Welcome from the Chair

                Welcome to the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Despite advances in vaccines and antibiotics, infectious diseases remain the third leading cause of death in the United States. Combating this frightening statistic requires a coordinated effort to better understand how microbes cause disease so that new and more effective therapies can be developed. Our Department takes an integrated approach applying molecular tools to probe the underlying mechanisms of disease associated with a number of important human pathogens including Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Herpesviruses and malaria. A major component of this research effort is directed towards understanding how microbes interfere with the proper functioning of the immune system - the body's defense mechanism. The immune system also plays a key role in other diseases such as diabetes and cancer - research into these diseases are another major focus in the Department. Our research into the pathology of diabetes is enhanced by strong collaborations with investigators in the Department of Internal Medicine and the Department of Physiological Sciences. Research into cancer is multi-faceted, looking at both the basic biology of this disease as well as the development of new diagnostic tools. These efforts are integrated in the Leroy T. Canoles Cancer Research Center. This Center, which will be housed in the new Educational and Research Building (ERB) at EVMS, posits a new model for research, crossing the boundaries of both departments and disciplines. Bringing together talented researchers and physicians from diverse backgrounds will enable new and innovative approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

                All of these research efforts are due to the hard work of our faculty - these talented individuals are leaders in their respective fields and are dedicated not just to furthering our understanding of human disease but imparting that information to the next generation of physicians and scientists. Our Department is responsible for two major courses in the medical curriculum - Medical Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology and Medical Microbiology and Immunology. In addition, our faculty are an integral component of the Biomedical Sciences graduate program at EVMS. These efforts ensure that our research addressing diseases of critical importance will continue to positively impact the health of the Hampton Roads community in the future.

Sincerely,

Julie A. Kerry, Ph.D.