Immunology and Infectious Disease Research

Immunology and Infectious Disease research focuses on the interplay between disease-causing microbes and our responses to them. Pathogens utilize numerous tactics to cause acute or chronic diseases, and understanding these mechanisms allows for the design and discovery of novel treatments, diagnostic tests, or vaccines. On the other side of the interaction, the innate and adaptive immune system involve the coordination of multiple cell types and body systems in order to attack and destroy "non-self" (i.e., virulent microbes) or "altered-self" (i.e., neoplastic cells). Malfunction or manipulation of the immune system leads to pathology and disease, and defining the mechanisms that mediate these processes can lead to novel therapeutic interventions.