Jason is a postdoctoral researcher specializing in the development and engineering of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, with a focus on addressing opioid misuse. In the Pravetoni lab, his research is centered on developing vaccines and antibodies that target drugs of abuse, with a strong interest in translating these discoveries into commercial products.
Jason’s current projects involve optimizing monoclonal antibodies against fentanyl and its analogs through affinity maturation using display libraries and employing in silico approaches to optimize antibody candidates and extend their half-life. He is also exploring mRNA-encoded immune modulators to boost the efficacy of opioid vaccines and working on developing monoclonal antibodies to counteract emerging drugs of abuse like xylazine.
Outside of lab, Jason enjoys exploring Seattle’s outdoors through cycling, hiking, and snowboarding. He also has a passion for photography, cooking, and playing the piano. As a football fan, he’s adopted the Seahawks as his local favorite.
Jason can be reached at jakang[at]uw.edu or through our contact form.