His laboratory at Harvard is currently focused on understanding fundamental host-pathogen interactions that lead to virulence and the development of protective immunity to intracellular bacterial pathogens. Dr. Higgins has served as an Editorial Board Member on several prominent journals in the field and has led research projects in collaboration with the New England Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Boston Children’s Hospital, and the Dana Farber Cancer Center. Dr. Higgins is also inventor on several patents and co-founded Genocea Biosciences, a company that aims to commercialize key breakthroughs in vaccine discovery and development with a focus on intracellular pathogens.