Impact
Janko Nikolich (publishing as Nikolich-Žugich) is an immunologist and gerontologist who studies how the immune system ages. His research covers basic mechanisms of T-cell function, immunity to acute viral infection in older adults, lifelong interactions between persistent viruses such as cytomegalovirus and the host, vaccine responses and biomarkers of declining immunity in older people, immune rejuvenation, and the effects of inflammation and nutritional interventions on ageing and metabolic disorders. After positions at Scripps, Memorial Sloan-Kettering/Cornell and Oregon Health & Science University, he joined the University of Arizona in 2008 to lead the Department of Immunobiology and the Arizona Center on Aging. During the COVID-19 pandemic he co-invented an antibody test and directed statewide antibody screening in Arizona, and he founded the university's Aegis Consortium on pandemic preparedness. In 2025 he moved to the College of Medicine – Phoenix as Associate Dean for Research and was named a Regents Professor. He was elected to the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts in 2024.
Metrics
- h-index 74 · google scholar as of 2026-09-23 source ↗
Research output
251 works · 15,819 citations · h-index 62 OpenAlex ↗
Selected publications
- The twilight of immunity: emerging concepts in aging of the immune system ↗ 2017 · 1,289 citations
- Development of a Definition of Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection ↗ 2023 · 884 citations
- The many important facets of T-cell repertoire diversity ↗ 2004 · 700 citations
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 in older adults: what we may expect regarding pathogenesis, immune responses, and outcomes ↗ 2020 · 606 citations
- MIFlowCyt: The minimum information about a flow cytometry experiment ↗ 2008 · 538 citations
Research funding
47 NIH awards · USD 31M total NIH RePORTER ↗
- Thymic and Peripheral Aspects of T Cell Aging and Rejuvenation National Institute on Aging · 2023 · USD 3M
- Thymic and Peripheral Aspects of T Cell Aging and Rejuvenation National Institute on Aging · 2024 · USD 3M
- Thymic and Peripheral Aspects of T Cell Aging and Rejuvenation National Institute on Aging · 2026 · USD 3M
- Thymic and Peripheral Aspects of T Cell Aging and Rejuvenation National Institute on Aging · 2025 · USD 3M
- Thymic and peripheral Aspects of T cell Aging and Rejuvenation National Institute on Aging · 2019 · USD 2M