Dr. Mahima Swamy is a Program Leader at the University of Dundee, where her lab studies immune homeostasis in the intestinal epithelium. She talks about intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes and the role of LRRK2 in Parkinson’s and Crohn’s disease.

Dr. Rizwan Romee is a Oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, where his research focuses on genetically manipulating NK cells to enhance their anti-tumor function. He talks about advances and challenges in engineering NK cells for cancer therapy. He also discusses using E. coli to deliver immune-activating cytokines to tumors.

Dr. Arthur Mortha is an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto. His research focuses on innate lymphoid cells and their interactions with microbes. He talks about ILCs and how the gut microbiome can affect respiratory disease.

In May 2025, we attended IMMUNOLOGY2025™, the annual meeting of the American Association of Immunologists, in Honolulu. We chat with delegates about their research and impressions of the meeting. They discuss their reasons for attending, the most memorable research, and their experiences in Hawaiʻi.

This special episode was recorded in front of a live audience at IMMUNOLOGY2025™ in Honolulu. In this conversation, hosted by Dr. Nicole Quinn, Brenda and Jason share what they've learned from recording over 100 episodes of the Immunology Podcast. They talk about how the field has evolved during the past four years, the importance of making science and scientists accessible, and predictions for emerging areas of research.

In May 2025, we attended IMMUNOLOGY2025™, the annual meeting of the American Association of Immunologists in Honolulu, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the previous 24 hours. Here is the final of five special episodes from the meeting, in which Brenda and Jason discuss sessions on lymphatic immunophysiology and how opioids drive immunosuppression in cancer.

In May 2025, we attended IMMUNOLOGY2025™, the annual meeting of the American Association of Immunologists in Honolulu, where we recorded daily episodes highlighting key developments from the previous 24 hours. This is the fourth of five special episodes from the meeting. In this episode, Brenda and Jason discuss how macrophages contribute to lung tissue repair and influence hormone activity, as well as the mechanisms linking MHC-II abnormalities to autoimmune disease pathogenesis.

In May 2025, we attended IMMUNOLOGY2025™, the annual meeting of the American Association of Immunologists in Honolulu, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the previous 24 hours. Here is the third of five special episodes from the meeting. Brenda and Jason discuss highlights from sessions on mucosal immunology and the role of T cells in lactogenesis. They also talk about γδ CAR T cells and veterinary immunology — from sharks to elephants.

In May 2025, we attended IMMUNOLOGY2025™, the annual meeting of the American Association of Immunologists in Honolulu, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the previous 24 hours. Here is the second of five special episodes from the meeting. Brenda and Jason discuss highlights from sessions on tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte and T-cell receptor therapies, unconventional functions of Tregs, and advances in single-cell RNA sequencing.

In May 2025, we attended IMMUNOLOGY2025™, the annual meeting of the American Association of Immunologists in Honolulu, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the previous 24 hours. Here is the first of five special episodes from the meeting. Brenda and Jason discuss highlights from talks including immune responses to bacterial infections, p53 reactivation for cancer therapy, and the mechanisms that lead to celiac disease.

Dr. Henrique Veiga-Fernandes is a Full Investigator and Group Leader at the Champalimaud Foundation. He talks about interactions between the nervous and immune systems and how ILC2s regulate blood glucose levels.

Dr. Monika Wolkers is a Group Leader at the Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation and an Associate Professor at the University of Amsterdam. Her research focuses on RNA-binding proteins and how they affect T cell function. She talks about  γδ T cells in immunotherapy, targeting pediatric tumors, and how a sabbatical led her to study RNA-binding proteins.

Drs. Stephen Jameson is the President of the American Association of Immunologists, and LMP Professor and Harry Kay Chairman's Fund Professor in Experimental Pathology at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Dr. Bonnie Dittel is the Dr. Gilbert C. White II Endowed Faculty Chair at Versiti Blood Research Institute and Editor-in-Chief of ImmunoHorizons. In this episode, they talk about the upcoming IMMUNOLOGY2025™ meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii from May 3-7, 2025. They discuss the highlights of the program, including the President's Symposium and special sessions for new members.

Dr. Peter Doherty is Laureate Professor at the University of Melbourne. He and Dr. Rolf Zinkernagel, the co-recipient of the 1996 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, discovered how T cells recognize their target antigens in combination with major histocompatibility complex proteins. Beyond this, Dr. Doherty has made significant contributions to studying viral immunity, with a strong focus on how the immune system responds to influenza and other respiratory viruses.

In this episode, he talks about beginning his career as a veterinarian studying sheep and his seminal discoveries on the mechanisms of T cell antigen recognition. He also discusses his ventures into science communication.

Dr. Wilfried Ellmeier is a Co-Chair of the Scientific Planning Committee at the International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS) and Professor of Immunobiology and Head of the Institute of Immunology at the Medical University of Vienna. Dr. Laurence Zitvogel is a Keynote Speaker at IUIS 2025 and a Professor and Group Leader at Gustave Roussy. Dr. Dan Littman is also a Keynote Speaker at IUIS 2025 and Professor of Cell Biology and Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Professor of Molecular Immunology at NYU Langone. This episode features a discussion on  the upcoming IUIS 2025 Congress taking place August 17-22 in Vienna, Austria. They talk about what to expect at the meeting, highlights from this year's program, and where to explore in Vienna.

Dr. Erica Saphire is President and CEO of La Jolla Institute. Her research explains, at the molecular level, how and viruses are pathogenic and provides the roadmap for medical defense. She talks about the capabilities of cryo-electron microscopy and how it can help illuminate the mechanisms of measles viral fusion. She also discusses her role leading La Jolla Institute.

Dr. Nicole Quinn is the Director of Brand and Scientific Communications at STEMCELL Technologies, where as part of her role, she develops and oversees programs that help scientists keep current with the latest scientific advances and innovations in their field. In this episode, she discusses the upcoming second season of the Lab Coats & Life™ Podcast, which aims to help scientists thrive by keeping listeners informed about useful soft skills and relevant trends in the scientific community. She talks about her role as a co-host, what she’s learned about podcasting, key takeaways from conversations about science mentorship, and what to expect in Season 2.

Dr. Gail Bishop is a Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Iowa, where her lab studies the molecular mechanisms underlying lymphocyte activation and tolerance.  She talks about TRAF signaling, the NFκB pathway, and effects on B and T lymphocytes. She also discusses her role as Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Immunology.

Dr. Lili Yang is a Professor of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics at the University of California, Los Angeles. Her research centers on deciphering the molecular mechanisms regulating anti-cancer immune responses, exploiting knowledge to develop novel immunotherapies for treating cancer, and translating these new cancer immunotherapies from bench to bedside. She talks about engineering off-the-shelf immunotherapies to fight cancer and generating CAR-NKT cells from hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. She also discusses the role of serotonin and how SSRIs can affect cancer therapy efficacy.