La Jolla Institute for Immunology

In spring 2020, La Jolla Institute for Immunology launched a multi-lab Coronavirus Task Force that capitalizes on our competitive and unique skill in infectious disease research, state-of-the-art technology, and being a highly collaborative organization. From evaluating the role of the host immune system in disease severity and the development of long-term immunity to analyzing T cell response in an effort to create an atlas for vaccine evaluation, the labs at LJI have led the way to provide real solutions to fight the pandemic. Your support has accelerated critical discoveries, guiding vaccine development and ensuring that one day we will see a Life Without COVID-19. Learn more about our research efforts and get the facts about the COVID-19 vaccines here: https://www.lji.org/covid-19-vaccine-resource/

LJI researchers in the Crotty and Sette labs are mapping the body's immune response to SARS-CoV-2, which has big implications for understanding COVID-19 and for guiding vaccine development. Learn more about how science is providing solutions to the pandemic using our COVID-19 Vaccine Resource Guide: https://www.lji.org/covid-19-vaccine-resource/

The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines were the first mRNA vaccines to receive emergency use authorization by the FDA in late 2020. They are based on pieces of messenger RNA that introduce a set of instructions for the SARS-CoV-2’s spike proteinthe part that allows the coronavirus to invade cellstraining the body’s immune system to recognize the virus. Just like a Post-It note, the mRNA in the vaccine functions as a temporary message that instructs cells to make a single viral protein for a short time only. Learn more about how these vaccines work: https://www.lji.org/covid-19-vaccine-resource

A Nature survey shows many scientists expect the virus that causes COVID-19 to become endemic, but it could pose less danger over time. This recent article from Nature features LJI researcher Daniela Weiskopf, Ph.D. who with her colleagues is studying immune memory of people infected with COVID-19 to learn just how long the body will block reinfection. Learn why the coronavirus may become endemic and what that means for the world: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00396-2

A new, improved and powerful generation of cancer treatments is closer than ever. This image of a CAR T cell therapy is one example. We are finding the answers we need to better understand cancer and how to harness our own immune systems to fight it. But we need your support to continue to make progress. Make your impact today. donate.lji.org/life-without-cancer #cancer #breastcancerawarenessmonth #cancersucks

The American Cancer Society estimates 1.8 million new cases of cancer in the U.S. this year. As cancer continues to wreak havoc, LJI is working with other world-class institutions like UC San Diego to better understand how our own immune system can fight it. Check out this video of a cancer immunotherapy trial that began in 2018 as a partnership between LJI and UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center. Want to learn more about the exciting world of cancer immunotherapy? Download our resource guide here: lji.org/cancer-immunotherapy-resource #cancer #breastcancerawarenessmonth #cancersucks

Neutrophils are the most abundant white blood cell type in humans, and when their development goes awry it can be an early sign of cancer. Recently LJI scientists led by Dr. Lynn Hedrick, made a seminal discovery in understanding these cells that may translate to better detection and treatment of diseases like cancer and COVID-19. Learn more about LJI’s cancer research with the reference guide we created: lji.org/cancer-immunotherapy-resource/

Scientific researchcritical to human health and the creation of new medicinesis, by its very nature, a global enterprise. Knowledge is regularly shared across geographic borders, between institutional campuses and throughout diverse laboratories. Next week, the Department of Homeland Security will review the contents of a proposal, ICEB-2019-0006, issued by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau (ICE), which will have devastating impacts on the scientific research and biotech communities, including disrupting scientific progress and the careers of many young investigators. https://www.lji.org//san-diego-research-community-ice-pro/ #diversity #globalimpact #immigration #education #scientificresearch #medicalresearch #biotech

Cancer immunotherapy can specifically activate a patient’s own immune system to fight tumors to the point of nonexistence. This powerful method for battling cancer has been studied for over 100 years (beginning with William B. Coley in 1891), but it is just now emerging as a viable treatment option for some cancers. Learn more about immunotherapy and its possibilities here: lji.org/cancer-immunotherapy-resource. #cancer #breastcancerawarenessmonth #cancersucks

#COVID19 is not the first pandemic. With each disease outbreak, our understanding of infections and #vaccines has taken a step. https://www.lji.org/news-events/news/post/how-pandemics-end/ #pandemic #SARSCoV2 #coronavirus

What is cancer immunotherapy? It’s a cutting-edge area of research where immunology and oncology intersect - and it may be a promising treatment option for many cancer patients. Learn about this game changer in cancer treatment with a quick guide we developed in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Download the guide at lji.org/cancer-immunotherapy-resource. #cancer #breastcancerawarenessmonth #cancersucks

"If this idea works, we would hope to rapidly design vaccines against unexpected pandemics in the future." We spoke with LJI postdoc Haoyang Li on how his new vaccine project combines #Ebola and #coronavirus expertise https://www.lji.org//up-and-coming-haoyang-li-ph-d-an-ins/ #COVID19 #SARSCoV2 #vaccines

LJI Professor Matthias von Herrath and colleagues track down where preproinsulin-specific CD8 T cells gather in people with type 1 diabetes and in healthy subjects: https://www.lji.org//diabetes-researchers-spot-dangerous-/ #Type1Diabetes #Tcells #T1D #diabetes #autoimmunedisease

"The novel coronavirus didn’t just change what I was working onit was all that I was working on..." All eyes have been on immunologists this year. Read our new oral history of how LJI scientists came together against #COVID19 https://www.lji.org//news/post/the-world-goes-crazy-aroun/ #SARSCoV2 #coronavirus

Amazon Prime Day deals launch tomorrow and last only 48-hours. Ensure a percentage of all your purchases this week, during the holidays, and year round are donated by Amazon to LJI by selecting La Jolla Institute for Immunology as your favorite Amazon charity at: smile.amazon.com/ch/33-0328688

A new international study led by scientists at LJI, University of Liverpool, and University of Southampton is the first to give a detailed snapshot of how the body's CD4+ T cells respond to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Among the findings, their work suggests that early in the illness, patients hospitalized with severe cases of COVID-19 develop a novel T cell subset that can potentially kill B cells and reduce antibody production. https://www.lji.org//every-covid-19-case-seems-different-/ #COVID19 #SARS-CoV-2 #coronavirus #Tecell #Bcell

Join Dr. Cecilia Lindestam Arlehamn and Dr. Alessandro Sette as they share their latest research progress on the role of the immune system in Parkinson’s Disease and COVID-19 tomorrow, Tuesday, October 13th from 12:00-1:00 p.m. (PDT). This promises to be an informative and impactful discussion, so we encourage you to register now, link in bio. #livefromthelab #coronavirus #covid19 #ParkinsonsDisease #pd #research