About Us

Remarks from the Chairman

"Once considered nearly vanquished, a myriad of infectious diseases now pose substantial threats to our health. To avert these threatened plagues, we need a better understanding of the enemies we face and a new generation of "microbe hunters." Thus, our primary mission is to advance the training of M.D. and Ph.D. students in areas related to the microbiology and immunology of human infections. We believe this aim is best accomplished within an environment of scholarly inquiry in which we seek to develop a better understanding of the biology of specific infectious agents and their interaction with the immune system. Our ultimate goal is better control of human infections, either by vaccination or by the development of new therapeutic strategies.

Research within our Department spans the gamut from the very basic to the very applied, from the structure of molecules to the conduct of clinical trials. The faculty is large and diverse, with 32 tenured or tenure-track members having primary appointments within the Department. There are an even greater number of closely associated faculty with secondary appointments in Microbiology and Immunology. Our philosophy is to strongly encourage cross-disciplinary efforts in both research and teaching, as we recognize that future advances in the control of infectious diseases demand a multidisciplinary approach. We recognize the power and beauty of modern molecular biology, and how its application can further our efforts to control infections. Many of our efforts focus on events at the molecular level.

We are adding to the current explosion of knowledge concerning the human immune system, a core of understanding that is certain to reap benefits for human health in the future. Our research efforts include studies of the structure-function correlates of lymphocyte receptor molecules, the biological roles of interferon and other cytokines in the immune response, and aberrations in the control of immune responses that lead to autoimmune diseases. Other work focuses on the immune response to specific infectious agents, including both viruses and bacteria, as well as more complex multicellular pathogens. We are pushing back the frontiers of knowledge concerning the molecular pathogenesis of several important viral and bacterial diseases, including viral hepatitis and infectious diarrhea. Our research efforts are well funded and are carried out under the support of grants from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and a variety of other public and private agencies.

We are endowed with outstanding facilities, located on a pleasant and historic island bordering the Gulf of Mexico. Although we are a well-established Department, with roots extending back to the origins of the School of Medicine over a century ago, we are experiencing the excitement of change, new growth, and the exploration of uncharted territory. We share an enthusiasm for working together in the pursuit of knowledge, and the realization that our efforts will serve to enhance the public health."

We welcome you to this virtual tour of our Department and look forward to hearing from you!

David W. Niesel, Ph.D.
Chair

• UTMB Home Page
• Remarks from the Chairman
• Mission Statement
• The Faculty
• History of the Department
• Emergency Operations Plan
• Our Facilities
• Support Staff
• Administrative Structure
• Administrative Committees
• Employment Opportunities
• Shared Equipment
  • Ultra Centrifuges
  • ELISA Multiplex Analyzers
  • Imaging Equipment
  • Microscopes
  • Scintillation Counters
  • Spectrophotometers
  • Super Speed Centrifuges
  • Other