Basic Immunology
Oxford has fantastic strength in basic immunology research.
Oxford has a wonderful history in immunology research, including determining the structure of antibodies and uncovering the function of lymphocytes. The foundation for understanding human immune disorders and infection is built on the knowledge gained from basic research.
DEPARTMENTS IN THIS THEME
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine
- Department of Zoology
- Radcliffe Department of Medicine
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology
- Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences
- Department of Biochemistry
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics
Recent publications
Click here to view recent publications from this theme
People in this Theme
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Anna Katharina (Katja) A Simon
Professor of Immunology
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Georg Holländer
Hoffmann and Action Medical Research Professor of Developmental Medicine
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Fiona Powrie FRS
Professor of Musculoskeletal Sciences and Director of the Kennedy Institute
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Graham Ogg
Professor of Dermatology
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Helen McShane
Director of the Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre; Professor of Vaccinology at Oxford University; Deputy Head (Translation and Personnel), Medical Sciences Division; and an Honorary Consultant Physician in Infectious Diseases
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Gavin Screaton
Head of Medical Sciences Division
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Joanna Hester
Associate Professor
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Michael Dustin
Kennedy Trust Professor of Molecular Immunology
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Paul Bowness
Professor of Experimental Rheumatology
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Chris O'Callaghan
Professor of Medicine, Honorary Consultant Physician and Nephrologist
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Audrey Gérard
Professor of Immunology
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Geraldine Gillespie
Principal Investigator, Group Head / PI and Supervisor
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Jan Rehwinkel
Professor of Innate Immunology
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Jelena Bezbradica Mirkovic
Professor of Immunology
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Kim Midwood
Kennedy Director of Graduate Studies
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Mark Coles
Professor of Immunology and Lead for Industrial Strategy and Entrepreneurship
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Persephone Borrow
Professor of Viral Immunology
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Richard Cornall
Professor of Immunology, University Lecturer in Medicine, Group Head / PI
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Hal Drakesmith
Professor of Iron Biology
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Oliver Bannard
Sir Henry Dale Fellow
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Lieping Chen
Visiting Professor in Cancer Immunotherapy
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Rachael Bashford-Rogers
Group leader/PI
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Calliope Dendrou
Sir Henry Dale Fellow, Group Head / PI, Fellow and Supervisor
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Tim Elliott
Kidani Professor of Immuno-Oncology
What's new
Major MRC funding for Irina Udalova to unravel neutrophil behaviour across immune pathologies
28 May 2026
Prof Irina Udalova has received a programme grant of £2.7M from the Medical Research Council (MRC) to investigate how neutrophils – a type of white blood cell that forms the body’s first line of defence – adapt their behaviour to tissue requirements and contribute to immune diseases, leading to the development of a new class of neutrophil-targeted therapeutics.
Researchers find clue to how Sjögren’s disease persists
1 May 2026
A new study has found that a protein TRIM21 linked to Sjögren’s disease may be fuelling the condition in an unexpected way. Researchers at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology have discovered that during a specific type of cell death, TRIM21 is released and combines with antibodies to overstimulate the immune system, potentially maintaining the symptoms of Sjögren’s disease.
New study reveals how blood cell production responds to parasite infection
11 March 2026
Research led by the Nerlov Group in the MRC Molecular Haematology Unit provides the first detailed explanation of how parasite-fighting immune cells are selectively increased following infection.
Anchoring a key immune molecule boosts T cell responses
11 March 2026
Researchers at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology have found that physically resisting the formation of an immunological synapse actually promotes a stronger immune response. The findings could help explain how immune responses become weakened in cancer and chronic infection and inform the design of more effective vaccines.