Dr. Ann Hessell earned a B.S. in Molecular Biology at the University of California, San Diego and a Ph.D. at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. Before coming to OHSU in 2010, Dr. Hessell trained at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, CA. While at Scripps, she studied broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) isolated from natural HIV infection and led several studies in nonhuman primates (NHP) that have contributed crucial information in defining antibody protection. Based on this work, she published a series of papers demonstrating that bNAbs, if present before virus exposure, can block infection. One of these publications is considered seminal in the field, confirming that Fc receptor binding of antibodies is a requirement for optimal protection against HIV infection. Dr. Hessell also holds joint affiliate appointments within the Divisions of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences and the Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute at the Oregon National Primate Research Center.

The Hessell laboratory primarily conducts research focused on antibody-mediated protection from HIV infection. We have performed multiple studies using active and passive immunization in nonhuman primate models. Our passive studies have made important contributions toward a full understanding of the mechanism of antibody-mediated protection and the beneficial roles for monoclonal antibodies beyond direct protection. Our active immunization studies have led to new investigations of the immune repertoire of vaccinated macaques using single B-cell sorting techniques and subsequent cloning of monoclonal antibodies for further characterization. We aim to identify individual Env-specific B cells and to uncover antibody specificities elicited by immunization that may provide signatures of a protective antibody response elicited by a given vaccine candidate.