Laetitia Comps-Agrar
Principal Scientist (Technology), Biochemical and Cellular Pharmacology
"I am fortunate to work in such a highly collaborative environment with top-tiered scientists, who aim at conducting high quality science and translate it into transformative medicines for patients."
I obtained a PhD in Molecular Pharmacology at the University of Montpellier, France, where I studied the pharmacology of G-protein coupled receptors and delineated how their oligomerization influences their physiological function. I joined Genentech as a post-doctoral fellow in 2011. During that time, I was involved in three research projects that translated into molecules that made it to the clinic. This was an exciting time that contributed to my decision to stay with the company as a scientist and lead my own lab. I could not think of a better place to do science at its highest level and translate these findings into therapeutics that could benefit patients.
Currently, my group supports therapeutic antibodies efforts within multi-disciplinary project teams in the therapeutic areas of ocular, cancer-immunology and oncology.
Featured Publication
Massive antibody discovery used to probe structure-function relationships of the essential outer membrane protein LptD.
Elife 8. pii: e46258. (2019).
Storek KM, Chan J, Vij R, Chiang N, Lin Z, Bevers J 3rd, Koth CM, Vernes JM, Meng YG, Yin J, Wallweber H, Dalmas O, Shriver S, Tam C, Schneider K, Seshasayee D, Nakamura G, Smith PA, Payandeh J*, Koerber JT*, Comps-Agrar L*, Rutherford ST*. (*co-corresponding author)
Unliganded fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 forms density-independent dimers.
J Biol Chem. 290(40):24166-77. (2015).
Comps-Agrar L*, Dunshee DR, Eaton DL, Sonoda J*. (*co-corresponding author)
The immunoreceptor TIGIT regulates anti-tumor and anti-viral CD8+ T cell effector function.
Cancer Cell 26(6):923-37. (2015).
Johnston RJ, Comps-Agrar L, Hackney J, Yu X, Huseni M, Yang Y, Park S, Javinal V, Chiu H, Irving B, Eaton DL, Grogan JL.
The main focus of my lab is to support large molecule therapeutic candidate identification and characterization in a highly collaborative environment. This involves establishing and implementing state-of-the-art technologies enabling the development of functional and bioanalytical assays such as potency, PD biomarker, pharmacokinetic, immunogenicity and stability assays. A particular emphasis is put on identifying physiologically relevant assays that can help predict clinical efficacy and impact the development of lead candidates.
In addition, my lab also supports identification of complex mechanism of actions of candidate molecules by combining cell based biophysical and structure function approaches with identification of cell-signaling pathways activated following target engagement.
I especially have a strong interest in studying protein:protein interactions in a healthy versus a diseased context and understand the impact of therapeutics on these interactions. To this end, my lab has participated in understanding the biology of several cancer immunology targets.
- University of Montpellier II, France, Ph.D. in Molecular Pharmacology – 2010
- University of Montpellier II, France, M.S. in Biotechnology – 2006
- Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse III, France, B.S. in Biotechnology – 2005
- Genentech Key Contributor Award – 2019
- Industrial Ph.D. Fellowship, CIFRE - ANRT – 2006