State-of-the-Art Facilities and Breakthrough Research

Welcome to the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Missouri School of Medicine. I am pleased to introduce you to our department, which has three primary missions: to foster cutting-edge research on biomedically relevant problems in microbiology, immunology, and virology; to educate strong, independent research scientists; and to provide knowledge-based service to the state, nation and international communities.

The past few years have been an exciting time of unprecedented growth for our department, with eight new faculty members adding innovative research programs in viral pathogenesis and immunology, as well as investigations into bacterial pathogenesis. The new investigators complement existing strengths in such areas as autoimmunity, innate and acquired immunity to pathogens, design of therapeutic reagents targeted to viral and bacterial pathogenesis, and basic principles of microbial genetics and physiology.

The expansion of our faculty to a total of 25 positions has dramatically enhanced the training and research opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral scientists. Moreover, it has translated into stunning fiscal growth in the past two years by more than doubling funding from federal agencies, private research foundations and biomedical industry. These funding advances have occurred despite a slowing federal budget for biomedical research.

I invite you to browse our website for information on faculty research, our graduate program, courses, faculty and student seminars, and to contact us if you desire to make contributions to the research and teaching of microbiology and immunology.