Current:
Postdoctoral Fellow
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Past:
PhD, Clinical Immunology, Mie University
MS, Immunology, Mie University
BS, Biochemistry, University of Ghana

Herrera Lab Research Interests:
Flavivirus outbreaks in Africa often result in fewer severe cases and more inapparent infections compared to other endemic regions—a paradox that remains poorly understood despite the continent’s high burden of transmission. Prince’s research investigates whether widespread pre-existing immunity to yellow fever virus (YFV)—largely driven by routine vaccination and historical exposure—confers cross-protective effects against related flaviviruses such as dengue virus. Using a murine model, he is dissecting the roles of T cells and non-neutralizing antibodies in mediating protection during secondary dengue infections, offering insights into how immune imprinting may influence disease severity. In a separate project, Prince is developing a rapid antigen-based diagnostic test for hepatitis C virus (HCV), another flavivirus but transmitted through blood. Because current diagnostics rely on antibody responses that appear weeks after infection, his work focuses on generating monoclonal antibodies capable of detecting HCV antigens during the early, highly transmissible acute phase—enabling earlier diagnosis and intervention. Together, his work aims to clarify mechanisms of immune protection and address critical diagnostic gaps across diverse flavivirus infections.