Bryant and Erickson will investigate alpha-gal syndrome, a unique allergic condition that can develop following a tick bite. People with alpha-gal sensitivity can experience allergic reactions to foods such as beef, eggs, and milk. Erickson and his collaborators have also linked alpha-gal sensitivity to cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis. Bryant plans to continue her career in biomedical research, bridging fundamental immunology and its application to human health. The Immunology Innovation Fellowship allows her to remain at UVA, join the CIC, and continue developing as an independent scientist – all while significantly advancing Erickson’s research program. Trained in human immunology, Bryant strengthens a growing area of focus in the Erickson Lab. Her expertise will enhance the team’s human sample collection and processing efforts, bring advanced biostatistical approaches to their analyses, and drive the incorporation of imaging mass cytometry for spatial proteomics analysis of the immune response to tick bites in skin. Little is known on how a tick bite can lead to the development of alpha-gal syndrome, so anything gained from Bryants’ work will greatly advance the field. “This project is extremely complex – technically, analytically, and logistically,” says Erickson. “Naomi brings strengths in all three areas. There’s no way I’d be able to do this without her”.

In turn, Erickson is providing Bryant with opportunities to expand her technical skill set, gain experience in mentoring, and build the foundation for an independent research career. Having focused on T cell immunology in her doctoral training, Bryant will now broaden her expertise to encompass other components of the immune system through her work on the alpha-gal project. “Through the Immunology Innovation Award, I have been given the opportunity to explore new areas of scientific research which leverage cutting edge technologies” says Bryant.

Fitzsimmons and Ewald are studying Toxoplasmosa gondii, a parasite that infects humans and causes chronic infections that last a lifetime. Ewald and coworkers have previously shown that nitric oxide synthetase (iNOS) plays an important role in controlling and clearing T. gondii infections. Fitzsimmons is an expert in how iNOS and nitric oxide can control bacterial infections, like Salmonella and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. His experience has allowed him to make an immediate positive impact in the lab. “For 30 years, we have known that nitric oxide shapes parasite biology,” Fitzsimmons explains. “No one knows how or why. Sarah’s and my expertise will allow us to answer those questions.”

“Liam is the one of the strongest postdocs my lab has seen,” says Ewald. “This award recognizes his excellence and will support his future grant and career opportunities.” Fitzsimmons looks forward to a career as an independent researcher and is using his time in the Ewald lab as an opportunity to build the skills he needs for his next career stage. He identifies factors including an independent research environment, mentorship opportunities, and a supportive mentor as making the Ewald lab an ideal fit.

Immunology Innovation Awards are available for postdocs mentored by CIC resident or advisory committee members on a rolling basis. Interested parties should contact Justin Taylor, PhD, for more information.

To watch more Research in Motion videos in this series, visit the School of Medicine website research landing page

Excessive, persistent inflammation can cause long-term problems for the body. In this case, infections can trigger an irregular immune response in the neutrophils and macrophages. These immune cells create chronic inflammation, which in turn makes the lungs a more “tumor-friendly” environment.

Fortunately, vaccinations can prime the immune system to respond appropriately, mitigating this cancer promoting behavior. With the global prevalence of COVID-19 and the flu, these results may alter long-term care plans for patients with severe lung infections. These individuals may warrant extra lung cancer screenings, similar to those smokers receive.

Read more about this study in Research in Motion, here.

We had an excellent showing at the 2026 American Association of Immunologists meeting. Congratulations to all our presenters and award recipients!

A major new federal grant is set to advance research into respiratory immunity at the University of Virginia, where Harrison Distinguished Teaching Professor Jie Sun, PhD, has been awarded a $3.8 million from the National Institutes of Health.

The funding supports a five-year project titled “Decoding Cellular Networks Governing Respiratory Mucosal IgA Immunity,” aimed at uncovering how the body builds immune defenses in the respiratory tract following infection or vaccination.

Sun, who serves in the Department of Medicine’s Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health and Co-Directs the Beirne B. Carter Center for Immunology Research, said the work targets a critical gap in current immunology.

“Despite advances in vaccines and therapeutics, we still lack a clear understanding of how strong mucosal immunity—especially IgA responses—is generated in the respiratory system,” Sun said. “That knowledge is essential for designing the next generation of vaccines.”

Addressing a Key Immunity Gap
Respiratory mucosal immunity, particularly involving immunoglobulin A (IgA), plays a frontline role in defending against airborne pathogens. However, the biological mechanisms that drive robust IgA responses after infection or vaccination remain poorly understood.

This gap has become increasingly important in the wake of evolving respiratory viruses such as COVID-19 and its variants, where improved mucosal protection could significantly reduce transmission and severity.

The NIH-funded R01 project is built around the central hypothesis that effective respiratory immunity depends on localized interactions among pulmonary macrophages, CD4 T cells, and B cells within the lungs and airways.

Three Research Aims
The study will pursue three major objectives:

• Identify how respiratory CD4+ T cells promote IgA production directly within lung tissues.
• Examine how TGFβ-dependent interactions between macrophages and B cells regulate mucosal IgA responses.
• Define the molecular and functional characteristics of cross-reactive IgA-producing B cells that can respond to multiple respiratory pathogens.

Researchers believe these insights could pave the way for vaccines that provide stronger, longer-lasting protection at the site where infections begin.

Collaborative Effort
The project brings together a multidisciplinary team across UVA. Collaborators include:

• In Su Cheon, PhD, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health
• Chongzhi Zang, PhD, Department of Genome Sciences
• Justin Taylor, PhD, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health

Implications for Future Vaccines
By decoding the cellular networks that drive mucosal immunity, the research could inform the development of next-generation vaccines designed not only to prevent severe illness but also to block infection at the point of entry.

