StiRx Announces Appointment of Harvard Immunologist Michael Starnbach, PhD, to Scientific Advisory Board

Boston, MA — March 2026. StiRx today announced that Michael Starnbach, PhD, Professor of Microbiology and Immunobiology at Harvard Medical School, has joined the company’s Scientific Advisory Board.

Dr. Starnbach is internationally recognized for his pioneering work on T-cell immunity to intracellular bacterial pathogens, including Chlamydia trachomatis. His research has advanced understanding of how CD8⁺ T cells recognize infected cells and contribute to immune defense against intracellular bacteria, with important implications for vaccine development and host–pathogen biology.

As a member of the StiRx Scientific Advisory Board, Dr. Starnbach will contribute expertise in cellular immunology, antigen presentation, and host–pathogen interactions relevant to the company’s programs targeting bacterial sexually transmitted infections.

StiRx is developing a portfolio of precision biologics, including long-acting mono and bispecific antibodies, and vaccines, designed to provide durable protection against sexually transmitted bacterial infections. The company’s lead program, STX-426, is a long-acting monoclonal antibody targeting Neisseria gonorrhoeae, designed for high-risk individuals already engaged in HIV PrEP programs and routine STI screening networks.