Neelika Malavige

Ep. 74: “Dengue Pathogenesis” Featuring Dr. Neelika Malavige Blog Post

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Dr. Neelika Malavige is the Head of Dengue Global Program and Scientific Affairs at the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative and a Professor in the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Her research focuses on dengue: its pathogenesis, vascular leak, immune correlates of protection, and biomarkers. She talks about the disease burden of dengue and her investigations into risk factors for severe disease. She also discusses her research on COVID-19 vaccines and the role of the microbiome in colon cancer, as well as how she’s working to grow research capabilities in Sri Lanka.

James Allison

Ep. 73: “T Cell Receptors” Featuring Dr. James Allison Blog Post

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Dr. James Allison is the Regental Professor and Chair of the Department of Immunology, Olga Keith Wiess Distinguished University Chair for Cancer Research, Director of the Parker Institute for Cancer Research, Executive Director of the Immunotherapy Platform, and Director of the James P. Allison Institute at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Allison has spent a distinguished career studying the regulation of T cell responses and developing strategies for cancer immunotherapy. He earned the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, which he shared with Dr. Tasuku Honjo, “for their discovery of cancer therapy by inhibition of negative immune regulation.” His current work seeks to improve immune checkpoint blockade therapies currently used by clinicians and identify new targets to unleash the immune system in order to eradicate cancer. He talks about the hunt for the T cell receptor and working to bring CTLA-4 blockade into the clinic. He also discusses what’s next for immunotherapy, including future investigations into myeloid cells, and playing the harmonica in a band.

Ep. 72: “IMMUNOLOGY2024™: Innovations in Immunology” Featuring Dr. Akiko Iwasaki, Francisco Gomez-Rivera, and Dr. Jason Augustine Blog Post

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Dr. Akiko Iwasaki is the Sterling Professor of Immunobiology and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at Yale University and President of the American Association of Immunologists. Francisco Gomez-Rivera is an Immunology Program Graduate Student Candidate at the University of Michigan, and Dr. Jason (Swinburne) Augustine is a retired Research Microbiologist/Immunologist at the US Environmental Protection Agency. They talk about the upcoming IMMUNOLOGY2024™ meeting in Chicago, Illinois from May 3-7, 2024. They discuss key sessions to attend, what they’re looking forward to at the meeting, and advice for attendees.

Neelika Malavige

Dr. Neelika Malavige

Dr. Neelika Malavige is a well-recognized leader in the field of dengue. She is the Head of Dengue Global Programme and Scientific Affairs at DNDi. She is also a Professor…