Dr. Herman Staats

Biography

Herman Ford Staats is a Professor in the Department of Pathology at Duke University, as well as in Integrative Immunobiology and Medicine. He is a member of the Duke Human Vaccine Institute and leads the Staats Lab, which conducts innovative research aimed at understanding and enhancing immune responses at mucosal tissues and surfaces. The lab focuses on the development of novel mucosal adjuvants that can improve vaccine efficacy and address critical public health issues, including food allergies and infectious diseases. With a Ph.D. from the University of South Alabama, Staats has held various academic positions at Duke since 1993, steadily advancing to his current role as Professor. His lab’s significant work has revealed the potential of using small molecules to activate mast cells as adjuvants, leading to improved immune responses. He has garnered substantial funding for his ongoing research into mucosal immunization techniques and treatments for food allergies, contributing to the growing field of immunobiology.

Research Interests

Experience