Deborah Dunn-Walters

Deborah Dunn-Walters is a Professor of Immunology and Associate Dean for Research and Innovation at the University of Surrey. She leads the Department of Biochemistry and Physiology within the School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. Her research focuses on B cell development, immunosenescence, and antibody repertoire dynamics, with particular emphasis on responses to SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory infections. Dunn-Walters pioneered tools like BRepertoire and sciCSR for analyzing immune repertoires using single-cell and computational methods. She chairs international B cell conferences and collaborates globally.

Education includes a BSc (Hons I) and PhD, details unspecified. Her work integrates systems immunology approaches to understand age-related changes in humoral immunity, aiming to improve vaccine efficacy and combat pandemic threats. Awards include Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences (2025).

Research interests span regulatory B cells, metabolic regulation (e.g., thioredoxin’s role), tumor-infiltrating B lymphocytes, and antibody diversity in health/disease. She leads a lab developing novel methods for immune repertoire analysis, including web tools like VCAb for antibody structure exploration.

Grants and advising are central to her role as Associate Dean, though specific grants aren’t listed. She oversees research innovation strategies and supports interdisciplinary collaborations. Her lab’s work has implications for cancer immunology, autoimmune disease, and infectious disease management.