Infectious and Immunologic Diseases Research Center (IIDRC)

The Infectious and Immunologic Diseases Research Center (IIDRC) is working on new ways to tackle challenging medical problems in infectious and immunologic diseases, and accelerating the discovery process to identify novel therapies. Research programs within the IIDRC seek to understand the biology of infectious microorganisms and the immune defense mechanisms that arise to keep such infections at bay. The Center fosters excellence in basic and translational clinical research in infectious and immunological diseases, with a special focus on emerging infectious diseases and immunological and autoimmune diseases. The Center allows a diverse community of clinicians and scientists to communicate effectively, providing opportunities for them to collaborate on research that seeks to discover mechanisms, novel treatments, and preventatives, including vaccines for emerging infections. The Center makes efforts to maximize technology-transfer opportunities, and works to expedite commercialization of new therapies. Enhancing philanthropic support for research in this area is a key mission of the IIDRC. Communicating scientific and clinical advances to scientists, physicians, policy makers and the general public is also a priority. The areas of focus in translational research include: infection-induced acceleration of atherosclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease; Kawasaki disease; emerging infectious diseases, such as SARS-CoV2 and Multisystem Systemic Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C); the potential of BCG vaccination in boosting trained immunity; the role of infections and chronic inflammation in aging; and sex differences in inflammatory disease such as atherosclerosis.