Photo of Laura  Haynes, PhD FGSA

Laura Haynes, PhD FGSA

Professor, Immunology
UConn Center on Aging
Academic Office Location:
Immunology
UConn Health
263 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06030-1835
Phone: 860-679-8431
Email: lhaynes@uchc.edu
Website(s):

Immunology Graduate Program

Immunology

UConn Center on Aging

Education
DegreeInstitutionMajor
BSUniversity of MiamiBiology
MSUniversity of Miami School of MedicineImmunology
PhDUniversity of Rochester School of MedicineImmunology

Post-Graduate Training
TrainingInstitutionSpecialty
FellowshipNIH Predoctoral Immunology Training Grant Fellowship
PostdoctoralUCSDResearch Fellow, Department of Biology
FellowshipNIH Postdoctoral Immunology Training Grant Fellowship
PostdoctoralTrudeau InstituteResearch Scientist

Awards
Name of Award/HonorAwarding Organization
Gerontological Society of America (GSA) FellowGSA
Member Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honor SocietySigma Xi

Dr. Haynes is co-director of Medical Microbiology MEDS-6444 and also she also teaches in Advanced Molecular and Cellular Immunology MEDS-5335.


 

Name & DescriptionCategoryRoleTypeScopeStart YearEnd Year
Systems Immunology in Aging and Complex Diseases: organizing committee member and chair of “Cancer and Aging” sessionWorkshop/ConferenceOrganizerExternalInternational20232023
Field Chief Editor, Frontiers in AgingProfessional/Scientific JournalEditorExternalInternational2022
Deputy Editor, Journal of Gerontology series AProfessional/Scientific JournalDeputy EditorExternalInternational2022
Gerontological Society of AmericaProfessional/Scientific OrganizationBoard of Directors (elected member)ExternalInternational2022
Patterson Foundation-grant reviewerStudy SectionMemberExternalRegional20202023
Advisory board for R33 Translational Geroscience Network grantAdvisory CommitteeMemberExternalNational2019
UConn Health Senior Appointments and Promotions CommitteeOthermemberUConn HealthUniversity2016
Gerontological Society of AmericaProfessional/Scientific OrganizationmemberExternalNational2016
UConn Health Committee on BiohazardsResearch CommitteeChairUConn HealthUniversity20152023
Member NIH/NIAID Review Panel Vaccines against Microbial DiseaseStudy SectionmemberExternalNational20142020
UConn Health Center IACUC memberResearch CommitteememberUConn HealthUniversity2013
American Foundation for Aging ResearchAdvisory CommitteeAdvisory Board MemberExternalNational2002
American Association of ImmunologistsProfessional/Scientific OrganizationMemberExternalNational1999

Dr. Haynes is a prominent figure in the field of immunology, particularly in the context of aging and its effects on immune responses. As a researcher working in aging and gerontology for over 30 years, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her research endeavors. Her primary focus lies in understanding how the aging process influences the immune system's ability to respond to infections and vaccinations. This area of study is crucial, given the increased susceptibility of older individuals to infectious diseases and the importance of vaccination in mitigating these risks.


One key aspect of her research right now is the exploration of senescent cells and their role in immune function during aging. Senescent cells are cells that have stopped dividing and are associated with aging and age-related diseases. Understanding how these cells impact immune responses can provide valuable insights into developing strategies to enhance vaccination efficacy and improve overall immune health in older adults. This work is important for advancing our understanding of the complex interplay between aging, the immune system, and infectious diseases. Her findings have the potential to inform the development of novel interventions and therapies aimed at promoting healthy aging and reducing the burden of age-related infections.

Not Accepting Lab Rotation Students at this time


Available rotation projects in the Haynes laboratory include studies on influenza, aging, and senescence.

Journal Articles

Book Chapters

  • The Aging Immune System, Vaccine Efficacy, and the Lung
    Bartley JM, Haynes L. The Aging Lung: Mechanism and Clinical Sequela 2015 Jan;
  • The Phylogentic Conservation of Cytokines
    Cohen, N., Haynes, L. Phylogenesis of Immune Function 1991 Jan;241

