The immune system is one of the major life-sustaining systems in advanced organisms, employing dozens if not hundreds of distinct cell types and molecules to orchestrate layers of defense mechanisms. Its basic function is distinguishing self from foe while selectively attacking invading microbes and keeping the integrity of the body safe. It is also the primary system to identify cancer cells as foe and its ability to attack them plays a pivotal role in maintaining our healthy state. Laboratories at the Department of Immunology investigate this system, aiming at better understanding its function in health and disease. This includes exploring the role of immunity in distinguishing self from foe, and the mechanisms by which the immune system mistakenly attack self-components. Mechanisms by which antibody producing B cells mature and function; the signaling events in leukocyte function; the interplay between the immune system and the central nervous system, and exploring systems biology (immunology) towards developing advancing genomic medicine. In addition to the Core faculty, located at the Rappaport Building, affiliated clinicians located at three medical centers, operate in a close collaboration with the laboratories at the Rappaport Building.
Faculty:
Department Chair, Doron Melamed