Synthetic Antibodies
Transforming global health equality with synthetic antibodies
The University of Warwick’s new STEM Connect programme marks a bold step forward in interdisciplinary research and global impact. STEM Connect is part of the wider Connect Programme harnessing our power in research, education, and innovation across Social Sciences and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) to ignite real-world progress - within our region, for our nation and at a global scale.
Within this ambitious vision, Dr Alex Baker, who is part of The University of Warwick’s Department of Chemistry, is leading research that aims to transform how diseases are diagnosed and treated in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. By developing alternatives to antibodies, Dr Baker and his interdisciplinary team (the Baker Humanitarian Chemistry GroupLink opens in a new window) are working to overcome the limitations of traditional diagnostic tools and therapeutics – making them more accessible, affordable and effective.
His work, rooted in the principles of humanitarian chemistry, is a powerful example of how STEM Connect is enabling researchers at The University of Warwick to continue developing tangible solutions to real-world problems.
For example, despite lateral flow tests becoming a household item during the Covid-19 pandemic, these devices have long been used in diagnostics, including in pregnancy tests and point-of-care disease screening. Yet behind their simplicity lies a major limitation: the antibodies they rely on are expensive to develop, difficult to store and lose reliability at high temperatures.
This presents a major challenge for global health – particularly in parts of the world where diseases such as malaria, cholera and snakebite remain endemic and resources are limited.
Dr Baker’s research addresses this head-on through the development of synthetic antibodies – robust, cost-effective alternatives that can perform the same vital role in diagnostics without the drawbacks of traditional antibody-based technologies. These synthetic materials are more stable in high temperatures, simpler to produce and have the potential to revolutionise access to life-saving tests in remote and low-income regions.
A compelling example of this work is Dr Baker’s research into identifying snake venom, which causes more than 100,000 deaths each year – primarily in areas where access to rapid, affordable diagnostics is limited. By using synthetic antibodies to detect venom components, Dr Baker and his team are developing a blueprint that could be applied to a range of other neglected tropical diseases beyond snakebite. These diseases disproportionately affect the world’s poorest populations and are often overlooked in funding and research agendas, despite being high on the World Health Organization’s priority list.
Dr Baker’s work exemplifies the goals of STEM Connect: research that is bold, interdisciplinary and driven by purpose. With a strong background in organic, peptide, polymer and carbohydrate chemistry, and a passion for removing barriers to education and opportunity, he brings both scientific expertise and a human-centred ethos to his work.
Beyond the lab, he is a Senior Foundation Fellow at the Warwick Institute of Engagement, a committed educator, and an advocate for widening participation in science – particularly for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Through his innovative research and dedication to science for social good, Dr Baker is showing how The University of Warwick’s STEM community is not only pushing the boundaries of chemistry, but also working to build a healthier, fairer world.