Akiko Iwasaki serves as a Sterling Professor of Immunobiology and Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at Yale University. Also a principal investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, her work extends across a wide array of research interests, including innate immunity, autophagy, inflammasomes, sexually transmitted infections, and respiratory virus infections. Among her notable contributions is her extensive research on COVID-19 and long COVID-19, positioning her as a notable expert in the field. Moreover, Iwasaki's influence extends beyond academia, with a substantial Twitter following where she provides public health advice about COVID-19.

Iwasaki's contributions to her field have been recognized by numerous institutions. In 2018, she was elected to the National Academy of Sciences and was later appointed as the 2023–2024 president of the American Association of Immunologists. Her career is decorated with numerous awards, including the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award in Biomedical Sciences, the Ethel Donaghue Women's Health Program Investigator Award, and the Seymour & Vivian Milstein Award for Excellence in Interferon & Cytokine Research. She was named to TIME magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2024 and recognized by Forbes' 50 Over 50 list the same year.

In addition to her extensive research and contributions to the scientific community, Iwasaki is a prolific writer with numerous publications under her belt. Some of her recent works include "The Role of Immune Factors in Shaping Fetal Neurodevelopment," "Migrant memory B cells secrete luminal antibody in the vagina," and "Essential role for GABARAP autophagy proteins in interferon-inducible GTPase-mediated host defense." Through her groundbreaking research and publications, Iwasaki has significantly enhanced our understanding of various diseases, particularly COVID-19, and has become a sought-after speaker at conferences and events related to infectious diseases and immunology.

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