Our vision

The IBBI vision is to be the premier institute making groundbreaking discoveries to understand how the brain and mind interact with the immune system, with the goal of improving health.

About the IBBIThe field of brain, behavior, and immunology focuses on how psychology or behavior modifies the communication between the nervous and immune systems.

Established in 1996 as an OSU-level research institute, the Institute of Brain, Behavior and Immunology (IBBI, formerly known as the Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research), seeks to achieve this vision and to be recognized as such, our 5-year ambition is to: 1) invigorate impactful team science to improve health, 2) strengthen and support our research community, and 3) prepare the next generation of interdisciplinary scientists.

The idea that psychological states can influence physiological processes and health is central to our work. IBBI researchers have substantially broadened our knowledge about how interactions amongst brain, behavior, and immunology can be leveraged to improve patient outcomes for a wide variety of diseases. We use strong transdisciplinary collaborative approaches, from basic science to clinical trials. Some of our research areas of strength include: stress and immunology; gut-immune-brain axis, psychoneuroimmunology over the lifespan and by sex; psychiatry and immunology, and mind-body health.

Our leadership

Leah Pyter

Leah Pyter, PhD, MS

  • Director, Institute of Brain, Behavior and Immunology
    The Brumbaugh Chair in Brain Research and Teaching
    Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Health

Our administration

Our resident faculty members and their labs

All our faculty members

Event calendar

Event name Date and time Location
External speaker seminar
Dr. Chris Engeland, Pennsylvania State
August 19 at 12:00 pm IBBI 109
Internal speaker seminar
Drs. Jasmeet Hayes and Josh Smyth
September 16 at 12:00 pm IBBI 109
IBBI Research Day 2026
Keynotes speaker: Dr. Robert Danzter, MD Anderson
IBBI alumni speaker: Dr. ted Robles, UCLA
October 21 from 8:00 am - 3:00 pm BRT
IBBI Labsgiving November 19 at 12:00 pm TBD
Internal speaker seminar
Dr. Angela del Aguila, Pyter lab
December 16 at 12:00 pm IBBI 109

Educational programs

More about the Institute of Brain, Behavior and Immunology

Our location

ibbi building in sunInstitute of Brain, Behavior and Immunology
Formerly the Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research
460 Medical Center Drive
Columbus, OH 43210