Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunity: Research Areas

Academic Clinical Infectious Disease

Translational research ingestigating the role of the immune system in defending patients against infections provides the core perspective of the Department of Infectious Diseases & Immunity.  Research includes novel studies on HLA in infection  through to development of diagnostic tests using techniques such as proteomics and new therapies for diseases prevalent in resource-poor nation such as tuberculosis and hepatitis.  Commenting on a new therapy for hepatitis C, The British High Commissioner in India said, “This ... is a shining example of how exciting innovation in our best universities can be rapidly turned into new and useful global healthcare”.

The department has close links with all the constituent hospitals of The Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, where staff deliver the Clinical Infectious Diseases, Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Infection Control and Microbiology services. The team of clinical academics is one of the largest groups of infection related clinician-scientists based in a UK University hospital.

Infection and Immunity

The host response to infection is a critical determinant of both the extent of infectious diseases and patient survival.  The investigation of immune responses is a core area of the department and many research have major interests in this area.  Key subjects including using transgenic models to study HLA, investigation of the molecular pathogenesis of gram positive sepsis as well as focus on mechanisms regulating acute inflammatory responses as part of the Tuberculosis Research Group.

Vaccine development and the discovery of important biomarkers are   critical areas.  Part of this research effort is focused on infectious diseases of importance in the context of biodefence such as anthrax.

International Medicine

A major component of departmental research involves work overseas.  The part of the Tuberculosis Research Group based in Peru is the main focus of effort but there are international collaborations on 5 continents.   International Research is supported by the Wellcome Centre for Clinical Tropical Medicine, Imperial College to which the Department of Infectious Diseases & Immunity is a major contributor. 

The International Health Unit within the Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunity actively investigates tuberculosis and health care issues in migrants.  The intentions is provide good data in area in which opinions run strong.