UC San Diego’s new Astrobiotechnology Hub brings together leaders in academia, biotechnology and aerospace industries under a united mission to advance stem cell science and commercialization in space.
Tag: Immunology
CDI, Axiom Space Sign Agreement to Pursue Science – In Space
Hackensack Meridian science institute, commercial space leader to work together beyond our atmosphere for clues to better protect human health
New $17 million grant establishes LJI as global hub for immunology data curation and analysis
A new grant of over $17 million from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has established La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) as the leading institute for human immunology data curation, analysis, and dissemination. With this funding, LJI has taken the helm of the Human Immunology Project Consortium Data Coordinating Center, a critical tool in the effort to fuel scientific collaboration in immunoprofiling and highlight findings from the overall Human Immunology Project Consortium (HIPC).
Cleveland Clinic Announces Next Step in Preventive Breast Cancer Vaccine Study
Cleveland Clinic researchers have launched the next step in their novel study of a vaccine aimed at preventing triple-negative breast cancer, the most aggressive and lethal form of the disease.
Thirumala-Devi Kanneganti, Ph.D. named 2022 AAAS Fellow
Immunologist recognized for her achievements in the field of innate immunity, developing new concepts in inflammasome biology and inflammatory cell death, PANoptosis.
Artificial Intelligence Aids Discovery of Super Tight-Binding Antibodies
UC San Diego scientists developed an artificial intelligence tool that could accelerate the development of new high affinity antibody drugs.
Tissue-Specific Immunity May Be the Future, if We Can First Learn its Rules
UC San Diego study reveals critical insights into the complex biology of tissue-specific T cells, paving the way for a new branch of precision therapeutics in immunity, autoimmunity, and cancer.
UT Southwestern immunologists uncover obesity-linked trigger to severe form of liver disease
UT Southwestern immunologists have uncovered a key pathogenic event prompted by obesity that can trigger severe forms of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and potential liver failure.
New Look at an Ancient Disease: Study Finds Novel Treatment Targets for Gout
UC San Diego scientists identify a new molecular model and potential therapeutic target for gout, the most common form of inflammatory arthritis.
LJI Instructor Annie Elong Ngono, Ph.D., wins GVN support to advance infectious disease research
LJI Instructor Annie Elong Ngono, Ph.D., has spearheaded important studies into the immune response to deadly pathogens such as dengue virus. Now, this dedication to global health and virology has earned her acceptance to the Global Virus Network’s (GVN) highly selective Rising Star Mentorship Program.
LJI researchers find missing piece of the asthma puzzle
“This is a very striking and significant result that essentially separates LIGHT from any of the other inflammatory cytokines that have been implicated in the process in severe asthmatics.”
LJI scientists confirm smallpox vaccine also teaches T cells to fight mpox
“Vaccines such as JYNNEOS should be able to induce T cells that also recognize mpox and can provide protection from severe disease.”
The American Association of Immunologists Announces 2022 Recipients of the Travel for Techniques Awards Program
The American Association of Immunologists, a FASEB member society, supports scientists’ career development by providing travel awards to those interested in traveling to learn techniques needed for their research.
UT Southwestern scientists among top 1% of highly cited researchers across the globe
More than 20 UT Southwestern Medical Center scientists are among the 2022 Highly Cited Researchers listed in the top 1% of researchers from across the globe
Andrew Sabin Family Foundation doubles down on commitment to end cancer with $10M gift
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center today announced a $10 million gift to the James P. Allison Institute from the Andrew Sabin Family Foundation and Andrew “Andy” Sabin, a senior member of the MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors (BOV). The gift is the philanthropist’s second multimillion-dollar commitment to MD Anderson in less than 10 years.
Bring “Highly Cited” immunologists to your podcast guests
The 2022 “Highly Cited Researchers” list from Clarivate includes several La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) scientists well versed in lay friendly communication. These experts are ready to share exciting new research with media and podcast outlets. Contact [email protected] to set up an interview and make arrangements for high quality audio capture.
Albert Einstein College of Medicine Researchers Develop Promising New Cancer Therapy
Immune checkpoint inhibitors such as Keytruda and Opdivo work by unleashing the immune system’s T cells to attack tumor cells. Their introduction a decade ago marked a major advance in cancer therapy, but only 10% to 30% of treated patients experience long-term improvement. In a paper published online today in The Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI), scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine describe findings that could bolster the effectiveness of immune-checkpoint therapy.
Treating parents’ depression boosts treatment of children’s asthma, UTSW study finds
Curbing depression among caregivers improves control of asthma and lung function in children
Efficient nanovaccine delivery system boosts cellular immunity
Cancer immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibition therapy, have been attracting attention in recent years as new methods for treating cancer.
