The University of Alabama at Birmingham : NIDDK

The University of Alabama at Birmingham

Mucosal HIV and Immunobiology Center

Director: Phillip D. Smith, M.D.
Assoc. Directors: Chales O. Elson, M.D., Robinna G. Lorenz, M.D., Ph. D., Trenton D. Schoeb, V.M., Ph.D., Lesley E. Smythies, Ph.D., Casey T. Weaver, M.D., Xiaoyun Wu, M.D.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Digestive Diseases Research Development Center (DDRDC) focuses on the interaction between microbes and the host in mucosal tissues. Principal among the microbes to be studied are HIV-1, which enters the host through the gastrointestinal and genital tract mucosae; Helicobacter pylori, the most common cause of gastric inflammatory disease; and the commensal bacterial flora, which plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. UAB's mucosal immunologists, recognized for their leadership in the study of mucosal pathogens and mucosal cell immunobiology, have heretofore collaborated individually in an informal, project-oriented manner. The DDRDC synergizes the research efforts of these investigators into a world-class, program-oriented, mucosal immunology research group more capable of accomplishing breakthroughs in digestive diseases research. Accordingly, the goals for the DDRDC at UAB are the following: (1) Provide an efficient and effective mechanism for expediting, expanding and fostering research in the interaction between microbes, especially HIV-1, H pylori and the commensal flora, mucoal epithelium and mucosal innate and adaptive immune cells. (2) Coordinate and pool University-wide resources otherwise not available to individual UAB mucosal immunoogists in a cost-effective, user-friendly Center. (3) Provide a resource-, expertise- and intellectual-rich environment to generate new concepts in mucosal HIV-1, H pylori and commensal microbe immunobiology, resulting in new initiatives inte and investigators in digestive diseases research. These goals are being accomplished through the core facilities, which promote digestive disease research at UAB and enhance the goals of the DDRDC program.

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Core Facilities

  • Genetically-Defined Microbe and Expression Core
  • Cell and Molecular Pathology Core
  • Gnotobiotic and Genetically-Engineered Mouse Core

Page last updated: November 25, 2008

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