Episode 51: Akiko Iwasaki – Immunobiologist

Akiko Iwasaki has been both pioneering and vocal in the Long Covid research space since Ed Yong first cited her hypothesese in June 2020 in The Atlantic, which was the first substantial mainstream media article discussing the longer term effects of COVID-19.

A Professor of Immunobiology and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at Yale University, with a particular interest in mucosal infection, Iwasaki has turned her expertise and focus to Long Covid research and seems to be making gains in a space where still so much uncertainty abounds.

Her immune profiling study that she conducted with Dr David Putrino revealed several findings that move us closer to identifying a bio-marker, as well as cementing their collaboration as a power-house in this research space.

But her collaborations and studies are numerous:

Her recent work with Michele Monje of Stanford University looked at the chief mechanisms that may be driving the neurological and neuropsychiatric features of Long Covid.

Collaborating with Harlan Krumholz, they are leading a Phase 2 placebo-controlled study into the efficacy and safety of Paxlovid in Long Covid - one of the things that many Long Covid sufferers have been demanding.

And her Yale LISTEN study is currently recruiting participants globally. Its purpose is to understand Long Covid, post-vaccine adverse events and the corresponding immune responses and is open to all – including controls.  Get involved - the breadth of this study could move the research forward.

Once again we had the privilege to share time with a great scientist who wears humility, rather than conclusion, as a badge of honour.  It is in remaining curious and open to possibility that we will eventually get answers.