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University of Pittsburgh    
2016-2017 Graduate & Professional Studies Catalog 
    
 
  Mar 28, 2024
 
2016-2017 Graduate & Professional Studies Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Immunology (PhD)


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The immunology program focuses on six areas of research: cancer immunology, transplantation immunology, infectious disease immunology, autoimmunity, immunology of barrier surfaces, and basic immunologic mechanisms.

Tumor immunology studies include tumor antigen discovery and presentation, vaccination strategies to develop safe and effective treatments for cancer, and the search for underlying genetic or biochemical defects that lead to cell transformation and tumorigenesis that may also influence tumor immunogenicity. These studies emphasize intracellular signal transduction, programmed cell death, and oncogene function.

Transplantation immunology concentrates on weakening both the acute and chronic phases of immune responses, to facilitate the acceptance of foreign organ and tissue transplants. Program members focus on the basic biology of immune cell non-reactivity (tolerance) to foreign organs and tissues, as well as on the use of new immunomodulatory drugs to promote transplant acceptance without endangering patients’ abilities to resist infections.

Studies of the immune response to infectious disease focus on mechanisms the immune system uses to eliminate viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections as well as the immune evasion mechanisms employed by pathogens. Investigation of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosis, and type-1 diabetes involve detailed analysis of the molecular mechanisms underlying the autoimmune response and of the development of novel therapeutic and preventive measures for these often-fatal diseases.

Immunology of barrier surfaces studies both basic mechanisms of host defense with a focus on the lung, gut and skin which form major physical barriers to infection. These organs are the main portal of entry for a variety of air and food borne pathogens, allergens and other environmental pollutants. Mechanisms of dendritic cell maturation and their influence on T-cell differentiation and the relevance of these interactions in disease second in tolerance. Some foci of basic immunologic mechanisms include cell and organ development and homeostasis, cellular activation and inactivation signaling cascades, and the use of gene therapy to modulate immune responses.

Core Courses


Apart from the general degree requirements for all Interdisciplinary Biomedical Science Graduate students, the following are core courses in Immunology:

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