Survival of the mammalian host depends on the innate and adaptive immune system that mounts protective responses against a wide-range of microbes, allergens, and cancer cells. Understanding of these responses has led to the development of life-protecting therapeutic interventions including vaccines, anti-inflammatory drugs, and immunotherapy against several autoimmune diseases and cancers. Inflammation is a “double edged sword” immune response that initiates the wound healing process and protects from pathogenic microbes, cancer cells, and irritants. However, unrestrained inflammation leads to several human pathologies including cancers.

Research carried out by faculty members of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology within Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University is focused on deciphering the host’s innate and adaptive immune responses and consequent inflammation.

• Dr. Fabio Re is deciphering the role of toll-like receptors and inflammasomes during bacterial infections and vaccination.
• Dr. Joseph Reynolds is studying the role of the IL-17 family of cytokines in autoimmune inflammation and mucosal immunity.
• Dr. Gustavo Martinez is analyzing the transcriptional regulation of CD8+ and follicular helper T cell responses against acute and chronic viral infections.
• Dr. Neelam Sharma-Walia is analyzing the role of inflammatory COX-2 and lipoxins and anti-inflammatory leukotrienes role in inflammatory breast cancer and virus associated cancers.  
• Dr. Kenneth Beaman’s studies are focused on the role of ? vacuolar ATP-ase that is involved in ovarian cancer-related inflammation and pregnancy.
• Dr. Kwang-Poo Chang is studying the Leishmania based photo-vaccines against infectious and malignant diseases.
• Dr. David Everly is studying the role of constitutive inflammatory signaling in virally induced cancer and the role of viruses in multiple sclerosis.