Adam Cunningham

Professor Adam Cunningham is a faculty member at the University of Birmingham, affiliated with the College of Medicine and Health and the Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy. He serves as the Director of the BactiVac Network and leads research in immune responses to vaccines and infections.

• PhD in Immunobiology (University of Southampton, 1995)
• BSc (University of Reading, 1991)

His research focuses on adaptive immunity, vaccine function, and immune homeostasis, particularly in the context of bacterial infections like Salmonella and Tuberculosis. He investigates how immune responses are regulated post-infection/vaccination, lymphopoiesis during disease, and the immunomodulatory potential of bacterial components.

Recent publications highlight his work on SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection, thrombosis mechanisms in sepsis, and vaccine platform comparisons. His team employs in vivo models to study immune-pathogen interactions and translate findings into novel therapeutics.

He teaches on the MBChB, BMedSc, and postgraduate programs, supervising doctoral students in immunology and infection. The laboratory explores themes such as B1b cell vaccine targeting, immune response kinetics, and age-related immune optimization.

• Key Themes: Adaptive Immunity, Vaccine Development, Pathogen Immunobiology, Immune Modulation, Thrombosis in Sepsis, Host-Pathogen Dynamics