G-IMM-PHD - Immunology - PhD

The Department of Immunology offers graduate work leading to the PhD in immunology.

Immunology is the study of the cells, proteins, and genes that protect against infection and malignancy. Immunology encompasses innate and natural, nonspecific defense mechanisms, as well as specific immune responses that generate immunologic memory. Immunology is by its nature a bridging science. The roots of immunology lie in the study of infectious disease, vaccine development, organ transplantation, immunity to malignancy, and immunotherapy. Modern research in immunology draws on recent advances in cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, genomics and informatics to determine how the immune system functions. In turn, immunology has contributed to understanding biological structure, eukaryotic gene organization and expression, signal transduction, and intracellular protein transport and assembly. 

Research programs are available in many aspects of molecular and cellular immunology, including immunogenetics. The department is a participating member in the following university programs: cell and molecular biology, University Program in Genetics and Genomics, the Medical Scientist Training Program, Center for AIDS Research, molecular cancer biology, and the Developmental Biology Training Program.

The Department of Immunology has outstanding facilities for carrying out all aspects of immunologic research. A description of the PhD program, prerequisites for admission, and research in the department may be found at immunology.duke.edu.