Lucy Dorrell

Professor Lucy Dorrell is a leading immunologist at the University of Oxford's Nuffield Department of Medicine (NDM), where she directs research on HIV immunotherapy and vaccine development. Her work bridges fundamental immunology with clinical translation through the Jenner Institute and Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine.

Her research focuses on three critical areas:

• Developing strategies to eliminate HIV reservoirs using viral vector vaccines (HIVconsv) combined with antiretroviral therapy and engineered T cell receptors (ImmTAVs)
• Identifying immunological correlates of HIV control through CD8+ T cell studies and high-resolution microscopy of HIV-immune cell interactions
• Preventing co-infections via EU-funded PEACHI project vaccines targeting hepatitis C and HIV, plus novel HPV vaccines for cervical cancer prevention

Professor Dorrell's team employs chimpanzee adenovirus and MVA viral vectors for vaccine delivery, with clinical trials testing conserved-region immunogens across HIV, HCV, and HPV. Their work has revealed critical insights into CD8+ T cell viral inhibitory activity as a predictor of disease progression.

Her collaborative network spans the NIAID-funded HIV Vaccine Trials Network, Immunocore Ltd, Duke University, and EU academic-industry consortia (GSK, Okairos). Current projects include the RIVER trial for HIV reservoir reduction and development of invariant chain-adjuvanted vaccines to enhance T cell responses.

Based at the NDM Research Building, her laboratory utilizes Oxford's containment level 3 high-resolution microscopy facility to visualize HIV-immune cell interactions, including the iconic CD8+ T cell/HIV-infected CD4+ T cell conjugates that demonstrate caspase-3 mediated killing of infected cells.