Every year, around 5 million children die with around half of these dying in the neonatal period (first 28 days of life). My lab focuses on understanding immune cell development and function in human neonates, including both those born at term and prematurely. We have identified novel immune cell functions in neonates and factors that affect immune cell development both before and after birth. We have ongoing research in both areas. These studies will promote our understanding of the developing immune system in human infants to identify those more at risk from disease both as a neonate and later in life. We hope greater understanding in this area will identify targets to improve infant and child mortality and morbidity.