Penn Vet Welcomes Dr. Oyebola Oyesola as Presidential Assistant Professor and Leader in Immunology and Infectious Disease Research

The School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn Vet) has announced the appointment of Oyebola Oyesola, DVM, PhD, as a faculty member and University-designated Presidential Assistant Professor of Pathobiology. An internationally recognized immunologist and emerging leader in parasite and mucosal immunology, Dr. Oyesola brings a distinguished record of scientific excellence, innovation, and global engagement to the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) community.

Oyesola’s research explores the fundamental mechanisms that shape immune responses during infection, with a particular focus on innate immune memory, immune priming, macrophage biology, epithelial cell biology, co-infections, and parasite immunology. Her work has been especially influential in uncovering how helminth (parasitic worm) infections modulate immune responses and, in some contexts, confer protection against viral infections. Her recent research has helped illuminate how lung-migrating helminths can protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection by activating macrophage-dependent T cells, advancing understanding of host–pathogen interactions and immune regulation. Furthermore, she, together with others, has contributed towards demonstrating that genetics determines how environmental change alters immune phenotype.

A recipient of the prestigious NIH Independent Research Scholar Award, Oyesola currently leads an NIH-supported research program focused on understanding how previous infection and exposure to environmental antigens can reprogram the immune system to influence outcomes to subsequent insults and injury. Her work has been published in leading journals, including Science Immunology, Nature Immunology, Science Advances, Journal of Experimental Medicine, Journal of Immunology, and Nature Communications. She has also contributed authoritative reviews in Annual Review of Immunology, Mucosal Immunology, and Trends in Parasitology, among others.

Oyesola earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Ibadan, graduating as a University Scholar and the top student in multiple years of her training. She went on to complete a Master’s degree in Infection and Immunity with distinction as a Commonwealth Scholar at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom, followed by a PhD in Immunology and Infectious Disease at Cornell University, with a minor concentration in Biochemistry. She subsequently trained at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through the Intramural Research Program and continues her affiliation through her NIH Independent Research Scholar Award.

Her excellence has been recognized through numerous honors, including multiple American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Young Investigator and Poster Awards, designation as a “Rising Star in Parasite Immunology” by Frontiers, and international travel and research awards from major immunology societies.

“Dr. Oyesola is an exceptional scientist whose research exemplifies both rigor and originality. Her groundbreaking work on innate immune memory, helminth-mediated immune regulation, and host–pathogen interactions has significantly advanced our understanding of how genetic and environmental factors shape immune responses. She brings an extraordinary record of scholarly achievement, reflected in the excellence of her work and impact of her publications,” said Igor Brodsky, PhD, Robert R. Marshak Professor and chair of the Department of Pathobiology. “Just as importantly, she is a generous collaborator and mentor whose intellectual curiosity and global perspective elevate our entire academic community. We are excited about the transformative discoveries her laboratory will continue to produce and the lasting impact she will have on the future of immunology at Penn Vet and beyond.”

Beyond her research accomplishments, Oyesola is deeply committed to mentorship, global collaboration, and scientific service. She has organized and chaired scientific conferences and immunology interest groups, contributed to graduate curriculum development in vaccinology in Rwanda, served as a grant and manuscript reviewer for leading journals and funding agencies including PLOS Pathogens, Frontiers in Immunology, Genes and Immunity, and the Wellcome Trust, and held leadership roles within several international scientific communities. She is an active member of the American Association of Immunologists and the Society for Mucosal Immunology.

As Presidential Assistant Professor, Oyesola will continue to build an innovative research program while mentoring the next generation of scientists and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Presidential Professorships are awarded by the University of Pennsylvania President to exceptional scholars, at any rank, who contribute to faculty eminence through scholarship and engagement across Penn.