Editorials

Letters

Reviews

Title or AbstractTypeSponsor/EventDate/YearLocation
Immunity across the age continuumTalkCanadian Society of Transplantation2024Montreal, QC
Aging and Influenza: is senescence involved?TalkDivision of Medicine, University College London, London, UK2023London, UK
Aging Response to VaccinationTalkInfectious Disease Week 20232023Boston, MA
Senescence-induced changes in CD4 T cell differentiation can be alleviated by treatment with senolyticsTalkJackson Lab"Systems Immunology in Aging and Complex Diseases" symposium2021Farmington, CT
The science behind COVID-19 vaccines: establishing clinical foundations & addressing common misconceptionsTalkAmerican Foundation for Aging Research2021Virtual
Aging and InfluenzaTalkDepartment of Nutritional Sciences, UConn Storrs2021
Aging and InfluenzaTalkUniversity of Georgia2020Department of Infectious Diseases, University of GA, Athens, GA
Heterogeneity of AgingPanel Discussion2020Gerontological Society of American Annual Meeting
Aging and ImmunityTalkUniversity of Vermont College of Medicine2019Burlington, VT
The impact of aging on the response to influenzaTalkKeystone: Aging, Inflammation and Immunity2018Austin, Texas
How aging impacts the response to influenzaTalkBritish Society for Research on Aging2017Exeter, UK
How aging impacts the response to influenza infectionTalkUniversity of Iowa2017Iowa City, IA
Impact of aging on CD4 T cell response to influenzaTalkSatellite Symposium of the 4th European Congress of Immunology2015Vienna, Austria
Aging and the response to influenza infectionTalkPasteur Institute2015Paris, France
Protective humoral immunity and Tfh function decline with age.TalkAAI2014AAI meeting, Pittsburgh, PA
Effect of age on immune responses.TalkYale Biology of Aging Interest Group2014New Haven, CT
Vaccination with influenza NP does not protect aged miceTalkHarnessing Immunity Conference, Cold Spring Harbor, NY2013
Influence of Aging on CD4 T CellsTalkUniversity of Rochester School of Medicine2011Rochester, New York
Innate Programming of Adaptive Immunity II The Impact of Aging on CD4 T FunctionTalkCold Spring Harbor Symposium2011Cold Spring Harbor, New York
The Influence of Aging on CD4 T Cell Response to VaccinationTalkAaron Diamond AIDS Research Center2010New York, New York
Presentation on Function of Regenerated CD4 T CellsTalkFASEB Summer Conference2010Phoenix, Arizona
SpeakerTalk9th Canadian Immunization Conference2010Quebec City, QC
The Influence of Aging on CD4 T Cell Response to VaccinationTalkGeorge Washington University2009Washington, DC
The Influence of Aging on CD4 T Cell Response to VaccinationTalkUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical School2009Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The Influence of Aging on CD4 T Cell Response to VaccinationTalkNIAID/ Department of Defense2008San Francisco, California
The Influence of Aging on CD4 T Cell Response to VaccinationTalkNew York State Department of Health2008Albany, New York
The Effect of Aging on Primary & Memory Responses of CD4 T CellsTalkAging & Memory at Keystone Symposium on Immunologic Memory2007Santa Fe, New Mexico
Networking and Mentoring: How to Make it For YouTalkAAI Committee2007Miami, Florida
T Cell Defects With AgingTalkNIAID/NIA2007Gaithersburg, Maryland
T Cell Defects With AgingTalkYale University School of Medicine, Immunobiology Seminar Series2007New Haven, Connecticut
Cytokine Adjuvants Enhance the Cognate Helper Function of Aged CD4 T CellsTalkInternational Congress of Immunology2007Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The Effect of Aging on CD4 T Cell ResponsesTalkIowa State University2007Ames, Iowa
Newly Generated CD4 T Cells in Aged Animals do not Exhibit Age-Related Defects in Response to AntigenTalkNIA/NIH National Advisory Council on Aging2006Bethesda, Maryland
The Effect of Age on CD4 T Cell FunctionTalkUniversity of Iowa, Cancer and Aging Program2006Iowa City, Iowa
Enhancement of the Cognate Helper Activity of Aged CD4 T cellsTalkNational Institute on Aging: AAI Meeting2006Boston, Massachusetts
The effect of age on the cognate function of CD4 T cellsLectureAmerican Aging Association2006Boston, Massachusetts
How Can Vaccines Work on the Background of the Aging Immune System?LectureAging Research in Immunology2006Paris, France
The Effect of Age on CD4 T Cell MemoryLectureLouisiana State University2005New Orleans, Louisiana
The Effect of Aging on Cognate CD4 Helper FunctionLectureEdward Jenner Institute for Vaccine Research2005Compton, U.K.
The Effect of Age on the Function of CD4 T CellsLectureGerman Cancer Research Center DKFZ2005Heidelberg, Germany
The Effect of Aging on Cognate CD4 Helper FunctionLectureYale University School of Medicine2005New Haven, Connecticut
The Effect of Age on the Function of CD4 T CellsLectureLa Jolla Institute of Molecular Medicine2005La Jolla, California
The Effect of Age on CD4 T Cell MemoryTalkPresident's Symposium, AAI/EB Meeting2005San Diego, California
The Effect of Age on CD4 T Cell FunctionTalkOhio State University2004Ohio
Age-Related Declines in CD4 Cognate Function are Responsible for Reduced Humoral Responses in the AgedTalkLovelace Respiratory Research Institute Symposium2004Santa Fe, New Mexico
The Effect of Age on CD4 T Cell FunctionTalkSidney Kimmel Cancer Center2003La Jolla, California
Impaired CD4 T Cell Cognate Function is Responisble for Age-Related Reductions in Humoral ResponsesTalkUpstate NY Immunology Conference2003Bolton Landing, New York
The Effect of Age on CD4 T Cell FunctionTalkUniversity of Rochester School of Medicine2002Rochester, New York