The mission of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology is to carry out outstanding research on the biology, transmission and pathogenesis of viruses and bacteria, as well as on the fundamental immune mechanisms that contribute to both health and disease.

Our History

The University of Illinois College of Medicine traces its origins to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Chicago (P&S), founded in 1882. P&S became affiliated with the University of Illinois in the late nineteenth century and was formally incorporated into the University of Illinois system in 1913 as the University of Illinois College of Medicine.

The Department of Microbiology and Immunology has a history that spans more than a century, reflecting the evolution of biomedical science itself. From its earliest years, the department played a central role in the College of Medicine’s teaching and research missions. Initially focused on bacteriology and infectious diseases, the department contributed to the development of modern microbiological science during a period when infectious diseases were among the leading causes of human mortality.

As immunology emerged as a distinct and rapidly advancing discipline in the mid-twentieth century, the department expanded its scientific scope and formally adopted the name Department of Microbiology and Immunology in the 1960s. Over subsequent decades, it developed into a leading center for basic, translational, and clinical research, with strengths spanning:

  • Microbial pathogenesis
  • Virology
  • Host–pathogen interactions
  • Immunology and immune system development
  • Vaccine discovery and development
  • Microbiome science
  • Cancer biology and immunotherapy
  • Antiviral and antimicrobial therapeutics

Today, the department brings together investigators studying bacterial, viral, fungal, and immune-system biology using molecular, cellular, genetic, computational, and translational approaches. Through its research, education, and clinical collaborations, the department continues to advance understanding of infectious diseases, immunity, and human health while training the next generation of biomedical scientists.