About Our Research
At Rochester, we recognize the value of collaboration in moving research forward. We push boundaries to ask and answer some of humankind’s toughest questions. Rochester faculty conduct research in the lab and in the field, independently and with industry partners, in our local communities and all over the world. In doing so, they help us better understand and radically reimagine the world.
Rochester Research Fast Facts
$245M
Total Research Funding
238
PI's with NIH Grants/Contracts
3122
Personnel Involved in Funded Research
Participating Stakeholders for the Immunology, Infectious Diseases, Microbiology Recruiting Effort
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
The Department of Microbiology and Immunology is focused on research and educational programs which relate to microbial pathogens (viruses and prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes) and the host immune defenses which protect against these organisms. Current research emphasizes cutting-edge molecular techniques and includes, but is not limited to, studies on: autoimmunity, antibiotic resistance and development, bacterial pathogenesis, biodefense, bioinformatics, biofilms, cancer biology, gene therapy, genetics and genomics, HIV/AIDS, immunologic mechanisms, respiratory pathogens (including influenza) and vaccine development.
Division of Infectious Diseases
The Division of Infectious Diseases (Department of Medicine) offers expertise in a wide range of areas including viral diseases such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) as well as bacterial infections including Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, pneumococcus and Clostridium difficile and immunology. Our team has expertise in the care of transplant related infections, complex cardiac infections, infections in long term care facilities, sexually transmitted diseases and B cell immunology. Our division includes faculty at Highland, Rochester General and Unity Hospitals and maintains active clinical, research and educational missions.
Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases
The Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases mission is to provide prompt diagnosis and comprehensive therapy of bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasitic infections in children; Perform leading research into the causes, diagnosis, and therapy of pediatric infections with special emphasis on infections in the immunocompromised host; Train tomorrow's leaders in pediatric infectious diseases practice; Provide evaluation and treatment of children with known or suspected immune deficiency disorders including HIV. Recognizing that education is vital, faculty conduct core curriculum conferences and teach electives that provide one-on-one interactions supplemented by diagnostic microbiology, epidemiology, and the pharmacology of antibiotics. Trainees have the opportunity to become involved with the faculty's bench research and clinical research projects.
Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology
The Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology mission is to Pursue high quality, rigorous research into fundamental mechanisms of immunity; Focus on innovative, discovery research that is driven by hypothesis testing and data exploration; Acquire/develop cutting-edge technologies; Teach and mentor the conceptual and experimental skills required for rigorous research; Maintain and expand a strong network of basic and clinical collaborations; Foster a collaborative culture of critical thinking and vigorous discussion.
The research programs in the Center are highly synergistic among the faculty within the Center and have close and extensive collaborations with clinical and basic research labs across the Medical Center complex. The CVBI is thoroughly integrated into a strong graduate program in Immunology, Microbiology and Virology, and occupies exceptional research space in proximity to state-of-the-art core facilities.
Translational Immunology and Infectious Diseases Institute (TIIDI)
The Translational Immunology and Infectious Diseases Institute (TIIDI) mission is to (1) Conduct clinical and translational research to understand the etiology and impact of viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens, the immune responses to them, and to develop and evaluate knowledge-based strategies for their control, treatment, and prevention. Multidisciplinary, team-science approaches to critical issues in infectious diseases are essential to this mission (2) Education and training of clinician scientists in adult and pediatric infectious disease and immunology. Committed to the support of developing the careers of young investigators interested in pursuing research.
Cutting-Edge Research Technology, Footsteps Away
Scientists, clinicians, trainees and staff have the full resources of the University of Rochester at their fingertips or a short walk away, including 60 research centers across the Medical Center, School of Nursing, College of Arts, Sciences & Engineering, Simon Business School, Eastman School of Music and Warner School of Education.
Supported by more than $250 million in annual research funding, URMC provides trainees access to the tools and technologies of advanced scientific discovery.
Core Lab Facilities
The Shared Resource Labs provide researcher with access to state-of-the-art microscopy, genomic, imaging, BSL3, and bio-manufacturing instrumentation, facilities, and trained personnel.
Data Science
The Center for Integrated Research Computing, the Georgen Institute for Data Science, and Health Sciences Center for Computation Innovation are at the cutting edge of developing new tools and methods to curate, analyze, visualize, and make discoveries from large-scale biomedical data.
Translational Research
The URMC Clinical and Translational Science Institute provides funding, training, and resources to help researchers rapidly translate discoveries into therapies. Since its inception in 2012, the Institute has received more than $132 million in funding from NIH.