Lauren Jatt, MD, is an Infectious Diseases fellow at the University of Washington whose research focus is on vaccinology and immune correlates of protection. Her work integrates vaccine clinical trials, controlled human infection models, and high-dimensional immunologic profiling to understand why vaccines succeed or fail.
Dr. Jatt is a member of the IDCRC's Mentorship Program cohort. This program provides mentoring and development opportunities for early-career investigators and fellows in clinical and translational infectious diseases research. Learn more about the program here.
Tell us more about your background and what led you to a career in infectious disease research.
My interest in infectious disease research began as an undergraduate at Stanford University, where I studied virology, bacteriology, immunology, and epidemiology, and conducted tuberculosis research. After graduation, I worked with the World Health Organization’s Polio Eradication Program, where I saw firsthand how clinical trial data and immunologic evidence guide real-time public health decisions. One defining experience was responding to a polio outbreak in Kenya, where our team evaluated the evidence behind different vaccine strategies and implemented a campaign that stopped the outbreak within weeks. That experience cemented my desire to pursue a career as a physician-scientist in vaccinology, focused on interpreting scientific data to guide policy and improve global health outcomes.
Can you share more about your research and the goals of your work?
My research centers on identifying cellular and molecular correlates of immunity following vaccination, with a particular emphasis on malaria vaccines studied in controlled human infection model trials. I combine clinical trial data with systems immunology approaches, including high-dimensional immune profiling and computational analysis, to link immune signatures with clinical protection and adverse events. The long-term goal of my work is to define mechanisms of vaccine-induced protection that can be used to improve vaccine design, evaluation, and deployment across diverse populations.
What are you looking forward to most in the IDCRC Mentorship Program?
I am most looking forward to the opportunity to learn from and interact with leading vaccinologists through the IDCRC Mentorship Program. I am also excited to build lasting relationships with my cohort, developing a sense of camaraderie and a professional network that will serve as a source of collaboration, support, and shared learning throughout our careers.
What do you believe is a strength or example of the importance of the IDCRC?
One of the greatest strengths of the IDCRC is its ability to bring investigators together across institutions to address critical questions in vaccinology that cannot be answered in isolation. By fostering collaboration, shared infrastructure, and mentorship, the IDCRC enables rigorous, large-scale studies that directly advance the field and accelerate the translation of research findings into practice.
What do you like to do outside of ID research?
Outside of research, I love staying active and spending time outdoors. I am an avid whitewater kayaker, and I love to play soccer, go hiking, ski in the backcountry, and explore the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. I also deeply value time spent with my husband, our newborn son (born November 2025), and our close friends.
