EUEmory University · Microbiology & Immunology
Ahmed Immunology Lab
Rafi Ahmed · Atlanta, Georgia
Research Focus
Dr. Rafi Ahmed's lab at Emory University focuses on understanding how the immune system responds to chronic viral infections and vaccinations, particularly in the context of T cell memory. His research aims to uncover the mechanisms that allow certain T cells to maintain their function over time, even in the presence of persistent viral infections. By studying these processes, the lab hopes to improve immunotherapies and vaccination strategies, particularly against SARS-CoV-2 and other emerging viruses.
T Cell MemoryChronic Viral InfectionsImmunotherapySARS-CoV-2Vaccine Induced ImmunityInnate ImmunityT Cell ResponsesAging and ImmunityImmunologic MemoryPD-1 Pathway
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the mechanisms regulating CD8 T cell responses during chronic viral infections.
AIM 02Identify how PD-1+ TCF-1+ CD8 T cells are maintained during chronic infections.
AIM 03Examine the effects of aging on T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2.
AIM 04Analyze immune responses to vaccination in a large cohort of COVID-19 patients.
AIM 05Understand the durability and evolution of immune memory following infection and vaccination.
Skills the Lab Values
Cell CultureFlow CytometryPCRRNA SequencingMouse ModelsWestern BlotMicroscopyStatistical Analysis with R or PythonGenomicsClinical Sample Processing
Output against the department
Publications758top 2% of dept.11th of 486
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations109ktop 1% of dept.5th of 486
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.