Dr. Edith Porter, professor of microbiology and immunology at Cal State LA, has been recognized with the 2025 American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Distinguished Service Award for her significant contributions to the field of immunology. The award acknowledges her leadership in jointly developing the AAI undergraduate curriculum recommendations (2019-2021) alongside Dr. Julie M. Jameson from California State University, San Marcos.
AAI, one of the world’s largest professional organizations for immunologists, serves nearly 8,000 members across 71 countries. The AAI Distinguished Service Award, bestowed by the AAI Council, honors individuals who have demonstrated outstanding service to the organization and the broader immunology community.
Dr. Porter’s expertise in medical microbiology and immunology has made a lasting impact on both research and education. As an Associate Director of the NIH U-RISE program and Coordinator for the undergraduate CSU- LSAMP program at Cal State LA, she has been instrumental in mentoring students in biomedical research and fostering the next generation of scientists. Her research focuses on innate immunity, antimicrobial peptides, and epithelial cell interactions, with numerous publications in top scientific journals.
Dr. Porter’s dedication to advancing immunology education and research underscores her commitment to scientific discovery and student success.