IMPORTANT AREAS FOR FUTURE ADVANCEMENT AND RECRUITMENT

Immune Reconstitution

The immune system senesces naturally or prematurely as a result of disease or as an unintended consequence of various therapeutic strategies that are immuno-ablative. The ability to restore the immuno-competence is critical for the long term health of immuno-deficient patients. Basic investigators studying the regenerative capacity of bone marrow, stem cell biology, and the developmental programs that lead to the cells of the immune system are essential for this important area of research.

Immune Activation and Modulation

Cells of the immune system function in response a complex intercellular communication network. How the immune response addresses environmental challenges is directed by a series of cues initiated by molecular properties associated with infection by bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and viruses. Understanding these cues and how cells of the immune system communicate with each other will allow rational clinical intervention to alter the immune response for the benefit of patients. In certain situations, patients may derive benefit from enhanced immune reactivity (as in cancer or in developing immunity to pathogens). In other situation, attenuation of existing responses may be needed (as in allergy, autoimmunity, or immune attack on vital tissues such as the brain, heart, or pancreas). Basic investigators studying the molecular basis of intercellular and intracellular communication will play vital roles in this area of Immunology.

Tolerance

An important property of immune recognition is the ability of the immune system to distinguish between self and non-self. Understanding the many mechanisms that lead to tolerance of self will provide rational strategies for intervention in disease states in which active immune responses are pathogenic, as is the case in autoimmunity, pancreatitis, a variety of CNS inflammatory diseases, myocarditis, and graft rejection. Therefore, developing research programs addressing mechanisms governing immune tolerance would strengthen our ability to address clinically important problems.

Disease-based Studies

While it is essential to discover and understand the basic mechanisms governing immune responses, understanding immunity in the context of specific diseases is also fundamentally important. Therefore, we will seek to establish research programs within the Department of Immunology addressing important human diseases such as cancer, infectious diseases, autoimmunity, and transplant rejection. Cancers and pathogens have unique properties peculiar to individual tissue types and pathogenic organisms that present significant challenges to immune intervention. Having investigators focused on specific questions regarding specific diseases provides context for understanding and applying mechanism-based discoveries. Similarly, issues relating the development and regulation of autoimmunity and transplant rejection will vary according to the tissue involved and will require unique insights for the development of useful solutions. We therefore, foresee the development of programs that deal specifically with a spectrum diseases in which the immune system plays a prominent role.