicity and safety in pigs of PHH-1V, a SARS-CoV-2 RBD fusion heterodimer vaccine candidate.
Safety and immunogenicity of the protein-based PHH-1V compared to BNT162b2 as a heterologous SARS-CoV-2 booster vaccine in adults vaccinated against COVID-19: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, non-inferiority phase IIb trial.