Areas of Research

Immunology is the study of the immune system that confers protection against infectious diseases. This complex system is also involved in the rejection of grafted tissues, in allergy and in autoimmunity.

The Department of Immunobiology at Yale is a multi-disciplinary group of investigators committed to understanding the cellular, genetic and molecular basis of these processes. The Department is based on the understanding that the solution to complex biological problems requires the integration of individuals with a common goal but differing expertise.

Research focuses on the molecular, cellular and genetic underpinnings of immune system function and development, and on host-pathogen interactions.

Specific areas of interest include:

• Lymphocyte development (AB, TC, RAF, SG, SK, PK, DS, MS, BS, and RT)
• Innate recognition of pathogens (RAF, SG, AI, RM)
• Lymphocyte activation (JB, AB, JC, PC, RF, SG, AI, PK, RM, JB, NHR, MS, BS)
• Lymphocyte effector function and memory (JB, JC, RAF, SK, RM, JB, NHR, BS)
• Intracellular signaling and the control of transcription (SG, TC, RAF, RM, JP, BS)
• Antigen processing and presentation (PC, AI, JB, KB, JC, RAF, IM, RM)
• Immunological tolerance (AB, RM, MS, RAF).

The research in the department specifically addresses the mechanism of human diseases and their prevention and treatment using clinically relevant models. These include infectious diseases such as:

• Flu (AI), AIDS (RAF),
• Lyme disease (RAF)
• Genital herpes (AI)
• Chlamydia (PC, PK)
• Asthma (KB)
• Autoimmune diseases including inflammatory bowel disease (RM)
• Diabetes (RAF, AB, NHR)
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (JC, MS, MM)
• Multiple sclerosis (MM, RAF, NHR).

The investigators in the department are also engaged in the studies of immunology as it is applied to transplantation and graft versus host disease (JP, AB, MS, WS) and cancer (RAF, RM, WS).

In addition, a new section dedicated to Human and Translational Immunology has been established within the Department.