Welcome to the Department of Immunology & Microbiology

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Leslie Berg, PhD

Professor, Chair

T cell activation, differentiation, and responses to infection and how these processes are regulated by T cell antigen receptor signaling

Linda van Dyk, PhD

Professor, Vice Chair

Genetic and molecular approaches to infection and pathogenesis by lymphotropic herpesviruses

Great news from the Morrison Laboratory!

• They received an NIH R01 award with collaborators at the University of Pittsburgh to study mechanisms by which viruses target specific cells and how this contributes to disease. 
• They also received an NIH R56 award with Carlos Catalano (CU School of Pharmacy) to further develop a phage-based vaccine platform for emerging viral infections.
• The Morrison Laboratory is part of a large team led by Mike Diamond (Washington University) that was awarded an NIH U19 on Research and Development of Vaccines and Monoclonal Antibodies for Pandemic Preparedness (ReVAMPP). The ReVAMPP network will conduct research on high-priority pathogens most likely to threaten human health with the goal of developing effective vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. See https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-awards-establish-pandemic-preparedness-research-network

Ann Palmenberg Junior Investigator Award

Jenna Guthmiller, PhD, assistant professor of immunology and microbiology, received the Ann Palmenberg Junior Investigator Award at the American Society for Virology annual meeting on June 25. The award recognizes junior investigators who have made significant contributions to the field of virology and who display exceptional promise. Her lab studies how broadly protective humoral immunity against influenza viruses develops and can be harnessed by vaccination. Her expertise has been showcased in recent news reports about avian flu, including this article in the AAMC News and this report in The Denver Post.

Dr. Michael Schurr's lab from CU School of Medicine and  Dr. Devatha Nair lab's CU School of Dental Medicine's spinout company, Azodent, Inc. received a RadLaunch award at RadTech for designing a polymer coating that can be used to prevent biofilm accumulation and infections on implants, prostheses, catheters, and endoscopes.

Congratulations to Aimee Bernard, PhD for winning the 2024 Chancellor’s Teaching Recognition Award for the School of Medicine! 

Aimee Bernard, Ph.D. was promoted to the highest level within the CU Academy of Medical Educators along the Teaching Membership track! Congratulations on becoming a Legacy member!

Gilliam Fellowships Awarded

Brittany Gomez, who is in the Immunology PhD program, and Linda van Dyk, PhD, professor and vice chair of The Department of Immunology and Microbiology have been awarded the Gilliam Fellowships by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI).