Dr Laura Cook

Immune memory gives us protection against previously encountered bacteria or viruses. A lot is known about the importance of antibody-producing B cells, but less is known about the other memory immune cell types called T cells. Immunology researcher, Dr Cook, has been studying the contribution of T cells, specifically helper CD4+ T cells, to human immune memory responses for 12 years. The grant will help Dr Cook to study memory T cell functions in the gut, which is a primary exposure site to bacteria and viruses. She plans to use cutting-edge cell culture technology to grow mini 3D human-guts, called organoids, together with immune cells to study the contribution and function of T cells to immune memory. Dr Cook’s vision is to enhance the immune system's ability to develop memory to help protect against bacterial and viral infection.