Medical Microbiology and Immunology

Welcome to the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology

Mission Statement

The Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology (MMI) at the University of Toledo Health Sciences Campus is dedicated to the fight against infectious pathogens that remain a major cause of human diseases and to the study of defective or excessive immunity that is a cause of many other disorders, including cancer, autoimmune disease, and allergic disease. Microbiology explores the relationships between microbial pathogens and their human hosts, and immunology studies the nature of host defense systems against environmental insults. 

The Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology uses an integrated approach to train the next generation of microbiology and immunology researchers in critical thinking, solving complex problems, and independent scientific inquiry. 

Welcome From The Chairman

Welcome to the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology! The Department is in an exciting phase of growth and expansion that is building upon the efforts and reputations of our nationally and internationally recognized faculty. The Department contributes to the research mission of the University by advancing basic and translational research with the goal of developing innovative vaccines and therapeutics, and by providing cutting-edge technologies through Core facilities for Flow Cytometry and BSL-3 facilities for research on biodefense/select agents. We are most excited by our ongoing focus on synergistic interactions between clinical infectious disease experts and those who work on fundamental aspects of biomedical sciences because we believe these translational and collaborative efforts will speed discoveries and the delivery of new vaccines and drugs to the patient.

The Department serves the teaching mission of the University by educating medical and graduate students in immunology, bacteriology, virology, and host-pathogen interactions. We foster critical thinking and problem solving skills and provide opportunities for students and postdoctoral fellows to excel in the laboratory and to become life-long learners. Faculty members participate in the Medical Microbiology and Immunology training track (formerly Infection, Immunity and Transplantation) of the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, which awards both Ph.D. and M.S. degrees. We also train medical students towards the M.D./Ph.D. and M.D./ M.S.B.S. combined degrees.

We contribute to the service mission of the University by providing advanced expertise in microbiology and immunology and by promoting regional, state, national and international research on infectious diseases, inflammatory disorders, and graft rejection. Our faculty also serve on national and international scientific committees and organizations, serve as peer-reviewers on scientific journal editorial boards, and serve as officers in national professional societies.

The Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology provides a place where faculty, students, and staff work together in a collegial, innovative and supportive environment. Our students, fellows and faculty strive for excellence.