The International Cytokine & Interferon Society (ICIS) is proud to announce that Christopher Hunter, Ph.D., Professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and Co-Director of the Institute for Immunology, has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Cytokine Society–Pfizer Award for Excellence in Interferon and Cytokine Research. This is the Society’s most prestigious award, recognizing transformative scientific contributions to the cytokine and interferon fields.
Dr. Hunter will deliver the Pfizer Award Presentation at the Cytokines 2026 Opening Session on Sunday, October 18th, at the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow, UK.
The Cytokine Society thanks Pfizer for its generous support of this award.
A Career Built on Cytokines, Parasites, and Protective Immunity
Dr. Hunter’s research spans more than 35 years of foundational work at the intersection of host–parasite interactions and cytokine immunology. His laboratory has made landmark contributions to our understanding of how cytokines mediate the balance between protective and pathological immunity — and how pathogens exploit and evade immune responses.
Among his most consequential discoveries, Dr. Hunter defined IL-27 as a key immunoregulatory cytokine. His work revealed IL-27 as a negative regulator of Th17 cells, a driver of IL-10 production in T cells, and a modulator of suppressor T-cell activity — insights with far-reaching impact across infection, cancer, and immune-mediated disease. His laboratory has also made pivotal advances in IL-12 mRNA-LNP adjuvant development, with Phase II clinical trials now flowing from his IL-27 studies, and has pioneered the use of intravital multiphoton imaging to study immune cell dynamics in real time.
A Homecoming in Glasgow
The 2026 award carries particular significance: the presentation will take place at the Opening Session of Cytokines 2026 in Glasgow — the city where Dr. Hunter was born and where he completed his B.Sc. and Ph.D. at the University of Glasgow, before postdoctoral fellowships there and at Stanford University. His connection to Glasgow adds a deeply personal dimension to this recognition.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be recognized by a society that has connected me with so many outstanding colleagues. This award is a reflection of the collective efforts of everyone who has contributed to and continues to shape the work in our laboratory.” — Christopher Hunter, Ph.D.
A Valued Member of the Cytokine Society
Dr. Hunter is a long-standing and deeply valued member of the ICIS community. He served as President from 2023 – 2024, has served on the scientific program committees of several Cytokines meetings, organized satellite symposia, and fostered key collaborations within the Society. His laboratory’s work remains a cornerstone of the field the Society was built to advance.