Immunology and Infectious Diseases
The Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases focuses on the biological, immunological, epidemiological, and ecological aspects of viral, bacterial, protozoan, and helminthic diseases of animals and humans and the vectors that transmit some of these infectious agents.
Research in the department emphasizes basic pathogenic mechanisms that may lead to better diagnostic tools, the development of vaccines and other interventions for prevention and control of infection and disease, and the identification of new targets for antiviral and antiparasitic drugs. Laboratory-based research within the school may be supplemented by field-based studies of epidemiological and ecological aspects of infectious disease transmission and control. Diseases of developing countries are emphasized.
Members of the department take a multidisciplinary approach that includes immunology, molecular biology, public health entomology, cell biology and ultrastructure, biochemistry, pathology, virology, epidemiology, and ecology. The faculty undertakes research both within the school and around the world.
Infectious diseases currently under study include protozoa (malaria and leishmania), helminths such as schistosomes, viruses (HIVs, leukemia retroviruses, West Nile and eastern equine encephalitis), and bacteria (Lyme disease agents, ehrlichia, tuberculosis). Further immunologic studies focus on genetic regulation of the immune response, the function and regulation of T-cell-derived cytokines, and cytokines involved in the regulation of inflammation.
Degree Programs in Immunology and Infectious Diseases
As described below, the department offers doctor of science (SD) and doctor of philosophy (PhD) degree programs. No master of science programs are available.
Students in both programs choose among the areas of interest described below:
Immunology The curriculum for this area of interest currently focuses on genetic regulation of the immune response and the function and regulation of T-cell-derived cytokines. Students take courses in cell biology, immunology, and molecular immunology.
Immunology and molecular biology of parasitic and other infections This area of interest introduces students to recent advances in the biology of parasitic and infectious diseases and provides background for conducting research on these diseases. The program emphasizes molecular biology, immunology, cell biology, and the epidemiology of parasites.
Infectious disease epidemiology and tropical public health This area of interest provides a solid understanding of epidemiology, ecology, and control of infectious diseases in developing countries. It emphasizes control and prevention measures and the biological basis of diseases caused by pathogens that range from viruses to parasites.
Vector biology, ecology, and control This area of interest focuses on the manner in which blood-feeding arthropods interact with their various vertebrate hosts and with the human pathogens that they transmit. This area combines biological experimentation, epidemiological analysis, and population studies. Students become familiar with the various arthropods that are associated with human disease and learn the ways environmental change may result in ill health. Students conduct studies on mechanisms of transmission of vector-borne pathogens, both in the laboratory and in the field, and devise novel intervention strategies.
Virology This area of interest is designed to prepare a future generation of experts for new developments in the pathogenesis and prevention of AIDS and other infectious diseases. At present the program emphasizes the epidemiology, biology, and vaccinology of AIDS as an example of a complex infectious disease. Students take courses in virology, vaccine development, and related fields.
Doctor of Science in Immunology and Infectious Diseases
The SD program is designed for those interested in immunology, molecular biology, virology, and the epidemiology of infectious diseases. The program prepares students for postdoctoral research fellowships; junior faculty positions at academic institutions; and positions in independent research institutions, governmental agencies, and the biotechnology industry.
Applicants to the SD program should have a clinical degree (MD, DVM, DMD, or equivalent). This program is also available to candidates without a clinical degree who wish to apply to the interdisciplinary concentration in the epidemiology of infectious disease. To enter the program through the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, candidates must have adequate background in modern biology, including microbiology.
This program aims to develop the basic skills in laboratory techniques and data handling necessary for undertaking original research. Course work during the first one or two years emphasizes cellular and molecular biology, virology, immunology, and genetics. Course work for students focusing on the epidemiology of infections also emphasizes epidemiology, biostatistics, and ecology. Electives are chosen according to a student’s needs and interests. Courses may be taken at Harvard Medical School, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and MIT, as well as at HSPH.
Students are encouraged to participate in the numerous seminar series and informal discussion groups offered on the Longwood campus. The department emphasizes publication of research results in the standard research literature, and most doctoral students publish several papers before completing the degree. The doctoral thesis is based on intensive laboratory research under the guidance of a faculty adviser in the student’s area of interest. Students choose a faculty adviser whose research interests match their own when beginning to research their thesis topic.
Limited funding is available to qualified SD students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. A training grant from the NIH Fogarty Institute also provides some support for international students.
Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Sciences in Public Health (Immunology and Infectious Diseases)
Students wishing to study cellular and molecular biology, immunology, virology, or physiology as it pertains to major problems in public health should apply to the PhD program offered by the Division of Biological Sciences through the Harvard University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The PhD program is designed to train scientists in state-of-the-art concepts and methods in immunology, immune system disorders, virology, the biology of parasites, or important infectious diseases.
Related Offerings
Interdisciplinary concentration in the epidemiology of infectious disease
Contact Information
For more information about the SD program in immunology and infectious diseases or other departmental inquiries, please contact:
Andrea Sabaroff, Administrative Coordinator
Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases
651 Huntington Avenue
Boston MA 02115
Phone: 617-432-1023
Fax: 617-739-8348
Web: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/departments/immunology-and-infectiousdiseases
For the PhD Program in Biological Sciences in Public Health, online submissions are encouraged, using the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) application form available at the web address below:
Web: http://www.gsas.harvard.edu/apply/ apply_3.php
The GSAS application in hard copy is available at the same web address.