Immunology and Microbiology
Our immune system is a wonder, rebuffing harmful viruses, bacteria, cancers and other threats while working in partnership with our microbiome to maintain our health. Immunologists and microbiologists at Scripps Research are devoted to explaining how the immune system functions, how diseases spread and evolve, and designing new treatments and cures for infectious disease, cancer and autoimmune disorders. We pair foundational biological research with the development of new vaccines and other therapies to help eradicate diseases worldwide.
The Scripps Research Department of Immunology and Microbiology combines a deep mechanistic understanding of immune responses and pathogens with a commitment to translating this knowledge into treatments and cures for infectious disease, cancer and autoimmunity. Scripps Researchers are exploring everything from developing new types of vaccines against HIV and flu viruses to using artificial intelligence to understand the spread and evolution of deadly pathogens. We educate and train the next generation of scientific leaders who will shape the future of immunology and microbiology research.
The department focuses on several scientific areas, including:
- Infectious diseases, such as HIV, Ebola, Zika, hepatitis and viral hemorrhagic fever, and designing vaccines to eradicate these and other diseases
- Innate and responsive immune systems, especially B cells and T cells, which are bulwarks against infection but also become bad actors in certain viral diseases and autoimmune disorders such as lupus, multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes.
- The development of new therapies and therapeutic targets to improve immunotherapy for cancer and to control or cure persistent infections and autoimmune diseases.