UNE’s Ling Cao featured in immunology association’s AAPI Heritage project

Ling Cao, M.D., Ph.D., professor of immunology at the University of New England, was recently featured in a history project by the American Association of Immunologists (AAI) recognizing the contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) scientists to the field of immunology.

Cao was invited to produce a video message about her research and scholarship as part of the AAI’s commemoration of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which is recognized in May.

Cao is an immunologist whose research focuses on chronic pain. Her lab research explores injury-induced neuropathic pain and HIV infection-associated neuropathy with the goal of identifying strategies for improving pain management.

Cao said she was compelled to make her video to help showcase the roles Asian Americans have had in shaping the scientific community.

“I thought it was important to have others see the many contributions Asian Americans have had in the U.S. beyond the stereotypical image many have,” she explained. “I also wanted to showcase UNE as a fast-growing university that has contributed to education and research tremendously in the region.”

AAPI scientists have for generations contributed vital research to the field of immunology, the AAI said in its commemorative piece. The organization named Hideyo Noguchi, who in 1913 proved that Treponema pallidum was the cause of syphilis, Kimishige Ishizaka, who first described the antibody isotype immunoglobulin E (IgE), and Tasuku Honjo, a regarded cancer researcher, as just a few examples.