Center for Immunization Research (CIR)
Leaders in vaccine development, research and education since 1985.
Welcome to the Center for Immunization Research
CIR was founded to facilitate the development of new vaccines against infectious diseases of global importance. Here you can find the latest evidence-based updates about vaccines, learn about clinical studies, read journal articles by our infectious disease experts, and more.
Important Message from the Faculty
We at the Center for Immunization Research are deeply troubled by the CDC’s sudden decision to change language on its website with respect to vaccines. Decades of rigorous and scientifically sound research have demonstrated that vaccines do not cause autism. The misleading and false statements on the CDC website are dangerous and will decrease vaccine uptake leading to an increase in the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Our Research
New and Noteworthy
Key FDA committee unanimously recommends its first vaccine since 2023
Dr. Anna Durbin points to the figure that over 6 billion doses of mRNA vaccines have been administered since 2020 and says they have an "incredibly safe safety profile" and "there is not a risk of DNA integration."
2026 Immunization Recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics
The AAP immunization schedule provides recommendations that are rooted in science and best for US children. The AAP schedule was endorsed by 12 health professional societies and differs from the CDC immunization schedule.
Dr. Kawsar Talaat co-authors publication in NEJM
CIR participated in the multi-site clinical study, Immunogenicity and Safety of vYF, a Yellow Fever Vaccine — A Phase 2 Trial. The study's findings were recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine. CIR's MVAC team, led by site PI Dr. Kawsar Talaat enrolled several study participants. Dr. Talaat also co-authored the article.
NIH director says he hasn’t seen evidence that vaccines cause autism
Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), said in a Senate hearing Tuesday that he has not seen any studies supporting the theory that any vaccines cause autism.
Our stance on the current Hepatitis B vaccine recommendations
We as the faculty in the Center for Immunization Research strongly disagree with the ACIP's change in recommendation regarding Hepatitis B vaccination of newborns and believe the extensive high-quality evidence supporting the safety and effectiveness of routine administration of hepatitis B vaccination to newborns. We agree with the Maryland Department of Health’s position which can be found here:
There is no vaccine for deadly hantavirus: what that means for future outbreaks
An outbreak of hantavirus onboard the cruise ship MV Hondius has thrown a spotlight on the rare but deadly infection and the lack of options for treatment and prevention.
Join a clinical study
Project SAVE (Support a Vaccine Effort) is the adult recruitment program at the Center for Immunization Research. The program is used to screen adult potential study participants to help determine their eligibility for specific clinical vaccine studies at the CIR.
Meet our Faculty
Our dedicated faculty members work together to carry out CIR’s mission by applying public health expertise to their individual infectious diseases areas of interest. Learn more about their important work on the BSPH faculty pages.
Anna Durbin, MD, studies experimental vaccines for SARS-CoV-2, dengue, West Nile, Zika, malaria, and more in human clinical trials and in controlled human infection studies.
