Erin Adams

Erin Adams is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Chicago, focusing on molecular immunology and nonclassical MHC-like molecules. Her lab integrates structural biology, biochemistry, and cellular assays to study unconventional T cell recognition mechanisms.

• Education: BS in Animal Physiology and Neuroscience (UC San Diego), PhD in Evolutionary Genetics (UC Berkeley), Postdoc in Molecular Immunology (Stanford)

Research areas include:

• Immune system distinction between healthy and diseased tissue
• γδ T cells, Natural Killer T cells, and MAIT cells
• Antigen presentation via nonclassical proteins (CD1, MR1, HLA-F)
• Structural and functional analysis of immune receptors

Recent publications highlight discoveries in:

• HLA-F peptide presentation to NK receptors
• MR1 ligand diversity in microbial metabolites
• Butyrophilin-mediated phosphoantigen recognition
• α-synuclein membrane interactions in neurodegeneration

Awards include the Joseph Regenstein Professorship (2016-present) and Searle Scholar (2007-2010). Her lab has trained notable graduates like Amrita Ramesh and Chris Boughter. Current NIH grants (e.g., R01AI170952) investigate HLA-F and MR1 roles in immune regulation.