Amy Major joined Vanderbilt's faculty in 2002. The broad research focus of the Major laboratory is to understand immunological mechanisms of cardiovascular disease, specifically atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the number-one cause of mortality in developed countries, and it is known that both lipids and immunity play significant roles. Work performed in her laboratory has significantly impacted our understanding of how the immune system modulates atherosclerosis, as well as how dyslipidemia and the atherosclerotic environment influence normal immune function.