Breast Cancer Research Foundation Renews Support for Mount Sinai Research on Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) has renewed its funding to Elisa Port, MD, and Hanna Irie, MD, PhD, to study new therapeutic approaches that target aggressive triple-negative breast cancer. The latest installment of $225,000 brings the total to almost $2 million over the past nine years. It will fund research into the immune microenvironment of triple-negative breast cancer in order to identify new strategies to enhance cancer-fighting immune responses for this aggressive breast cancer, which traditionally has few options for treatment.
The American Association of Immunologists Announces 2022 Recipients of the Careers in Immunology Fellowships
The American Association of Immunologists, a FASEB member society, supports the career development of young scientists by providing eligible principal investigators with one year of salary support for a trainee in their labs.
Cecilia Lindestam Arlehamn wins WHAM Edge Award funding to study sex-based differences in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases
Cecilia Lindestam Arlehamn, Ph.D., aims to shed light on how sex-based immune system differences may affect the development and progression of these neurodegenerative diseases in men versus women.
CANCER RESEARCH INSTITUTE TO HOST ANNUAL VIRTUAL IMMUNOTHERAPY PATIENT SUMMIT ON NOVEMBER 11-12, 2022
Free online event for cancer patients and caregivers featuring immunotherapy experts and patient advocates taking place Nov. 11-12, 2022.
Global Virus Network (GVN) Adds Thailand’s Mahidol University as Newest Member to Combat Viral Threats
The Global Virus Network (GVN), representing 68 Centers of Excellence and 11 Affiliates in 39 countries comprising foremost experts in every class of virus causing disease in humans, and the Mahidol University in Thailand announced the addition of the Mahidol Virus Network as GVN’s newest Center of Excellence.
Today: ANA2022 Media Roundtable to Spotlight Latest in Neuro Research
As the American Neurological Association’s 147th Annual Meeting wraps up today, October 25, the ANA is holding a Media Roundtable at 11 a.m. U.S. Central for reporters to access the latest developments in neurology and neuroscience.
How human cells become Zika virus factories
Scientists solve mystery of how Zika virus targets key immune cell. New finding shed light on how to stop virus from spreading.
CDI Laboratory Identifies Critical Regulators Controlling T-Cell Homeostasis Which Could Improve Cancer Therapies, Vaccines of the Future
The laboratory of Hai-Hui “Howard” Xue at the CDI published the findings of the complex and cascading molecular interactions modulating T-cell immunology in the August issue of the journal Nature Immunology.
CYTOVALE REVEALS 10-MINUTE, 510(K) PENDING CYTOVALE SYSTEM AND INTELLISEP TEST FOR SEPSIS AT AACC 2022
Cytovale®, a medical diagnostics company focused on providing rapid and insightful tools to improve early detection of fast-moving and immune-mediated diseases, will reveal its 510(k) pending Cytovale system and 10-minute IntelliSep® sepsis risk stratification test at the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) annual meeting, where new data featuring the test will also be shared. The instrument can be seen in the Cytovale booth, no. 5045, in the exhibit hall during Clinical Lab Expo hours. The IntelliSep test was recently named an AACC Disruptive Technology Award Semifinalist and is also being featured in the Disruptive Tech area of the exhibit hall during the meeting.
Did Gonorrhea Give Us Grandparents?
UC San Diego researchers tracked the evolution of a gene variant that supports cognitive health in older humans, but may have first emerged to protect against bacteria.
Familiarity Breeds Exempt: Why Staph Vaccines Don’t Work in Humans
UC San Diego researchers say they may have found the reason why multiple human clinical trials of staphylococcus vaccines have failed: the bacteria knows us too well.
Immune Cells Anchored in Tissues Offer Unique Defenses Against Pathogens and Cancers
Researchers are expanding their understanding of unique immune “memory” cells equipped to remember malicious invaders. They developed an atlas that describes tissue-resident memory cells in diverse settings, boosting prospects for new immune defense strategies at vulnerable infection sites.
Researchers Continue Study of COVID-19 Vaccinations, Pregnancy and Postpartum
A $10 million grant over four years will support further examination of a national study looking at COVID-19 vaccination safety during pregnancy and immune response pre-and post-delivery for both mom and baby.
Cancer Research Institute Names Newest Class of Lloyd J. Old STARs, Today’s Visionaries in Cancer Immunotherapy Research
Six U.S. scientists have been awarded $1.25 million each over 5 years to conduct high-risk, high-reward cancer immunology research with the potential to transform cancer treatment
Pushing T cells down “memory lane” may improve cancer therapy
Scientists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital identified proteins that help decide T cell fate and used the finding to improve CAR-T cell therapy in a solid tumor model.
COVID-19 Rebound after Taking Paxlovid Likely Due to Insufficient Drug Exposure
COVID-19 rebound following Paxlovid treatment likely due to insufficient drug exposure, UC San Diego researchers find after showing rebound patient did not show drug resistance or impaired immunity.
