Professor, President & CEO Erica Ollmann Saphire, Ph.D., MBA, is a leader in infectious disease research and has dedicated her career to bringing scientists together to face the toughest health threats.

Our Focus Is Immunology

We believe that no other biomedical discipline has greater implications for human health than immunology. By unraveling the complexities of the immune system, LJI researchers are directly tackling an extraordinarily diverse array of diseases, such as asthma, cancer, CoVID-19, type 1 diabetes, Parkinson’s, and many others.

At La Jolla Institute for Immunology, every day, our discoveries move the world closer to Life Without Disease.

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Our Research Centers

La Jolla Institute is home to four research centers that focus the efforts of collaborative groups of researchers on defined areas of inquiry, to accelerate progress toward the development of new treatments and vaccines to prevent and cure autoimmune conditions, cancer and infectious disease.

Center for Autoimmunity and Inflammation

Enabling our experts to take a deep dive into the complexity of the immune system.

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Center for Cancer Immunotherapy

At the forefront of exploring new and sometimes unexpected avenues for novel immune-based cancer treatments.

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Center for Vaccine Innovation

Conducting fundamental research on how the body reacts to vaccines and battles infections.

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Center for Sex-based Differences in the Immune System

Uncovering sex-specific variables in immune responses to provide personalized treatments for disease.

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Our Impact

Outsmarting Autoimmune Disease

Life Without Disease Event Series Featuring Sam Meyers Ph.D.

If we want to control how immune cells behave, we first need to understand how they “think” and “make decisions.” Learn how LJI’s Global Autoimmune Institute Assistant Professor Sam Myers, Ph.D., uses mass spectrometry and proteomics to uncover how immune cells make decisions—and what goes wrong in autoimmune, inflammatory, and other diseases.

COVID-19 Research at La Jolla Institute

Capitalizing on their unique skills in immunology and infectious disease, La Jolla Institute scientists have launched a multi-lab Coronavirus Taskforce to respond to the ongoing crisis and prepare for future emerging diseases.

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Live from the Lab

During the September 26, 2024 Live from the Lab webinar, La Jolla Institute for Immunology President and Chief Executive Officer Erica Ollmann Saphire, Ph.D., MBA, alongside LJI Postdoctoral Fellows Dawid Zyla, Ph.D., and Marissa Acciani, Ph.D., discussed their measles research progress. The presentation focused on how cutting-edge cryo-electron microscopy and antibody discovery are revolutionizing the fight against measles and other deadly viruses. The research showcased during this session revealed how scientists at LJI are developing new therapeutics to stop emerging diseases in their tracks, offering hope for improved vaccines and treatments.

WATCH HERE

Visionaries

The Visionaries, an award-winning public television series hosted by Sam Waterston has recently launched its 24th season which includes a half-hour documentary film entitled, Life Without Disease. The film showcases the critical work of La Jolla Institute for Immunology scientists working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Dr. Melanie McCauley

Dr. Melanie McCauley is on a mission to create a world where people live life without disease.

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Immune Matters Magazine

Explore the immune system with interviews, articles, and video exclusives from our Institute magazine.

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Research Services

Technological innovation and scientific advances are intricately linked and that is why La Jolla Institute puts a big emphasis to provide a first-rate scientific infrastructure and easy access to the latest technology. LJI’s scientific core facilities provide faculty, researchers and students with access to an array of state-of-the-art equipment, technologies, training and expertise to support innovative research. The Institute’s small size allows LJI researchers to interact closely with highly trained experts working in the research support services and to quickly adjust technical applications to the requirements of individual labs.

Our research services include: Bioinformatics, Clinical Studies, Cryo-EM, Flow Cytometry, Histopathology, Immunometabolism, Microscopy & Histology, and Next Generation Sequencing.

For more information on accessing our core facilities, please contact our Core Facilities Administrator.

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