Research Overview
The Immunology and Molecular Pathogenesis (IMP) graduate program offers an interdisciplinary environment for training in molecular and cellular immunology, with a primary focus on the immune system’s role in the pathogenesis of infectious disease. Faculty members are drawn from both basic science and clinical departments across the School of Medicine, specializing in experimental approaches that range from pathobiology and genetics to cutting edge immunobiology. This collaborative framework allows students to study the complexities of host-pathogen interactions using a spectrum of molecular and cellular techniques while working alongside experts at the School of Medicine, the Vaccine Research Center, and the Emory National Primate Research Center.
The IMP doctoral program focuses its training on three principal areas:
- Immunobiology teaches students the fundamental mechanisms that control the immune response. Projects in this area cover the entire spectrum of immunological research and include understanding the response against pathogens, transplantation immunology, cancer immunology, and autoimmunity.
- Molecular virology focuses on viral packaging, the structure/function relationships of viral proteins, viral replication, and effects of viruses on cellular proliferation, transformation and apoptosis.
- Pathogenesis of infectious disease concentrates on 1) fundamental events by which microbes invade the host, establish themselves, and avoid the immune system; 2) elucidation of innate and adaptive immune responses to bacterial, protozoal, and viral infections; and 3) vaccine development.
A number of IMP faculty member research projects extend across several of these areas, providing students ample opportunities for exceptional interdisciplinary training.
Emory Resources
A cornerstone of the IMP program is the extensive network of nearly 400 faculty within the GDBBS, offering students access to specialized expertise across nearly every major scientific discipline. This collaborative ecosystem is supported by core facilities that provide the critical reagents and technical guidance necessary for high impact immunological projects. Within the School of Medicine, these resources include advanced flow cytometry for high dimensional cell analysis, transgenic mouse cores for the development of complex disease models, and microchemical and proteomics facilities for deep protein characterization. Additionally, dedicated bioinformatics cores assist researchers in managing and interpreting the massive datasets generated by modern genomic and multiomic approaches.
The Emory community also maintains sophisticated animal housing facilities across several campus locations to support a variety of research models. This includes a significant population of non-human primates at the Emory National Primate Research Center, which is a vital resource for studying viral pathogenesis and vaccine efficacy. Beyond the university campus, the IMP program maintains a unique and close relationship with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is headquartered immediately adjacent to Emory. These combined institutional partnerships and technical resources significantly enhance the scope of dissertation research, providing students with a robust foundation for leadership in the fields of immunology and infectious disease.
