Kristy Ainslie

Kristy Ainslie, Ph.D., is an Adjunct Associate Professor and Vice Department Chair in the Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. She holds affiliations in the UNC Department of Biomedical Engineering and Microbiology & Immunology. Her research focuses on biomaterials and immunology to develop immune-modulatory therapies for infectious diseases, autoimmune conditions, and cancer. Notable roles include leading the Ainslie Lab and serving on the editorial board of the Journal of Controlled Release.

Dr. Ainslie earned a B.S. (1999), M.S. (2002), and Ph.D. (2005) in Chemical Engineering from Michigan State University and Pennsylvania State University, respectively, followed by a postdoc at UCSF. Her honors include the Controlled Release Society Awards (2007, 2009) and AIMBE Fellowship.

Research interests include vaccine development (e.g., universal influenza vaccines), antigen-specific autoimmune therapies (e.g., multiple sclerosis), host-directed antibacterial treatments, and electrospray microparticle fabrication. Her lab emphasizes scalable, resource-efficient solutions for global health challenges.

Recent articles highlight advancements in influenza vaccine platforms, mast cell-based adjuvants, and glioblastoma immunotherapies. Awards include NIH grants for MS vaccine development and recognition for mentoring. The Ainslie Lab collaborates internationally, with grants supporting student training and translational research.