Jennifer Maynard is an American chemist who is the Henry Beckman Professor in Chemical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. Her research considers the development of therapeutic targets for infectious diseases. She was elected a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors in 2023.
Early life and education
Maynard was an undergraduate student in human biology at Stanford University. She moved to the University of Texas at Austin for doctoral research, where she studied antibody therapeutics. She then returned to Stanford as a postdoctoral fellow.
Research and career
Maynard started her independent scientific career at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. She spent two years there, before returning to the University of Texas at Austin, where she was made the Henry Beckman Professor in 2018. Her research considers the use of protein engineering in structural biology.
In Texas, Maynard developed protein-based therapeutics for infectious diseases including Bordetella pertussis and cytomegalovirus (CMV). Maynard created T-cell receptors with antibody-like properties; specifically, they could attach to cells with CMV. Cytomegalovirus impacts more than half of adults over the age of 40. In healthy immune systems, cytomegalovirus lies dormant and T-cells detect and destroy infected cells. However, the T-cell defence is diminished in immunocompromised patients, which can make CMV life-threatening.
Maynard created an antibody that can neutralize the anthrax toxin, which was developed by Elusys Therapeutics as Anthim (Obiltoxaximab). The drug was approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat inhalation anthrax.
In 2021, Maynard joined the board of Releviate Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company that looks to support patients with neuropathic pain.
Awards and honors
2005 David and Lucile Packard Foundation Fellowship
2012 Cockrell School of Engineering Texas Exes Teaching Award
2015 University of Texas “Emerging Inventor of the Year” Award
2017 Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering
2023 Elected Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors
Selected publications
References
Year of birth missing (living people) Living people American women chemists 21st-century American chemists 21st-century American women scientists Stanford University alumni University of Texas at Austin alumni Stanford University fellows University of Minnesota faculty University of Texas at Austin faculty Fellows of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering