2024 J. Christian Herr Award

Congratulations to Robinson Research Institute Director Professor David MacIntyre for being awarded the 2024 J. Christian Herr Award by the American Society for Reproductive Immunology for his outstanding achievements in reproductive immunology research.

Over the last decade, Professor MacIntyre and his collaborators have made several important discoveries about the microbes that live within the reproductive tract of women. This includes showing that during pregnancy, certain types of bacteria cause inflammation and infection that lead to an increased risk of miscarriage and preterm birth. Other bacteria, called Lactobacillus, help protect against infection and are linked to healthy pregnancy outcomes. He has also co-invented a bed-side test that enables the type of bacteria and inflammation in the reproductive tract to be diagnosed within minutes.