American Association of Immunologists

• Name — The American Association of Immunologists • Abbreviation — AAI • Formation — 1913 • Type — Scientific society • Headquarters — Rockville, Maryland • Fields — Immunology • Membership — Over 7,000 • Num Members Year — 2026 • Leader Title — President • Leader Name — Avery August (2026-2027) • Website — https: www.aai.org

The AAI was founded on June 19, 1913. The original 41 members of the society were all disciples of Almroth Wright, the founder and director of the Inoculation Department at St. Mary's Hospital in London. The first AAI annual meeting was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on June 22, 1914. AAI established The Journal of Immunology in the early years of the organization.

AAI is headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. AAI is led by a council of eight scientists who are elected by voting members of AAI. The council includes four officers—president, vice-president, secretary-treasurer, and past president—as well as four additional councilors. AAI relies on input from AAI members who volunteer to sit on AAI Committees for limited terms. These Committees are established to provide a diverse range of voices that represent all segments of AAI's membership. Committees carry out specific duties such as financial planning, program development, annual meeting planning, and overseeing AAI's academic journals.

AAI is the publisher of The Journal of Immunology and ImmunoHorizons.

AAI organizes an annual scientific meeting (IMMUNOLOGY), bringing together researchers to present findings in immunology. Scientific results presented at the meeting have included advances in experimental therapeutics and drug discovery.

AAI provides fellowships, mentoring programs, and training initiatives to support scientists at various career stages.

AAI engages in public policy and advocacy related to biomedical research funding, vaccination, and public health. The organization has participated in coalitions of scientific societies emphasizing the importance of vaccines and countering misinformation. AAI has been among medical organizations responding to U.S. health policy developments and vaccine-related controversies. AAI has also contributed to public discourse on vaccine policy and public health in major media coverage discussing federal health leadership and vaccine policy shifts. Proposed federal budget reductions affecting biomedical research institutions such as the National Institutes of Health have also been widely debated in policy discussions covered by national media.

AAI conducts initiatives to improve public understanding of immunology, including educational resources and outreach programs such as Immunology Explained.

Since 1919, 27 AAI members have been awarded the Nobel Prize. All laureates received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, except where indicated.