Wistar Scientists Identify Novel Therapeutic Approach to Re-activate Immune Response Against Tumors
Wistar scientists identified that inhibiting therapeutic target KDM5A boosts a person’s immune response to tumors.
Rethinking the rabies vaccine
Rabies virus kills a shocking 59,000 people each year, many of them children. In a new study, researchers from La Jolla Institute for Immunology and Institut Pasteur share a promising path to better vaccine design.
Mount Sinai Researchers Develop a Rapid Test to Measure Immunity to COVID-19
Mount Sinai researchers have developed a rapid blood assay that measures the magnitude and duration of someone’s immunity to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This test will allow large-scale monitoring of the population’s immunity and the effectiveness of current vaccines to help design revaccination strategies for vulnerable immunosuppressed individuals, according to a study published in Nature Biotechnology in June.
Penn Medicine Developed CAR T Cell Therapy Wins Third FDA Approval
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded its approval for a personalized cellular therapy developed at the University of Pennsylvania’s Abramson Cancer Center, this time for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (FL) after two or more lines of systemic therapy. The accelerated approval was granted today to Novartis for the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy Kymriah® (tisagenlecleucel), making it the third indication for the nation’s first personalized cellular therapy for cancer. It remains the only CAR-T cell therapy approved for both adult and pediatric patients.
Haywire T cells attack protein in “bad” cholesterol
Detecting these T cells may lead to diagnostics to better detect heart disease—and disease severity.
Uncovering new details of the brain’s first line of defense
Thanks to over a century of modern neuroscience, we have made significant strides in our understanding of the brain.
COVID-19, MIS-C and Kawasaki Disease Share Same Immune Response
COVID-19, MIS-C and KD all share a similar underlying mechanism involving the over-activation of particular inflammatory pathways, UC San Diego study shows. Findings support novel drug targets for MIS-C.
Cleveland Clinic Appoints Ted Ross, Ph.D., as Global Director of Vaccine Development
Ted Ross, Ph.D., has been appointed Global Director of Vaccine Development at Cleveland Clinic.
In this newly created role, he will lead the development of novel vaccine platforms for a variety of infectious diseases, including influenza, HIV and COVID-19. A highly renowned scientist with expertise in virology, vaccines, immunology and microbiology, Dr. Ross’ research focuses on the design of new vaccines and the implementation of new vaccine trials.
GABA released by B-cells blunts the immune response to tumors
A group of scientists led by researchers from the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences have discovered that B-cells, a type of immune cell, secrete the neurotransmitter GABA, and also found that the GABA secreted by the B-cells promoted the emergence of anti-inflammatory macrophages, blunting the body’s cytotoxic T-cell-based response to tumors.
Cancer Research Institute to Honor Developers of COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines in Historic Gathering: “This Technology Will Play a Big Role in Cancer Treatment”
CRI will bestow the 2021 William B. Coley Award for Distinguished Research in Basic Immunology on four mRNA vaccine scientists followed by roundtable on origin and future application to cancer treatment.
Tumor Reasons Why Cancers Thrive in Chromosomal Chaos
University of California San Diego researchers describe how a pair of fundamental genetic and cellular processes — aneuploidy and unfolded protein response — are exploited by cancer cells to promote tumor survival and growth.
Hepatitis A Vaccination Required for Herd Immunity in People Experiencing Homelessness or Who Use Drugs
In the U.S., hepatitis A outbreaks are repeatedly affecting people experiencing homelessness or who use drugs. A 2017-19 Kentucky outbreak primarily among these groups resulted in 501 cases, six deaths. Vaccination efforts likely averted 30 hospitalizations and $490K in costs,…
Mount Sinai Launches the Brain and Body Research Center, Among the First in the U.S.to Focus Solely on How the Brain and Body Interact
Have you ever experienced a stressful time in your life and then caught a cold, or wondered why you feel sad and depressed when you’re sick? It turns out that it’s not all in your head.
Recent research spanning the fields of neuroscience and immunology suggests that when the brain senses a threat in the environment—whether it be physical, psychological, or social—it sends signals via a complex network of peripheral nerves that mobilize the immune system, readying it to protect us from injury.
New potential factor contributing to severity of COVID-19 identified
The University of Kent’s School of Biosciences and the Institute of Medical Virology at Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, have identified a protein that may critically contribute to severe forms of COVID-19.
Researchers explain how nanomaterial aids antibody response, study it as antibody factory
Iowa State researchers affiliated with the Nanovaccine Institute have explained how a nanomaterial initiates antibody production by the immune system’s B cells. The technique could be used to turn B cells into factories that provide antibodies for diagnostic tests or treatments.