Message from the Director
Associate Professor
Peggy Chavellier Professorship for Arthritis Research and Treatment; J. Wayne Streilein, M.D. Professorship in Immunology; Southwestern Medical Foundation Scholar in Biomedical Research
Graduate School: Ph.D., Harvard University, 1993
Postdoctoral Training: University of California, Los Angeles
The immune system protects the body from infection by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites. However, inappropriate activation of the immune system can lead to a variety of autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases. Strategies that amplify immune responses are used to develop vaccines against infectious diseases and to treat several types of cancer.
Conversely, immune suppression is used to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Understanding the complex mechanisms that maintain the balance between activation and suppression of immune responses is, thus, critical for our ability to maintain health and manipulate immunity for therapeutic advantage.
The Immunology Program trains students to become critical thinkers who apply cutting edge, interdisciplinary approaches to address important scientific questions. Our curriculum includes courses in both basic and clinical immunology and emphasizes oral presentation and writing skills. Our accomplished faculty represent multiple basic science and clinical departments. They and their trainees conduct research that has the potential to impact treatment of many human diseases including infectious diseases, lupus, arthritis, asthma, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and many forms of cancer.
Our Immunology Program graduates are well prepared for careers in research and a variety of related fields.