Such advances may prove critical in combating emerging respiratory threats, including new variants of SARS-CoV-2 and other airborne pathogens.

“This work has the potential to reshape how we approach vaccine design,” Sun said. “Ultimately, our goal is to enhance protection at the mucosal level and strengthen public health defenses against respiratory diseases.”

See link for full details: https://www.immunology.virginia.edu/event/the-annual-meeting-of-the-aai-located-in-boston-ma/

2026 AAI Meeting Website: https://immunology2026.aai.org/

Look for these CIC members at the 2026 AAI meeting presenting their research.

A vibrant exchange of scientific discovery and potential strategic collaboration took place February 23–24, 2026 at the University of Virginia, as researchers from AstraZeneca met with faculty from across the School of Medicine. 

The Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center and the Beirne B. Carter Center for Immunology Research hosted the two-day event, that brought together members of AstraZeneca’s Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM) team, alongside its Respiratory & Immunology (R&I) team — including representatives from the company’s Open Innovation and Corporate Affairs teams— with UVA investigators and leadership from the School of Medicine (SOM) and the Office of the Vice President for Research (VPR). 

Strong Institutional Engagement 

The meetings reflected deep engagement on both sides. More than 60 UVA faculty laboratories submitted one-page proposals outlining innovative research programs and potential areas for collaboration with AstraZeneca. Following review, 33 labs were selected to present their science and participate in focused discussions about how future collaborations could be structured to accelerate discovery and therapeutic development. 

The breadth of science represented underscored UVA’s strengths across cardiovascular, renal, metabolic, respiratory, and immunologic research. Topics ranged from inflammatory drivers of cardiometabolic disease and immune-mediated tissue injury to biomarker discovery, advanced human model systems, translational data science, and novel therapeutic targets. 

UVA School of Medicine and Office of Research leadership were in attendance throughout the program, signaling institutional commitment to fostering high-impact academic–industry partnerships and supporting pathways that move discovery from bench to bedside. 

Science at the Interface of Disciplines 

A recurring theme of the meetings was the growing intersection between immune biology and cardiometabolic disease. Investigators from across the school of medicine highlighted advances in heart failure, vascular biology, thrombosis, and metabolic regulation. Other colleagues presented cutting-edge work in immune signaling, inflammation, host defense, and tissue homeostasis. 

AstraZeneca scientists engaged deeply with presenters, exploring how UVA’s mechanistic discoveries could align with the company’s global capabilities in drug development, translational medicine, and clinical trials. The presence of AstraZeneca’s Open Innovation Team created opportunities to discuss flexible partnership models, while Corporate Strategy leaders examined long-term alignment and portfolio integration. 

From Dialogue to Discovery 

The format emphasized interaction. Following each presentation, robust scientific discussion focused not only on experimental findings but also on practical next steps — from target validation and preclinical modeling to biomarker strategy and patient stratification. 

Networking sessions and smaller breakout meetings allowed faculty and AstraZeneca representatives to explore specific collaboration concepts in greater depth. Conversations centered on building sustainable connections designed to generate new discoveries and ultimately improve outcomes for patients worldwide. 

With strong participation, engaged institutional leadership, and cross-disciplinary scientific exchange, the February gathering marked an important milestone in strengthening ties between UVA and AstraZeneca. Participants left with a shared sense of momentum — and a commitment to advancing innovative science through collaboration in service of global patient care.

Link to Article on the UVA Research Website

As Beirne Carter predicted in 1989 when he established the CIC, immunology has emerged as a pivotal discipline in the discovery of new treatments for a host of conditions such as autoimmunity, cancer, infection, neurologic, allergic, cardiometabolic, renal and lung disease.  “Today, immunologists in the CIC are discovering novel immune mechanisms and pathways with the potential to lead to new and improved therapies for patients with these immune-mediated diseases,” explains Coleen McNamara, MD (Co-Director of the CIC). Yet, translating research discoveries in immunology from the lab to the clinic can be challenging and burdensome. 

To alleviate these challenges and to make translational research more accessible for UVA researchers, HIPI will provide staff and seed funding to catalyze translating discovery to the patient. The initiative will facilitate UVA researchers’ efforts to provide customized, optimized treatments based on a patient’s unique immune “fingerprint,” ensuring the right medicines get to the right patients at the right time. Melanie Rutkowski, PhD, Associate Professor Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology and Jeff Sturek, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, will serve as the inaugural co-directors of HIPI. Together, they represent the clinical and fundamental research expertise that HIPI will wield to improve patient outcomes.

The CIC is grateful for the almost $13M invested by BCF in the Center since its inception. Beirne Carter and former UVA Dean Robert Carey shared the belief that immunology had the ability to transform patient care. The BCF reaffirmed this vision in 2009 with a pledge to help build the Carter-Harrison Research Building, where the CIC now resides. More recently, the BCF, now led by Carter’s daughter, Rossie Hutcheson, has supported research funding, travel and event sponsorship to enhance the CIC’s work.

With the support of the BCF, HIPI will facilitate advances in effective, targeted, and minimally invasive treatments for chronic diseases. The new Initiative will uplift the CIC and the immunology community across UVA, building on the foundations Carter and Hutcheson have provided. The CIC extends its deepest gratitude to Hutcheson and the BCF for their continued belief in the transformational power of immunological research.

“We are hoping to catalyze our discoveries into paradigm-shifting immune therapies, not only for cancer patients, but also other diseases in which the microbiome is dysregulated.”