Medical Microbiology and Immunology Track
Welcome to the Medical Microbiology and Immunology (MMI) track (formerly known at the Infection, Immunity & Transplantation (IIT) track) at The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, on the Health Science Campus.
The MMI track is part of the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Research Program. MMI educates and trains graduate students for careers investigating the microorganisms that are relevant to human health and the immune system that allows us to overcome infection as well as to reject transplantation of organs and tissues. MMI students may pursue the Master of Science (M.S.) or the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree or, after acceptance into the medical school, a combined M.D./Ph.D. or M.D./M.S. degree program.
The MMI faculty is internationally recognized, and has a strong record of graduate student and postdoctoral fellow mentoring.
Faculty Study:
- (1) individual microbes (bacteria, viruses, or fungi), including those relevant to biodefense, with particular emphasis on their biology, bioinformatics, genetic regulation, pathogenesis, and evolution;
- (2) the host response to infection that can contribute to disease prevention or to autoimmune diseases such as asthma, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis;
- (3) the development, differentiation and activation of the innate and adaptive immune systems;
- (4) novel approaches to vaccine development; and
- (5) mechanisms to prevent transplant rejection.
Our translational research efforts are aimed at more rapidly moving fundamental research findings from the lab bench to the hospital bedside. Faculty initiatives focus on persistent infections, developing novel vaccines using evolutionary adaptability and robustness principles, and probing the use of microbes in specific cancer therapy.
MMI faculty laboratories are modern and well equipped to apply state-of-the-art technologies to microbiology and immunology research endeavors. Facilities within the Department provide technologies for Live Cell Imaging, Luminex Multiplex Cytokine Detection, Bioinformatics and Genomics Analysis, and Flow Cytometry. We are particularly excited by the open-laboratory renovation currently underway that will enhance research space, small-group discussions and classroom space within the Department.
Day in the Life
Hear directly from our graduate students:
Please email questions and comments to:
- MMI Track Director, Dr. Kevin Pan, Professor (419.383.5466; E-mail: kevin.pan@utoledo.edu)
- Co-Director Dr. Travis Taylor, Associate Professor (419.383.6673) / Email: Travis.Taylor@utoledo.edu) in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology