LA JOLLA, CA—Immunologist Shane Crotty, Ph.D., Professor and Chief Scientific Officer at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Crotty was elected to this prestigious organization in recognition of his leadership in immune system research and his breakthroughs in understanding fundamental aspects of how the immune system works.
“This is wonderful news, and it’s humbling,” says Crotty. “There are scientists in the Academy who I have looked up to for a long time.”
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences was founded in 1780 by John Adams, John Hancock, and a group of other American leaders who saw the need to promote research and learning for the public good. Since then, elected members have included John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., Ph.D., and virologist Jonas Salk, MD.
Crotty joined the LJI faculty in 2003. His research has been critical for understanding how the immune system’s T cells and B cells work together to fight pathogens such as HIV and SARS-CoV-2. Crotty is also a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Academy of Microbiology, and he has been honored by the American Association of Immunologists for outstanding career contributions to B cell biology.
In addition to research, Crotty has dedicated his career to mentoring early career scientists and to public outreach. He says the goals and mission of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences hold deep meaning for him.
“It’s an honor to join an organization with a mission to serve—to advance health and quality of life,” says Crotty. “That really resonates with me.”
