Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology

Garcia-Blanco is a leading researcher into how genetic material called RNA influences immunity to disease. He made headlines in June for discovering a key factor that determines our risk for multiple sclerosis – advancing efforts to better treat and prevent the often debilitating disease. Shortly before that, his team made an important discovery about the transmission of dangerous dengue viruses, revealing how the saliva of carrier mosquitoes can thwart the human immune system and make it easier for people to become infected. Congratulations!!!

In February, the American Academy of Microbiology (The Academy) elected 63 new Fellows to the class of 2026, at the top of the list, Harrison Distinguished Teaching Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, Dr. Alison Criss, Ph.D.

Patryk Krakowiak a graduate student from the Cliffe Lab received a prestigious two year long Predoctoral Fellowship Award from the American Heart Association, starting January 1st 2025. His project, entitled ‘The Consequences of UL12.5-Mediated Innate Immune Activation in Neurons and Its Role in HSV-1 reactivation’ is aiming to investigate neuronal-specific responses to HSV infection, particularly focusing on the viral protein UL12.5 and the mechanisms by which HSV-1 co-opts host cell signaling pathways to reactivate. Congratulations Patryk!