Spring 2026 Grantee Highlight:
Brian D. Rudd

Brian D. Rudd, MPH, PhD

Professor of Immunology, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Cornell University

An enduring question in immunology is why infants and adults respond differently to infection. Immune cells in early life were once thought to be immature versions of adult cells, but growing evidence shows that many of these cells have specialized functions uniquely suited to this developmental stage.

The Rudd Lab performed a multiomic analysis of infant and adult T cells, the primary immune cells that respond to infection, and identified a genetic switch, Bach2/AP1, that regulates age-related differences in immune function. This switch enables infant T cells to mount rapid responses to new infections while allowing adult T cells to generate lasting immune memory against recurring threats. By toggling the switch, the team can enhance memory formation in infant cells and increase the speed at which adult cells respond to new pathogens.

This project will seek to reveal how the Bach2/AP1 switch operates in T cells and drives distinct immune programs across the lifespan. The findings could help inform the design of more effective immune therapies to protect individuals at different stages of life.

Learn more about the Rudd Lab: https://www.ruddlab.com/.