At IMMUNOLOGY2025™, the AAI Council and AAI Committee on the Status of Women (CSOW) were pleased to present Dr. Gretchen Diehl, Catherine and Frederick R. Adler Chair for Junior Faculty at the Sloan Kettering Institute, the Lancefield Mid-Career Achievement Award.
The AAI Lancefield Mid-Career Achievement Award is named after Rebecca C. Lancefield, the first woman to serve as AAI President, and recognizes the research and leadership achievements of women in immunology.
Diet, Microbiota, and the Immune System
Dr. Diehl is a leader in mucosal immunology whose research is transforming our understanding of how the gut immune system maintains balance in the face of constant environmental change. Dr. Diehl earned her Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, and is now a Member in the Immunology Program at the Sloan Kettering Institute.
Her laboratory explores how diet and the microbiota regulate the development and function of the intestinal immune system. By identifying the molecular and cellular networks that maintain homeostasis — and how they are disrupted in diseases — Dr. Diehl’s work is paving the way for new approaches to treating inflammatory conditions.
At IMMUNOLOGY2025™ Dr. Diehl delivered an inspiring talk where she discussed her work uncovering how intestinal microbiota shape dietary and T cell responses early in life.
Career Reflections
“There are so many amazing scientists and leaders in AAI and to be recognized with the Lancefield Mid-Career Achievement Award is truly an honor,” said Dr. Diehl.
When asked what has surprised her about her career so far, Dr. Diehl shared, “I don’t think when I started out in science, I realized how important the community is to scientific success. We originally come to science because of our love of discovery and the benchwork, but during my career, I’ve worn many hats – researcher, collaborator, mentor, and teacher, and I’ve learned so much from others about how to be a successful scientist. Beyond the science itself, the opportunities to encourage people to figure out what they can do with their training and then help them get there has been both surprising and rewarding.”
Career Advice
“I think the most successful people are resilient,” shared Dr. Diehl. “My advice to early career immunologists would be to see challenges as presenting new questions to ask or new opportunities to explore. It is important to be open to possibility and when things don’t work as planned, it is a chance to rethink your model or system and explore something new.”
“My advice specifically to women is that work-life-balance is all about choices and priorities and recognizing that you don’t have to be all things to all people at all times. It is okay to have different priorities (e.g., career, family, personal life) at different times—that balance is what supports a successful career,” said Dr. Diehl.
