Christopher Pinney is a structural biologist and virologist whose research centers on how protein-protein interactions (PPIs) drive cellular processes—and how viruses exploit these interactions to promote infection. With a strong foundation in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), cell biology, and structural analysis, Pinney is working to illuminate the mechanisms that underpin membrane trafficking and viral egress, particularly in the context of SARS-CoV-2.
As a postbaccalaureate research intern in Dr. Alex Miller’s lab at the University of Iowa, Pinney investigated the SARS-CoV-2 accessory protein ORF3a and its interaction with VPS39, a host factor involved in lysosomal trafficking. He resolved high-resolution cryo-EM structures of ORF3a in complex with VPS39 and under lysosome-mimicking acidic conditions, uncovering conformational changes associated with viral localization and egress. His studies not only defined a novel ORF3a-VPS39 binding interface but also demonstrated that disrupting this interface attenuates viral proliferation—offering new insights into the lysosomal egress pathway of SARS-CoV-2.
Pinney brings a wide-ranging research background to his Ph.D. studies. As an undergraduate, he worked on bacteriophage isolation targeting antibiotic-resistant bacteria, conducted fieldwork on avian influenza surveillance, and monitored SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. He also explored immune cell exhaustion in chronic viral infections through CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and flow cytometry as a Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) intern.
Pinney joined the Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. program at the St. Jude Graduate School to expand his structural and cellular biology expertise in an environment uniquely equipped for high-impact discovery. With access to the St. Jude Cryo-EM Center and a collaborative, disease-focused research community, he aims to deepen our understanding of how protein complexes function in both viral and disease contexts—and ultimately translate those insights into therapeutic innovation.
Hometown: Milpitas, CA
Education:
2023 - BS, Microbiology – California State University, Chico
Awards/Honors/Scholarships:
2025 - American Society for Virology Student Travel Award
2023 - Student Award for Research & Creativity Grant – California State University, Chico
2023 - Tom Rodgers Outstanding Researcher Award – California State University, Chico