Immunology, Infectious Disease and Hematopoiesis

Immunology / Infectious Disease. A primary focus of the CMIID is the study of general mechanisms that modulate immune responses and how inappropriate regulation of immunity contributes to disease. Faculty within the CMIID are investigating the molecular and cellular events, including gene regulation and signal transduction, that regulate lymphocyte development and activation, as well as the role of macrophages and neutrophils in innate immune responses.

Researchers are also examining how bacterial and viral pathogens alter immune function and perpetuate infection. This work is directly applicable to several human and animal diseases including mastitis, autoimmunity, inflammatory diseases, respiratory infections and AIDS.

Hematopoiesis. In addition to basic immunology research the Center for Molecular Immunology and Infectious Disease laboratories study hematopoiesis, the development of mature blood cells. The research covers a broad range of interests including the development of erythroid (red) cells and macrophages, the role of cytokine and growth factor receptors in hematopoiesis and the pathogenesis of myeloproliferative diseases and leukemia. Investigators use state of the art transgenic mouse and ES cell generated gene knockout techniques to investigate questions in Immunology and the molecular regulation of hematopoiesis and model important human hematological disorders.

For more information regarding Immunology research in the Pathobiology Graduate Program contact us at pathobiology@psu.edu.