Immune System Biology
In a world full of dangers, from viruses to cancer, our immune system is our fortress. Obviously, though, this system has limits. Every year, millions of people around the planet die from infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, influenza and tuberculosis. Millions more die from cancers or suffer from autoimmune disorders—the result of immune system failures that allow the body to attack itself. At the Salk Institute, we carry on the legacy of our founder, Jonas Salk, who discovered the world’s first polio vaccine. Just as his discovery protected people against poliovirus, we study the immune system to boost its ability to fight off numerous other diseases. We know that one discovery can change millions of lives.