The Division of Experimental Pathology includes research-intensive faculty and their laboratories engaged in basic and translational research programs. For in recent years, the department has been ranked in the top 10-12 Pathology departments in the U.S. in NIH funding. While there are many topics of investigation, the three major research emphasis areas are cancer biology (particularly breast cancer, hematopoietic malignancies and GI cancer), immunology (and related areas such as inflammation, infectious diseases, inflammatory bowel disease and immunotherapy), and neurodegenerative diseases (prion disorders, Alzheimers, Parkinsons, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or ALS, Frontotemporal Dimentia or FTD, etc). The department is also home to the CDC-funded National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center.
These research emphasis areas are reflected in the three tracks of the Pathology Graduate Program: the Cancer Biology Training Program (CBTP), the Immunology Training Program (ITP) and the Molecular and Cellular Basis of Disease Training Program (MCBDTP). The Pathology Graduate Program provides extensive opportunities for PhD or MD-PhD training in these areas, supported by three NIH T32 training grants (Immunology Training Program, Cancer Biology Training Program, and Neurodegenerative Diseases training grant). The department also provides two programs leading to the MS degree.
The Experimental Pathology Division is staffed by more than 30 primary faculty members, with research interests in the following areas:
Cancer
The Cancer research interests in the Pathology Department involve the diagnosis, progression and treatment of experimental and human cancer. Particular focuses include the many facets of cancer biology, including cancer pathology, cancer genetics, cell signaling, control of cell growth, tumor apoptosis, cancer pharmacology, cancer therapeutics, stem cell biology, cancer imaging, tumor immunology and cancer drug development.
Immunology
The Immunology research interests in the Pathology Department cover a wide range of Immunology-related topics, spanning from basic research in areas such as innate immunity, T cell activation, tolerance, antigen processing and presentation, MHC function, complement, antibody structure and function, and mucosal immunity to research in clinically relevant models of infectious diseases, vaccine development, immunodeficiency, immunopathology, transplantation and autoimmunity.
Neuropathology
The Neuropathology research interests in the Pathology Department cover a wide range of topics, spanning prion disorders, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, ALS, autism, and Fragile X with an emphasis on understanding the mechanism(s) underlying these diseases through cell and transgenic models with the goal providing novel therapeutic and diagnostic strategies.
Other Areas
Other research interests in the Pathology Department pertain to the molecular and cellular basis of disease. Particular focuses include tissue injury and healing, necrosis, biomaterials biocompatibility, aging, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.