Akiko Iwasaki is a Sterling Professor of Immunobiology and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at Yale University School of Medicine, and an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. She is pioneering research on how the immune system defends the body against viral infections at mucosal surfaces- the sites where many pathogens first invade. Her research focuses on how the immune system defends against viral infections, advancing vaccine design for diseases like influenza, herpes viruses and Covid-19 and cervical cancer. Recently, Akiko has been exploring the effects of Covid-19 on human’s immune systems and the consequences of Long Covid

Iwasaki is a mentor for young scientists and an outspoken supporter for women and underrepresented minorities in science and medicine. Her honors include election to the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and inclusion on TIME’s 100 Most Influential People lists.