Megan Macleod

Professor Megan MacLeod is a distinguished immunologist at the University of Glasgow's College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, holding dual appointments as Professor of Immune Memory within the Department of Immunology & Infection and Associate Dean of Postgraduate Research. She serves on the MVLS College Senior Management team, represents Scotland on the British Society for Immunology's Forum, and acts as Secretary for the West of Scotland Immunology Group.

Dr. MacLeod earned her BSc in Immunology from the University of Glasgow (2001) and completed her PhD at the University of Edinburgh (2005) under Professor David Gray, focusing on costimulation requirements in memory CD4 T cell generation. She conducted postdoctoral research with Pippa Marrack and John Kappler at National Jewish Health in Denver before joining the University of Glasgow in 2012 with an Arthritis Research UK Career Development Fellowship.

Her research centers on immunological memory, specifically investigating fundamental differences between naïve and memory T cells and the critical interactions between immune cells and stromal cells following viral infections. The MacLeod Lab explores how memory cells are generated, how their responses can be enhanced for better immune protection or suppressed to reduce pathology in autoimmune conditions, and how tissue environments support and regulate memory cells. This work has significant implications for vaccine development and autoimmune disease treatments.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on influenza virus immunity, memory CD4 T cell function, and stromal-immune interactions. Her work demonstrates how memory T cells localize in tissues, produce cytokines, interact with antigen-presenting cells, and maintain long-term protective immunity. The research spans from basic immunological mechanisms to translational applications, with strong emphasis on lung immunity following viral infections.

• BALR Future Leader Award (2022)
• British Thoracic Society Early Career Investigator Award runner-up (2021)
• Rosetrees Trust Seedcorn Funding recipient
• Keystone Symposia scholarship awardee
• Multiple best presentation awards for lab members

Professor MacLeod actively mentors numerous PhD students and postdoctoral researchers while securing substantial funding from major organizations including Wellcome Trust, BBSRC, Tenovus Scotland, and UKRI. Her lab collaborates extensively across immunology, virology, and tissue engineering fields. The MacLeod Lab maintains strong connections with clinical researchers and participates in multiple interdisciplinary projects investigating immune responses in respiratory infections and autoimmune conditions.

The lab operates within the University of Glasgow's state-of-the-art facilities, with current projects examining T cell-stromal interactions in influenza immunity, memory T cell heterogeneity, NK cell memory, and Leishmania quiescence mechanisms. Professor MacLeod's team includes several research associates, technicians, and PhD students working collaboratively on these interconnected research strands.