Overview

In recent years, researchers have made enormous advances in understanding how the normal immune system functions and in how dysregulated immune pathways contribute to many diseases. In various subspecialties of medicine, there are recognized disease states related to failings of the immune system. For example, a dysregulated immune response to exogenous antigens in the airway is associated with the development of bronchial asthma. Abnormal immune and inflammatory processes in the blood vessels are critically involved in atherosclerosis. Furthermore, susceptibility of the elderly to cancer and infection can be attributed to a collapse of immune protection.

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Mission

The Clinical Immunology and Immunotherapeutics Program (CIIP) will provide the best science and patient care for immune-mediated disorders through integrated clinical practice, education, and research.

Goals

• To establish the best research program dedicated to translational research for immune-mediated diseases
• To expand the scope of clinical immunology from classic areas (e.g., autoimmunity, allergy, and transplantation) to emerging fields (e.g., immunosenescence and immunotherapy)
• To develop novel approaches for immunosuppression, modulation, reconstitution, and monitoring
• To promote collaborative research activities within the Department of Medicine and Mayo Clinic, and with other institutions and industry partners