Tajie H. Harris

Tajie H. Harris is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, where he leads the Harris Lab and is a key member of the Center for Brain Immunology and Glia (BIG). His research focuses on visualizing and understanding immune responses in the central nervous system, particularly during infections such as Toxoplasma gondii.

His work lies at the intersection of immunology, neuroscience, and advanced imaging. He employs multiphoton and confocal microscopy to study the behavior of immune cells—such as CD8+ T cells, regulatory T cells, and microglia—within the brain. His lab investigates how these cells migrate, interact, and function in immune-privileged environments, with a special emphasis on chemokine signaling and the role of meningeal lymphatic vessels in neuroinflammation and immune surveillance.

The most recent publications from Dr. Harris show a strong trend in neuroimmunology, particularly in understanding immune cell dynamics during chronic infection and CNS injury. His work spans molecular immunology, cellular imaging, and computational analysis of cell migration, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach. He has made seminal contributions to the discovery and functional characterization of meningeal lymphatic vessels and their role in brain immunity.

• NIH R01 AI069986
• NIH R21 EY021259
• NIH K22 AI099070

Dr. Harris has mentored and collaborated with numerous researchers and is actively contributing to the field through high-impact publications in journals like Nature, Nature Neuroscience, and Immunity. He continues to lead a dynamic research program that bridges immunology and neuroscience.

His lab develops and applies cutting-edge imaging technologies to visualize immune responses in real time. The Harris Lab is part of the BIG Center, a collaborative hub for neuroimmunology research at UVA, fostering interdisciplinary projects aimed at understanding the brain's interaction with the immune system.