Computational biology and virology research

Our Research

We investigate how viruses interact with their hosts at the molecular level. Using computational biology, structural bioinformatics, and machine learning, we study the molecular events underpinning viral infection, and design therapeutic strategies against emerging viral threats.

Research Themes

Zoonotic and pathogenic potential of emerging viruses

Outbreaks of zoonotic viruses such as SARS-CoV, MERS, SARS-CoV-2, Zika, Ebola, and Influenza A demonstrate how quickly local outbreaks can become global threats.

We develop computational tools that assess the zoonotic risk and immune evasion potential of emerging viruses.

We aim to build early-warning systems that help identify rapidly future pandemic risks.

Host genetic variation in viral infections

The outcome of viral infections is influenced by pathogen and host genetics. Our lab integrates protein structure, multi-omics, and machine learning to reveal genotype–to-phenotype associations. These insights support the development of personalised antiviral and immunomodulatory therapies.

Molecular interactions underpinning viral infectious diseases

Viruses rely on the host’s cellular machinery and virus-host protein-protein interactions to complete their life cycle.

We use computational structural biology to model these protein–protein interactions, identify potential drug targets and design novel therapeutic proteins.

Group Leader

A black and white image of a man smiling.

Gorka Lasso

Associate Professor

Dr Gorka Lasso founded the Lasso Lab at UCL in 2025, driven by a passion for understanding how protein sequence, structure, and function intersect in viral infections.

Before joining UCL, he held research positions at Columbia University and Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. His work integrates structural biology, computational modelling, and immunology to decode the molecular rules of viral infection and host defence.

Join us

We welcome applications from motivated undergraduate, postgraduate, and postdoctoral researchers interested in computational biology and virology

Email us

Selected Publications

Selected publications that set up the foundations for the Lasso Lab (*Co-first; †Corresponding)

A full list of publications can be found on Pubmed and Google scholar.

Lasso G*†, Grodus M*, Valencia E*, DeJesus V, Liang E, Delwel I, Bortz RH, Lupyan D, Ehrlich HY, Castellanos AA, Gazzo A, Wells HL, Wacharapluesadee S, Tremeau-Bravard A, Seetahal JFR, Hughes T, Lee J, Lee M-H, Sjodin AR, Geldenhuys M, Mortlock M, Navarrete-Macias I, Gilardi K, Willig MR, Nava AFD, Loh EH, Asrat M, Smiley-Evans T, Magesa WS, Zikankuba S, Wolking D, Suzán G, Ojeda-Flores R, Carrington CVF, Islam A, Esptein JH, Markotter W, Johnson CK, Goldstein T, Han BA, Mazet JAK, Jangra RK†, Chandran K†, Anthony SJ†. Decoding the blueprint of receptor binding by filoviruses through large-scale binding assays and machine learning. Cell Host Microb. 2025 Feb 12;33(2):294-313.e11
Lasso G*, Khan S*, Allen SA*, Mariano M, Florez C, Orner EP, Quiroz JA, Quevedo G, Massimi A, Hegde A, Wirchnianski AS, Bortz RH 3rd, Malonis RJ, Georgiev GI, Tong K, Herrera NG, Morano NC, Garforth SJ, Malaviya A, Khokhar A, Laudermilch E, Dieterle EM, Fels JM, Haslwanter D, Jangra RK, Barnhill J, Almo SC, Chandran K†, Lai JR†, Kelly L†, Daily JP†, Vergnolle O† (2022). Longitudinally Monitored Immune Biomarkers Predict the Timing of COVID-19 Outcomes. PLOS Comput Biol. Jan 18;18(1):e1009778
Haslwanter D, Lasso G, Wec AZ, Furtado ND, Raphael LMS, Sun Y, Stransky S, Pedreño-Lopez N, Tse A, Correia CA, Bornholdt ZA, Sakharkar M, Avelino-Silva VI, Moyer CL, Watkins DI, Kallas EG, Sidoli S, Walker LM, Bonaldo MC†, Chandran K† (2022). Genotype-specific Features Reduce the Susceptibility of South American Yellow Fever Virus Strains to Vaccine-Induced Antibodies. Cell Host Microb Feb 9;30(2):248-259.e6
Wells H L, Letko M, Lasso G, Ssebide B, Nziza J, Byarugaba DK, Navarrete-Macias I, Liang E, Cranfield M, Han BA, Tingley MW, Diuk-Wasser M, Goldstein T, Johnson CK, Mazet JAK, Chandran K, Munster VJ, Gilardi K, Anthony SJ†. (2021) The evolutionary history of ACE2 usage within the coronavirus subgenus Sarbecovirus. Virus Evol. Virus Feb 5;7(1):veab007.
Lasso G, Honig B, Shapira SD†. (2021) A Sweep of Earth’s Virome Reveals Host-Guided Viral Protein Structural Mimicry and Points to Determinants of Human Disease. Cell Syst. Jan20; 12(1):82-91.e3.
Lasso G, Mayer SV, Winkelman ER, Chu T, Elliot O, Patino-Galindo JA, Park k, Rabadan R, Honig B†, Shapira SD†. (2019) A structure informed atlas of human-virus interactions. Cell Sep 5; 178(6):1526-1541.e16.
Goldstein T*, Anthony SJ*, Gbakima A, Bird BH, Bangura J, Tremeau-Bravard A, Belaganahalli MN, Wells HL, Dhanota JK, Liang E, Grodus M, Jangra RK, DeJesus VA, Lasso G, Smith BR, Jambai A, Kamara BO, Kamara S, Bangura W, Monagin C, Shapira S, Johnson CK, Saylors K, Rubin EM, Chandran K, Lipkin WI, Mazet JAK. (2018) The discovery of Bombali virus adds further support for bats as hosts of ebolaviruses. Nat Microbiol Oct;3(10):1084-1089