Dr. Manoj T. Duraisingh's lab focuses on understanding malaria, specifically how the malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax becomes resistant to antimalarial drugs and how it interacts with red blood cells. They conduct research to identify genetic factors that contribute to drug resistance and the ability of the parasite to invade different types of red blood cells, which is crucial for designing better treatments and control strategies against this disease.

Dr. Flaminia Catteruccia's lab at Harvard focuses on developing innovative strategies to combat malaria, specifically targeting the mosquitoes that spread the disease. The research involves creating new chemicals that can effectively kill the malaria-causing parasites within the mosquitoes while also addressing the problem of insecticide resistance. By optimizing these compounds to enhance their effectiveness and developing new textile products, the lab aims to contribute significantly to malaria prevention efforts.

Dr. David Masopust's lab at the University of Minnesota focuses on understanding how certain T cells, called resident memory T cells, contribute to both immunity and disease. The lab explores how these cells function in response to infections, their longevity, and their potential roles in autoimmunity and cancer therapy. Through innovative mouse models and experimental techniques, the research aims to develop new strategies for vaccines and immune therapies that can effectively combat various diseases.

Dr. Mandy Mcgeachy's lab at Cornell University focuses on understanding how specific immune cells called Th17 cells can either protect the body from infections or contribute to autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis. The lab studies molecular mechanisms that influence Th17 cell behavior, especially a process called post-transcriptional regulation, which affects how these cells express key proteins involved in inflammation. By uncovering these pathways, the lab hopes to identify new therapeutic targets that can help manage autoimmune conditions.

Dr. James B. Mclachlan's lab at Tulane University focuses on improving vaccine design to better protect against infections that enter the body through mucosal surfaces, such as the lungs and gastrointestinal tract. The lab investigates how different adjuvants can enhance immune responses in these areas, leading to better protection against diseases caused by bacteria and viruses. By exploring the mechanisms of immune response, the lab aims to develop more effective vaccines that induce both cellular and humoral immunity in mucosal tissues.

Dr. Marlies Meisel's lab focuses on understanding how certain gut bacteria affect the immune system's ability to fight cancer, particularly in patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). The research aims to explore how these bacteria enhance the efficacy of cancer therapies by increasing the activity of T cells that attack tumors. Ultimately, the goal is to identify new approaches that can improve treatment outcomes for cancer patients resistant to current therapies.

Dr. Liat Shenhav's lab at NYU School of Medicine investigates how early-life factors, particularly breastfeeding and the development of the microbiome, affect respiratory health in children. They are using advanced algorithms and animal studies to uncover the connections between microbial colonization and the risk of childhood asthma. By analyzing data from large birth cohorts, the lab aims to improve our understanding of how microbial communities influence health outcomes and identify new prevention strategies for respiratory diseases.

Dr. Bibhuti Bhusan Mishra's lab at Albany Medical College studies how lung cells respond to tuberculosis, a serious infectious disease. They focus on understanding the role of specific immune signaling pathways in the lungs to maintain health and prevent disease progression. By exploring how lung cells communicate with immune cells, the lab aims to uncover new strategies for developing therapies and vaccines against tuberculosis.

Dr. Claudia V Jakubzick leads a research lab at Dartmouth College that focuses on understanding the role of mononuclear phagocytes in the immune system. Her lab compares the function and gene expression of these immune cells in both humans and mice to identify their similarities and differences. This work aims to improve our understanding of how these cells respond to infections and how this knowledge can be applied to develop better treatments for diseases.

Bethany B. Moore's lab at the University of Michigan focuses on understanding how the immune system interacts with lung cells during injury and fibrosis. They study the role of specific immune and structural cells in managing lung health, especially how these interactions can influence infections and fibrosis. The lab aims to develop targeted therapies for lung diseases that arise from chronic inflammation and to improve the immune responses in fibrotic lungs.

Dr. Nathaniel J. Moorman's lab studies how human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) affects the way human cells make proteins. When HCMV infects a cell, it seems to boost the overall protein production, but the lab is uncovering that this process is more complicated than it looks. They explore how specific cellular and viral factors interact to regulate which viral and cellular proteins are produced during infection. This research could lead to new therapies for HCMV by targeting how the virus manipulates cell biology.

The lab led by Dr. Laurence Morel focuses on understanding systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease characterized by inappropriate immune responses. They investigate how specific cells in the immune system, particularly follicular helper T cells, contribute to the disease, and explore the effects of gut bacteria on immune function and disease severity. By studying the interaction between metabolism and immune response, the lab aims to find potential treatments to alleviate lupus symptoms through dietary and pharmacological interventions.

The Jacobson lab at the University of Massachusetts Medical School focuses on understanding how specific types of mRNA are degraded when they contain errors, such as premature termination signals. By studying yeast as a model organism, the lab investigates the underlying mechanisms of a quality control process called nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD). Their work not only deepens our comprehension of mRNA behavior but also aims to improve therapies for genetic diseases related to these mechanisms.

David R. Martinez's lab at Yale University is focused on developing innovative mucosal vaccines aimed at providing robust and long-lasting protection against respiratory viruses, particularly coronaviruses. The lab studies how specific adjuvants can enhance the immune response in the respiratory tract, looking to elicit protective IgA antibodies that can prevent the spread of infections. Through various experimental models, the lab aims to improve vaccination strategies to combat current and future viral threats.

Dr. Purnima Dubey's research lab at Ohio State University focuses on developing advanced vaccines to combat respiratory infections, particularly those caused by SARS-CoV-2 and Bordetella pertussis. The lab aims to create mucosal vaccines that not only provide immediate protection against these pathogens but also induce long-lasting immune responses. By exploring innovative adjuvants and novel immunogenic proteins, the research seeks to improve vaccine efficacy significantly and reduce transmission of these diseases.

Dr. James Munro's lab conducts research focused on understanding viral mechanisms, particularly for HIV, influenza, and Ebola viruses. The lab investigates viral proteins that play critical roles in how viruses enter host cells and how they can potentially be targeted for better therapeutics. By exploring the structure and dynamics of viral membrane proteins, the lab aims to develop new strategies to treat or even eradicate viral infections.

Dr. Tomoyuki Murakami's lab focuses on understanding how certain cells in the lymph nodes help maintain HIV-1 infections in patients receiving treatment. The lab investigates a specific type of cell called fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) and how they might support the survival of HIV-infected T cells. By exploring these mechanisms, the lab aims to find ways to eliminate hidden viral reservoirs and improve cures for AIDS.

Eain Murphy's lab at Upstate Medical University focuses on understanding the link between neurotropic viral infections and Alzheimer's Disease. The research explores how infections by certain herpesviruses might influence the progression of the disease by altering key proteins involved in neurodegeneration. Using advanced 3D brain models, the lab aims to shed light on the biological mechanisms that could lead to new therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's Disease.

Dr. Venkatesh N Murthy's lab at Harvard University focuses on understanding how animals make decisions based on sensory information, particularly in relation to smell. They study how the brain learns and maintains representations of odors, examines the neural circuits involved in tracking these scents, and investigates how experiences affect learning in the brain. Their work combines behavioral experiments with advanced imaging techniques to uncover the neural mechanisms that underpin decision-making and sensory processing.

Dr. Muthukumar Balasubramaniam's lab focuses on understanding how HIV-1 can evade the immune system in certain individuals known as elite controllers. These elite controllers can manage their HIV infection without the need for constant treatment. The research looks into the molecular interactions between the virus and the host's immune factors that could lead to potential new therapies or even a functional cure for HIV/AIDS.