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Research activities of the Department of Microbiology and
Molecular Cell Biology are focused in two research focal groups:
cancer biology and virology. Research on the cellular, molecular and
immunologic aspects of cancer, the molecular and immunological study
of viral infections, and mechanisms of host defense are examples of current
research studies. Several of the Department's projects involve
collaboration with basic and clinical science faculty at Eastern
Virginia Medical School, including the Virginia Prostate
Center, and other institutions throughout the
country. There are three main components
to the research currently being conducted by the
Department:
- Tumor Biology research
focuses on two major areas:
- the role of oncogenes,
proto-oncogenes, and disruptions in signal transduction in
tumorgenesis;
- the discovery and
characterazition of biomarkers for diagnosis, vaccine
development, gene therapy, and antibody-directed
immunolocalization and therapy.
The faculty have a particular
interest in the molecular and cellular basis for leukemia,
prostate, bladder, ovarian, and breast cancers.
- Cellular Immunology
research concentrates on immunosuppression by herpesviruses and
the regulation and functions of antiviral cytotoxic T
lymphocytes.
- Virology research
concentrates on the molecular biology of cytomegalovirus (CMV)
gene expression, molecular pathogenesis of CMV, retroviruses, and
human T cell leukemic virus in cancer.
All faculty members in the Department
have externally funded research projects. Funding sources include
the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of General
Medical Sciences, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases, the National Institute of Child Health and Human
Development, Department of Defense, and a variety of corporate and
private foundations.
More detailed descriptions of
the research activities of individual faculty members are included
in the faculty
listings. |
