Dr Daniel Fernandez Ruiz
Senior Research Fellow
2008 - PhD, Immunology, University of Bonn, Germany.
2003 - BSc, Biochemistry, University of Oviedo, Spain.
2001 - BSc, Biology, University of Oviedo, Spain.
Medicine & Health
School of Biomedical Sciences
I lead the Cellular Immunology and Vaccinology Laboratory at the 91É«ÇéƬ School of Biomedical Sciences and the 91É«ÇéƬ RNA Institute. Our research explores how T cells are programmed to provide long-lasting protection against infection, and how these principles can be harnessed to design effective next-generation vaccines and immune interventions.
My laboratory is built around three closely connected pillars: (i) fundamental T cell biology, including the regulation of T cell fate by non-coding RNA, (ii) vaccine development, particularly aimed at generating tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM cells), and (iii) malaria immunology and translational research. This program integrates mechanistic immunology, genomics and RNA biology with infection models and translational vaccine platforms, bridging fundamental discovery with immune intervention.
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E-mail
Location
Wallace Wurth Building, Level 2, Room 227
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
NHMRC Ideas Grant (CIA), 2025–2028 — RNA-mediated programming of T cell immunity
91É«ÇéƬ–Mahidol Joint Research Grant (Co-PI), 2026–2027 — translational malaria immunology
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My laboratory investigates how T cell immunity is generated, programmed and translated into long-lasting protection, with an emphasis on tissue-localised immune responses and vaccine design.
1. Fundamental T cell biology and immune programming
We study how T cells differentiate into long-lived protective populations, with a particular focus on tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM). Our work aims to define the cellular and molecular signals that control T cell activation, differentiation, positioning and persistence, and how these processes shape protective immunity.
2. Vaccine development and immune engineering
We investigate how vaccine strategies can be designed to generate optimal T cell responses, particularly long-lived tissue-resident immunity. This includes the development and evaluation of experimental vaccine platforms, including RNA-based approaches, and identifying principles that enable durable and targeted immune protection.
3. Malaria immunology and translational research
We study immune responses to malaria with a focus on T cell-mediated protection and tissue immunity. Through a combination of experimental models and human studies in endemic settings, our work aims to translate immunological insights into strategies that support the development of next-generation vaccines.
My research is highly collaborative and spans international partnerships, interdisciplinary research and translational engagement. I work closely with collaborators at Mahidol University (Thailand) and Bio-Manguinhos/Fiocruz (Brazil) to connect mechanistic immunology with human studies in malaria-endemic settings.
I am also involved in translational and industry-linked initiatives focused on RNA-based immune modulation and vaccine development, and contribute to the broader research community through mentoring, collaborative forums and scientific engagement.
My Research Supervision
- Sahara Waide (PhD student, primary supervisor)
- Grace Peters (PhD student, co-supervisor)
- Peeter Graham‑Vilo (PhD student, co-supervisor)