Example: Dendritic cells process and present foreign molecules to the immune system by mechanisms under study.

Opportunities for research training in immunology at the MCV Campus of VCU are provided by an interactive group of well funded investigators. Areas of investigation include both human and animal models and range from allergy and inflammation to cancer immunology. Research activities are enhanced by state of the art facilities for molecular analyses, flow cytometry and generation of transgenic animals.

The Interdisciplinary Program in Immunology builds on the graduate programs of each department. Students completing this curriculum will have a strong foundation in both Cellular and Molecular Immunology. Participating departments include: Microbiology & Immunology, Pharmacology and Toxicology , Anatomy , and Pathology

NIH Training Grant Supported

A NIH Predoctoral Training Grant in Cellular and Molecular Immunology supports the most outstanding PhD students in Immunology. Faculty participating in the NIH Training Program include: Suzanne Barbour, Guy Cabral, Daniel Conrad, Tom Huff, Deb Lebman, Kathy McCoy, Shaun Ruddy, Larry Schwartz, and John Tew.

Research Areas

Research in Immunology and Cancer Biology, primarily on the MCV campus of VCU, covers a wide array of topical areas, including:

• Cell and molecular biology of antigen processing
• Mast cell biology and immediate hypersensitivity
• Molecular biology of immunoglobulin gene expression
• Macrophage signal transduction
• Periodontal Immunology
• Complement regulation of inflamation
• Tumor immunology and Cancer Biology

Faculty

Participating researchers in Immunology and Cancer Biology include:

Suzanne E. Barbour , Associate Professor of Biochemistry; Ph.D. Regulation of phospholipid metabolism in the control of macrophage cell biology.
Harry D. Bear , Professor of Surgery, and Microbiology and Immunology; M.D./Ph.D. Tumor immunology, immunotherapy, cytokine modulation of tumor immunogenicity, T lymphocyte differentiation, transforming growth factor beta.
Guy A. Cabral , Professor of Microbiology and Immunology; Ph.D. Molecular biology of cannabinoid receptors, immunomodulation by drugs and chemicals.
Joseph V. Califano , Associate Professor of Periodontics, and Microbiology and Immunology; D.D.S./Ph.D. Immunobiology of periodontal disease.
Patricia L. Carlson , Staff Immunologist of Virginia Medical Center; Ph.D. Complement and acute phase cytokines in inflammatory processes, particularly monocyte functions.
Daniel H. Conrad , Professor of Microbiology and Immunology; Ph.D. IgE-mediated allergic disease, molecular genetics of IgE receptors.
Robert F. Diegelmann , Professor of Surgery, and Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics; Ph.D. Collagen metabolism and role of cytokines in tissue repair.
Steven Grant , Professor of Medicine Hematology/Oncology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Microbiology and Immunology; M.D. Regulation of apoptosis in tumor cells, cancer therapy.
Jack L. Haar , Professor of Anatomy; Ph.D. Hematopoietic stem cell differentiation and thymic development.
Chi-Lo Hahn , Associate Professor of Endodontics; D.D.S./Ph.D. Immunopathology of dental pulp in caries and periodontal disease.
Richard C. Hard , Associate Professor of Medicine, and Pathology; M.D. Pathogenesis of host versus graft disease, experimental model of pediatric AIDS.
Thomas F. Huff , Professor of Microbiology and Immunology; Ph.D. Mast cell differentiation, regulation of allergic IgE response.
Anne-Marie Irani , Professor of Medicine Pediatrics; M.D. Differentiation of human mast cells.
Pamela M. Kimball , Professor of Surgery; Ph.D. Tissue and organ transplantation.
Thomas E. Koertge , Associate Professor of Periodontics; D.M.D./Ph.D. Periodontal disease, mucosal immunology.
Deborah Lebman , Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology; Ph.D. Molecular genetics of secretory IgA response in mucosal immunity.
Roger M. Loria , Professor of Microbiology and Immunology; Ph.D. Host-virus interactions, endocrine control of immune regulation during enteroviral infections.
Francine Marciano-Cabral , Professor of Microbiology and Immunology; Ph.D. Molecular pathogenesis of protozoa, parasite-host interactions, host resistance mechanisms in protozoan infections.
Kathleen L. McCoy , Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology; Ph.D. Immunotoxicity of antigen-presenting cell function, regulation of helper T cell responses.
Randall E. Merchant , Professor of Anatomy; Ph.D. Tumor immunology, immunotherapy for brain cancer.
Charles W. Moncure , Professor of Pathology; M.D. Tumor markers, immunochemistry, autoimmunity.
George F. Moxley , Associate Professor of Internal Medicine Rheumatology; M.D. Immunogenetics and autoimmune diseases.
P. Franklin Mulinaux , Professor of Medicine; M.D. Autoimmune disease, particularly systemic lupus erythematosus, chimerism as a cause of autoimmunity.
Shaun Ruddy , Professor of Internal Medicine Rheumatology, and Microbiology and Immunology; M.D. Interaction between plasma proteins and cells involved inflammation, complement and neutrophil activation.
Harvey A. Schenkein , Professor of Periodontics, and Microbiology and Immunology; D.D.S./Ph.D. Immunobiology of periodontal disease, complement and inflammatory mediators in periodontal disease.
Lawrence B. Schwartz , Professor of Internal Medicine Rheumatology, and Microbiology and Immunology; M.D./Ph.D. Immunology and biochemistry of mast cells.
David Straus, Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology; Ph.D. Molecular mechanism of T lymphocyte activation, development and oncogenic transformation.
John G. Tew , Professor of Microbiology and Immunology; Ph.D. Role of follicular dendritic cells in the immune response and immune mechanisms in pathogenesis of periodontal disease.
Joy L. Ware , Professor of Pathology; Ph.D. Cancer cell biology.
Kimber L. White , Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Biostatistics; Ph.D. Immunotoxicology of host resistance to infections and exacerbation of autoimmunity.

Courses

See the previous page for links to a typical schedule for a Ph.D. student. Didactic courses specifically designed for students of immunology include:

• MIC 505 Immunobiology.
  A survey of immunobiology as a total host response to foreign agents.
• MIC 686 Advanced Immunobiology-1.
  Topics in tumor immunology, cell interactions and genetics in the immune response.
• MIC 691 Immunology Journal Club
  Tumor immunology, cell interactions and genetics in the immune response.

Application Information

Applicants must have earned a baccalaureate or equivalent degree prior to admission. The typical successful applicant will have taken introductory level courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics; advanced level course work in these disciplines is also strongly recommended.

You can obtain an online application form at: http://www.vcu.edu/graduate/ps/apply_options.html

For requests of printed application materials for the graduate programs in Microbiology & Immunology , please contact or e-mail the address below. For consideration for financial support, applications should be received by January 7 in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. The deadline for application is May 1 for a student to matriculate the following semester.

Mrs. Martha L. VanMeter
Enrollment Services Assistant
Virginia Commonwealth University
Dept. of Microbiology & Immunology, Box 980678
1101 East Marshall St., 5-051A Sanger Hall
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0678

(804) 828-9728
(804) 828-9946 - fax
eMail: mlvanmeter@vcu.edu

Those interested in pursuing training in the Immunology may wish to contact the Director of the Immunology Program for more information.

Dr. John Tew
Director of the Immunology Program
P.O. Box 980678
Medical College of Virginia of VCU
Richmond, VA 23298-0678, USA

Phone : (804) 828-9728 / 828-9715
Fax: (804) 828-9946
eMail: tew@vcu.edu

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Date Last Modified: 06/09/2008
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