该系的教师正在探索与免疫应答的发展以及免疫系统在疾病中的作用有关的许多令人兴奋和具有挑战性的领域。主要关注过敏性疾病，例如哮喘和食物过敏。当前的工作是了解与T细胞分化有关的特定细胞因子和转录因子，以及T细胞在抗体调节和控制自身免疫中的作用。几位研究者正在定义造血细胞发育的要求，尤其是干细胞产生免疫系统成分的途径。免疫学计划目前得到了美国国立卫生研究院（NIH）五年培训补助金的支持。
The Department of Microbiology and Immunology at IU School of Medicine offers a PhD program that is typically completed in about five years. The curriculum is designed to move students into the laboratory and their prospective dissertation project as quickly as possible. Following the first year of course work, through the IBMG program, students usually take four credits of course work in their second year and begin to focus on their research. After passing the qualifying examination at the end of their second year, students advance to PhD candidacy and devote their time primarily to their dissertation research projects. The program prepares students for productive careers as research scientists, as faculty, or in other leadership positions in their chosen fields. Opportunities to gain teaching experience with introduction to modern teaching theory are available for students interested in academic careers.<br><br>A nationally recognized training program, immunology and infectious disease at IU School of Medicine specializes in areas of allergy and asthma, autoimmunity, biodefense, immune cell development and differentiation, innate immunity, host-pathogen interactions, transplantation, tumor immunity and virology. Support for training graduate students and fellows is provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the NIH. Scientific advances in the fields of immunology and infectious disease research significantly impact human health and the treatment of disease. Novel approaches to vaccine development to combat tumors and pathogens are required, as well as the development of novel therapeutics for asthma and autoimmune disorders.