Omid Akbari, PhD

We are cellular and molecular immunologists dedicated to advancing the understanding of the immune system. Our laboratory focuses on characterizing both innate and acquired immune responses, uncovering the mechanisms that regulate them, and investigating how they contribute to inflammatory diseases. We manipulate cell signaling pathways, costimulatory molecules, and cellular energy sources to modulate immune function and improve human health. Ultimately, our goal is to identify precise strategies to harness and control these responses for therapeutic benefit.

• USC: Omid Akbari, 2025
   – 2030
• Stanford University: American Lung Association award, 2001
   – 2003
• Stanford University and Harvard Medical School: American Lung Association Grant Award, 2003
   – 2005
• Stanford University: Pharmacia Research Foundation Award for the best research in the field of Immunology, Stockholm, 2003
• Stanford University: Pharmacia Research Foundation Award for the best research in the field of Immunology, Amsterdam, 2004
• Harvard Medical School: Pharmacia Research Foundation Award for the best research in the field of Immunology, Munich, 2005
• Harvard Medical School: Henning Lowenstein Award for the best research in the field of Allergy and Immunology, Munich, 2005
• Harvard Medical School: Eleanor & Miles Shore Career Development Award, 2007
   – 2008
• Harvard Medical School: Children’s Hospital of Boston Career Development Award, 2007
   – 2008
• University of Southern California: Ideas Empowered Award, 2012
   – 2013
• University of Southern California: National Academy of Inventors Award, 2017
   – 2018
• University of Southern California: Keck School of Medicine Dean’s award for scholarship, 2023

• Mechanisms of Perinatal Nicotine Vaping-Induced Pulmonary ILC2 Dysregulation and Allergic Asthma Development
  NIH · R01HL183124 · Sep 1, 2026 – May 31, 2030 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
• Study the role of ICOS on murine and human ILC2s
  NIH · R01AI181866 · Jun 11, 2025 – May 31, 2030 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Transcriptional and metabolomic regulation of IL-10 in pulmonary ILC2s
  NIH · R01AI169687 · Sep 20, 2022 – Jul 31, 2027 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Role of TNF receptor 2 on Pulmonary Group 2 Innate Lymphoid Cells
  NIH · R01HL159804 · Dec 15, 2021 – Nov 30, 2025 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Study the link of autophagy dysfunction to allergic and neutrophilic asthma onset
  NIH · R01HL151493 · Jul 1, 2020 – Jun 30, 2025 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Induction of cells and pathways that promote respiratory tolerance in allergic asthma
  NIH · R01HL144790 · Sep 1, 2019 – Aug 31, 2023 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Maternal effect on offspring immunity against hepatitis B virus
  NIH · R01AI145813 · Jul 3, 2019 – Jun 30, 2025 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
• Role of Microbiome Sodium Butyrate in regulation of ILC2 dependent airway hyperreactivity
  NIH · R21AI132084 · May 18, 2017 – Apr 30, 2020 · Role: Principal Investigator
• The function of CRAC channels in airway inflammation
  NIH · R21AI109059 · Jan 1, 2016 – Dec 31, 2017 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
• Genetic and Environmental Determinants of Asthma Endophenotypes
  NIH · R01ES025786 · Aug 1, 2015 – Apr 30, 2021 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
• Air pollution, immune modulation of adipose tissue and type-2 diabetes risk factors
  NIH · R21ES024707 · Jul 10, 2014 – Jun 30, 2018 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
• INTEGRATIVE GENETIC APPROACHES TO GENE-AIR POLLUTION INTERACTIONS IN ASTHMA
  NIH · R01ES021801 · Aug 1, 2012 – Oct 31, 2019 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
• Role of NKT cells in airway hyperreactivity &tolerance
  NIH · R01AI066020 · Sep 20, 2007 – Aug 31, 2014 · Role: Principal Investigator

• Kim, Brian
• Wang, Rongfu
• Peters, Anne
• Gauderman, William
• Eckel, Sandrah
• McConnell, Rob