Tania Watts

Dr. Tania Watts is a Professor of Immunology and holds the Canada Research Chair in anti-viral immunity at the University of Toronto. After completing a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and while pursuing post-doctoral work in Chemistry, Dr. Watts discovered her passion for immunology and soon established her own lab. Her research focuses on T lymphocytes and immunity to infection and cancer. Dr. Watts current research includes studies of T cell immunity to influenza A virus, particularly focusing on a family of receptors called the Tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, and how members of this family control the persistence of T cells during infection in the lungs to control infection and prevent re-infection. Dr. Watts also studies immunity to SARS-CoV-2 with an emphasis on how treatment of patients with immune modulators to control autoimmune diseases affects their ability to respond to vaccines. In the area of cancer, Dr. Watts is studying mechanisms that contribute to T cell elimination of cancers using mouse models. Dr. Watts team has also identified a new drug target for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and working to develop a new inhibitor to target this pathway of cellular survival.

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