Immunology & Vaccines

Vaccines save lives and play a key role in contributing to global health. Through vaccination, humanity has largely eliminated diseases such as polio and has completely eradicated smallpox. The rapid development of vaccines to combat Covid-19 is helping the world to reopen following a year of isolation. These successes depend on our knowledge of the basic biology of how our immune system works to fight infection. UCSC faculty seek to extend that knowledge.

From understanding the cells of the immune system, to their roles driving inflammation and responses during viral and bacterial infections, our scientists strive to understand the processes of an immune response and the cells that mediate them. Through this work, we seek to lay the foundations to identify new drugs and develop vaccinations for therapy and prevention of infectious and autoimmune diseases.