Mission
The Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research conducts fundamental research on how the body successfully reacts to vaccines and battles infections and conversely, how infectious pathogens escape immune surveillance.
Overview
Modern medicine has made tremendous strides in fighting infectious diseases, but there is much more work to be done. Every year, influenza strikes millions of people, many of them fatally. Whooping cough and measles have made a comeback as the number of people who refuse to vaccinate their children grows. One third of the world’s population is infected with latent tuberculosis. Without treatment, about 5 to 10 percent of infected people will develop TB disease at some time in their lives.
Coronavirus Task Force
Meanwhile, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is sweeping the globe, taking the lives of hundreds of thousands. La Jolla Institute, one of the leading global organizations dedicated to studying the immune system, is stepping up to provide much needed information and real solutions for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We have launched a multi-lab Coronavirus Task Force that capitalizes on our competitive advantages of unique skill in infectious disease research, state-of-the-art technology and highly collaborative organization to respond to the current crisis and prepare for future emerging diseases. Our other work on HIV, Ebola, Dengue, Zika, and Cytomegalovirus are further laying the groundwork for developing vaccines for these serious infections.
COVID-19 Vaccines Resource Guide
With the national rollout of COVID-19 vaccines underway there are many questions circulating about the first mRNA COVID-19 vaccines to be approved for use by the public, so we put together a brief, easy-to-understand COVID-19 Vaccines Resource Guide.
THE VISIONARIES
LIFE WITHOUT DISEASE
The 30-minutes documentary “Life without Disease” by The Visionaries, an award-winning public television series hosted by Sam Waterston, showcases the critical work of La Jolla Institute for Immunology scientists working on the front lines of infectious disease including COVID-19.
Members
Latest News
LJI-led team wins top Nucleate honors for virus vaccine development proposal
LA JOLLA, CA—A San Diego team, led by scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI), has won the top
Even as SARS-CoV-2 mutates, some human antibodies fight back
LA JOLLA, CA—An anonymous San Diego resident has become a fascinating example of how the human immune system fights SARS-CoV-2.
LJI scientists uncover the structure and function of Inmazeb, the first FDA-approved drug for Ebola virus infection
LA JOLLA, CA—Scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) have uncovered the structure and function of the first FDA-approved
Shane Crotty receives AAI-BioLegend Herzenberg Award for B cell research
LA JOLLA, CA—La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) Professor Shane Crotty, Ph.D., has been awarded the 2023 AAI-BioLegend Herzenberg Award
Durable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies bind to two viral targets at once
A new study led by scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) shows how ideal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 hit their marks.
LJI Instructor Annie Elong Ngono, Ph.D., wins GVN support to advance infectious disease research
LA JOLLA—As an infectious disease researcher at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) Instructor Annie Elong Ngono, Ph.D., has spearheaded