Dr. Brian Rudd, professor of immunology in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Dr. Iwijn De Vlaminck, associate professor in the Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, have received a MERIT award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This prestigious and highly selective award, for which there is no application process and for which exceptional researchers can only be nominated by the NIH, will fund the Rudd and De Vlaminck lab’s research on CD8+ T cell activation and development throughout early life and into adulthood. 

The MERIT award, which stands for “Method for Extending Research In Time,” is given to a highly selective cohort of researchers with “stellar records of research accomplishment.” This five-year award, worth $3.47 million, can be extended for up to another five years without having to go through a competitive peer-review process. 

“It’s an honor to receive this recognition,” says Rudd. “This funding will be instrumental in progressing our investigation into T cell development and how it impacts immune responsiveness over time.” 

Read the full story on the College of Veterinary Medicine website.