Kartik Chandran, a biologist at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, studies high‑consequence viruses in the hope of finding potential targets for treatment development.
Image credit:Albert Einstein College of Medicine
How the Ebola Virus Secures the Keys to Enter Cells
After more than 30 years studying viruses, Chandran has developed a deep appreciation for these agents. While they are simple compared with cells, their molecular interactions are exceedingly complex.
To handle highly pathogenic viruses safely without needing top‑level biocontainment, his team uses surrogate viruses—modified versions that retain the key entry proteins but are much less dangerous. “You’ve basically got a sheep in wolf’s clothing,” Chandran explained.
Taking Ebola Studies From the Bench to the Clinic
In the past decade Chandran has moved his bench discoveries toward clinical applications, focusing on an antibody‑based treatment for Ebola. The 2014‑2016 West African outbreak—the largest since the virus was identified in 1976—motivated this shift.
Collaborating with Mapp Biopharmaceutical and other teams, he helped develop the MBP134 antibody cocktail. By building on his earlier work that identified the viral entry machinery, the group isolated antibodies from Ebola survivors and combined them into MBP134. Pre‑clinical tests demonstrated protection in mice, guinea pigs, ferrets, and non‑human primates against three *Ebolavirus* species. The therapy is now being evaluated in patients during the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“I’m very proud of being part of these efforts to develop therapeutic antibodies that are now being tested in people,” Chandran said. “When I started my lab, I never thought I would be involved in taking things into the clinic.”
Scientific Collaborations: Combined Expertise to Further Research
For the past 14 years Chandran has led multi‑institutional initiatives aimed at combating deadly viruses. One example is the Prometheus project, which pursued antibody therapies against the tick‑borne Crimean‑Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) and several hantaviruses.
The networks and expertise generated through Prometheus enabled the launch of the PROVIDENT project in 2025, a component of the NIH‑funded ReVAMPP Network. PROVIDENT targets three virus families—including hantaviruses and CCHFV—to develop both antibody and vaccine countermeasures. Recent work from the consortium showed that antibodies directed against a CCHFV‑secreted glycoprotein that disrupts endothelial barriers can reduce vascular leakage and viral load in infected mice.
“We can’t always predict exactly which virus will cause an outbreak, but we can build prototype systems for likely pathogens and be ready to respond quickly when they emerge,” Chandran noted.
Beyond his research, Chandran is dedicated to mentorship. He strives to create a supportive lab culture where trainees can thrive and go on to achieve great things. “If the people I’ve trained remember their time in the lab fondly and as a positive formative experience, I feel that’s probably the greatest accomplishment you could have,” he said.