Established in the Fall of 2021, and led by Division Chief Dr. Kate Fitzgerald, the Division of Innate Immunity joins the Department of Medicine with a robust research foundation, and will enable the Department to expand on its current research strengths in infectious diseases and immunology as well as the highly impactful science by faculty in the Program in Innate Immunity. The Division of Innate Immunity will help to grow the number of tenure-line faculty, laboratory space, funding, support staff and administrative support for scientists in the Department, and will also provide a thematic focus from which to recruit scientists and physician-scientists to the Department of Medicine.
Innate immunity is central to defend nearly all multi-cellular organisms from microbial infection. The innate immune response relies on germline-encoded receptors, which sense microbial products and endogenous danger signals. These innate responses are critical for effective host defense, but careful regulation of innate immunity is equally essential to avoid detrimental inflammatory diseases.
The Division of Innate Immunity is committed to providing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for our faculty, postdocs, students, and staff. We oppose discrimination in all forms and strive to educate ourselves about systemic issues by actively engaging in an ongoing dialogue and learning from all members of the program as well as the broader community. We believe that by doing so, we not only strive to provide an environment that is welcoming to all but that also enriches our personal and professional perspectives and approaches to our research and clinical care.
Our ongoing goals include:
Innate immunity is central to defend nearly all multi-cellular organisms from microbial infection. The innate immune response relies on germline-encoded receptors, which sense microbial products and endogenous danger signals. These innate responses are critical for effective host defense, but careful regulation of innate immunity is equally essential to avoid detrimental inflammatory diseases.