Welcome to the Department of Immunology & Microbiology
MISSION STATEMENT
To stimulate leading-edge research and scientific training in a diverse and welcoming community. We focus our collective expertise on fundamental mechanisms in immunity and infection, and work together to transform the power of scientific discovery into novel therapies for infectious diseases, autoimmunity and cancer.
Aimee Bernard, PhD will be speaking at TEDxCU ON THE CONTRARY on April 4th @ 2pm
"Dr. Aimee Bernard is an immunologist, medical educator, and science communicator devoted to sharing her love of science with the world beyond academia. Aimee’s mission is to build bridges between science and society, transforming jargon into connection and curiosity into conversation. In her TEDx talk, Aimee will share the importance of spreading accessible science in an era of significant disinformation and distrust in science."
12/04/2025 | Meet the Scientist: studies the way bacteriophages alter the microbiome and the role the effects might play on health and disease as described in a recent issue of Meet the Scientist titled, How Do These Skilled Invaders Change the Way Bacteria Behave?
11/10/2025 | CU Anschutz Today: & were featured in CU Anschutz Today. Learn more about their innovative research in the Researchers Discover Connection Between a Distinct Immune Cell and Colitis by Chris Casey.
A new study yielded the potentially harmful effects of mucosal-associated invariant T cells (MAIT) on the intestinal barrier – the first such study to make this connection. By genetically disrupting MAIT cells, researchers were able to halt ulcerative colitis in a strain of mice that are known for spontaneously developing chronic inflammation in the colon.
09/15/2025 | Research Series: Kyla Ost, PhD was featured in CU School of Medicine's Research Series in a text called, "Investigating the ‘Dark Side’ of Gut Microbes in the Ost Lab."
05/23/2025 | Meet the Scientist: Thomas ‘Tem’ Morrison focuses on how dangerous viruses infect humans and how our bodies work to clear them in “Lifeguard on Duty: Better Understanding the Body’s First Responders”
04/23/25 | READ CU Anschutz Today featuring Assistant Research Professor, Jared Klarquist, PhD in "B Cells Found to Be Crucial for Long-Term Vaccine Protection, New Study Shows" here discussing new insight from a recently published study in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.
3/19/25 | This month's Research Achievement Highlights (REACH) forum featured various presenters, including Aimee Pugh Bernard, PhD. They shared tips on how to navigate medical misinformation through connection. You can read a summary of the forum in the article linked below.
3/13/2025 | STEM Poster Day Brings Science Under the Gold Dome of the Colorado Capitol
Young researchers from the CU School of Medicine and others showcased their work at the event.
3/12/2025 | Researchers from the University of Colorado Anschutz and funded by the NIH, studied a new method to deliver antibiotics, specifically gentamicin, directly into the bladder tissue to better treat UTIs.
03/03/2025 | Cu Anschutz Basic Science Departments Chairs, Leslie Berg, PhD, Julie Cooper, PhD, David DiGregorio, PhD, Heide Ford PhD, Casey Greene, PhD Wendy Macklin, PhD, and Science Communicator, Aimee Pugh Bernard, PhD wrote an Op-Ed about NIH funding needs titled, "Opinion: The Critical Need for Science Funding" which was featured in the online newspaper Front Porch.
READ IT HERE
From A Message from Dean Sampson | July 21, 2025
"Curtis J. Henry, PhD, Associate Professor of Immunology and Microbiology, and James DeGregori, PhD, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, are corresponding authors of a review article, “Modelling the ageing dependence of cancer evolutionary trajectories,” published July 10 by Nature Reviews Cancer. Dr. Henry is Deputy Associate Director, and Dr. DeGregori is Deputy Director of the CU Cancer Center."
4/17/2025 | Various authors including Cameron Manes, Ross M. Kedl, Jared Klarquist and other researchers from the CU Anschutz School of Medicine published their study, “B cells shape naïve CD8 T cell programming,” in .
3/24/2025 | Jenna J. Guthmiller, PhD, Assistant Professor of Immunology and Microbiology, is a corresponding author of an article, “Long-lasting B cell convergence to distinct broadly reactive epitopes following vaccination with chimeric influenza virus hemagglutinins,” published March 24 by Immunity.
3/7/2025 | Kyla Ost, PhD, Assistant Professor of Immunology and Microbiology, is a co-author of a research article, “Neonatal fungi promote lifelong metabolic health through macrophage-dependent β cell development,” published by Science.
2026 American Association of Immunologists Vanguard Award Recipient
Curtis J. Henry, Ph.D. was selected as the 2026 recipient of the AAI Vanguard Award, in recognition of research achievement and exemplary career success.
CONGRATULATIONS
Dr. Andrew Getahun will be promoted to Associate Professor in July 2026!
CONGRATULATIONS
Dr. Brian Russo will be promoted to Associate Professor in July 2026!
12/09/2025 | Appreciation Party 2025 - Read the poem, Gratilabitude: Ode to the Department of Immunology & Microbiology by CHAT, Ross, and Jill here.
09/15/2025 | Aimee Pugh Bernard, PhD spoke "about her career and her passion for teaching and communicating immunology to the public" on an episode of MicrobeTV. Watch the episode, featured below or linked here.
2025 Student Leader of the Year
Student Graduate
Rachael Kostelecky
This award recognizes a student leader who has provided exemplary service, commitment, and strong leadership to a student organization.
2025 President's Inclusive Excellence Award
Student Graduate
Gabrielle Vragel
"Gabrie's respectful consideration of both peers and leadership and her undaunted spirit make her a very impactful student leader and change-maker."
2025 WINNER: The Joseph Addison Sewall Award
Leslie J. Berg, PhD
Professor and Chair | Immunology and Microbiology Department
Dr. Emma Sheriff, former PhD student in the Duerkop lab, had her paper entitled “Enterococcal quorum-controlled protease alters phage infection” selected as the best paper of 2024 published in FEMS Microbes.
Get to Know Curtis Henry, PhD, CU Cancer Center deputy associate director, Office of EAS
Curtis Henry, PhD, developed a passion for science early, inspired by his family and his cousin’s battle with leukemia. Now, he studies how comorbidities impact the immune system’s fight against cancer. Through patience and perseverance, he’s turned challenges into opportunities, driving his mission to find better treatments.
Watch the Interview on LinkedIn
AAI Lifetime Achievement Award
Leslie Berg, PhD is the recipient of the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award, granted, “In recognition of a remarkable career of scientific achievement and contributions to AAI and the field of immunology.”
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