Ian Humphreys

Professor Ian Humphreys is a Professor of Viral Pathogenesis at the Cardiff University School of Medicine, where he leads the Systems Immunity Research Institute as Lead Co-Director. He holds a Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellowship and focuses on immune response regulation during viral infections, particularly cytomegalovirus (CMV) and SARS-CoV-2. His work bridges basic research and clinical applications, involving collaborations with institutions like the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute.

• Education: PhD in Biochemistry (Imperial College London, 2004), BSc in Biological Sciences with Virology (University of Warwick, 2000)
• Career: Cardiff University (2007–Present), La Jolla Institute (2000–2004), Imperial College London (2004)

Research Interests span viral pathogenesis, cytokine regulation, mucosal immunity, and vaccine development. His lab investigates mechanisms of immune suppression during chronic viral infections, including IL-10 and CD200 receptor pathways, and explores how early cytokine signals influence antiviral responses. Recent work connects IFITM3 function to personalized antiviral therapy.

Scientific Contributions include seminal studies on CMV immune evasion, influenza T-cell memory decay, and SARS-CoV-2 immunopathology. Key awards:

• Wellcome Trust Senior Fellowship (2012, 2017)
• Top 10 most-read paper recognition (2019)
• Appointments to Wellcome Trust and British Society of Immunology committees

Teaching Roles include courses on Microbial Pathogenesis (ME3030) and Advanced Immunology (ME3045), alongside student supervision. He actively engages in public outreach, delivering immunology workshops in primary schools and coordinating Science in Health Live! events.