Brigitta Stockinger

Brigitta Stockinger is a distinguished Professor at the Francis Crick Institute, leading research in the Division of Molecular Immunology. With a career spanning over three decades, she has established herself as a leading authority in immunology, particularly in the study of T cell biology and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) pathway.

• PhD in Biology from the University of Mainz
• Postdoctoral training in London, Cambridge, and Heidelberg
• Member of the Basel Institute for Immunology (1985-1991)
• Group leader at MRC National Institute for Medical Research (1991-present, now part of Francis Crick Institute)
• Head of Division of Molecular Immunology (2010-present)

Professor Stockinger's research has evolved from studying immune tolerance using T cell receptor transgenic mouse models to pioneering work on immunological memory with CD4 memory T cells. Her lab made seminal discoveries regarding Th17 cell differentiation factors, which led to groundbreaking research on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) as an environmental sensor in the immune system. Her work spans fundamental immunology, infection responses, inflammation, and the intersection of environmental factors with immune regulation.

Analysis of her extensive publication record (over 65 Crick publications) reveals a strong focus on Immunology (38 publications), followed by Model Organisms (12), Genetics & Genomics (10), and Tumour Biology (9). Her most influential work appears in top journals including Nature (5 papers), Nature Immunology (6 papers), and Immunity (6 papers), demonstrating the high impact of her research on understanding T cell plasticity, AHR signaling, and mucosal immunity.

• Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (2005)
• EMBO fellow (2008)
• Fellow of the Royal Society (2013)
• ERC Advanced Investigator grant (2009)
• Wellcome Senior Investigator Grant (2013)
• CRUK grant (2015)
• Wellcome Investigator Grant (2018)

Professor Stockinger's laboratory investigates how environmental factors influence immune responses through the AHR pathway, with particular emphasis on intestinal immunity, inflammation, and host-microbe interactions. Her work has significant implications for understanding inflammatory bowel diseases, infection responses, and the role of dietary components in immune regulation. She has established numerous collaborations across the Francis Crick Institute and maintains active research programs examining AHR's role in both innate and adaptive immunity.