Sarah Rowland-Jones

Sarah Rowland-Jones is Professor of Immunology at the Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, where she leads a research group focused on viral immunity and HIV pathogenesis. Her work integrates laboratory immunology with clinical cohorts across sub-Saharan Africa, China, and the UK to investigate mechanisms of viral control and disease progression.

Her primary research examines immune correlates of protection against HIV infection, with specialized projects on pediatric HIV outcomes in Kenya, long-term HIV-1 infection in Zimbabwean adolescents, and HIV-2 non-progressors in West Africa. She investigates how host genetics, T-cell responses, and viral evolution interact to determine clinical outcomes, particularly in resource-limited settings where HIV burden is highest. Her group also studies comorbidities like chronic lung disease and bone health in HIV-infected children.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2021-2024) reveals three dominant research trajectories: 1) HIV pathogenesis in pediatric and adolescent populations across Africa, 2) cross-reactive immunity between HIV and SARS-CoV-2, and 3) biomarker discovery for HIV-associated comorbidities. Her work consistently bridges basic immunology with clinical epidemiology, emphasizing translational applications for vaccine design and health equity.

Professor Rowland-Jones directs the VITALITY Trial and maintains extensive global health partnerships, including collaborations with Kenyan, Zimbabwean, and Chinese research teams. Her laboratory leverages field-based cohort studies with advanced immunological assays to address critical gaps in HIV management, particularly for vulnerable populations in developing regions. She actively contributes to public discourse through podcasts on HIV and children in Africa.