Dr. Unanue currently serves as the Paul and Ellen Lacy Professor of Pathology at Washington University School of Medicine. He is internationally recognized as a leader in understanding how the immune system identifies foreign matter (antigen) and how immune system T cells respond to it. Unanue’s pioneering research into how immune recognition and attacks take place continues to help scientists gain insights that may one day be used to improve the body’s defenses against diseases and to disarm misdirected immune attacks that could lead to autoimmune conditions such as diabetes and arthritis. He is a recipient of the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, the Gairdner Foundation International Award and the Robert Koch Gold Medal from Germany. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Institute of Medicine.