The Global Autoimmune Institute is proud to support Ian McKnight as the 2026–2027 Global Autoimmune Institute Scholar through a $15,000 award in partnership with the ARCS Foundation Metro Washington Chapter. Ian is a first-year scholar in Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, where he is studying how cells in the airways influence immune responses.
His research focuses on specific populations of epithelial cells in the airways and how they shape immune responses in the context of allergic asthma.
Ian is also developing lipid nanoparticle-based delivery systems designed to therapeutically target these cells. His work brings together airway biology, immune responses, and the development of new approaches for delivering treatment directly to specific cell populations.
Ian will be recognized alongside the other 2026–2027 ARCS Metro Washington scholars at the Scholar Awards Reception on November 5.
GAI is proud to support Ian’s research and continue investing in promising scientists working to deepen our understanding of the immune system.
Read about last year’s Global Autoimmune Institute Scholar and Nikita’s research on how immune cells move and communicate during infection and vaccination.
LJI researchers are also studying immune activity in the upper airways, including how nasal vaccination can generate local immune responses that are not reflected in blood.
