News09/14/2021

Dr. Anna Durbin Appointed CIR Director

Dr. Anna Durbin has been appointed director of the Center for Immunization Research.  Dr. Durbin, a principal investigator at the CIR since 1999, began her term as the Center’s newest director on September 1, 2021.  Previous Director Dr. Ruth Karron stepped down to pursue other career interests, and continues to lead the RSVPed Team team as well as the Johns Hopkins Vaccine Initiative (JHVI).

Dr. Durbin leads the Center’s Flavivirus Immunization Research and Education (FIRE) team, which conducts clinical vaccine trials for viruses like dengue, zika, malaria and West Nile.  Team FIRE includes a laboratory team, which performs immunology assays to help determine eligibility for upcoming studies as well as assays to evaluate the safety and efficacy of investigational vaccines being studied.  Dr. Durbin and her team have also helped to develop Controlled Human Infection Models (CHIMs) for dengue and Zika.  Most recently, she serves as the Johns Hopkins site PI for the Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine trial.

As its newest director, Dr. Durbin expresses her pride in the work done at the CIR over the past 30+ years to advance vaccine development, evaluation, policy and community education.  She looks forward to leading the Center through its next chapter as an innovator and leader in the field of vaccine research.

Dr. Durbin’s Director’s Message
Anna Durbin Faculty Page